Page 97 of Fifty First Times (Sharing You 0.40)
Understanding and a bit of relief flashed across his face. “Ah, Brit?”
I didn’t respond, which was strange, because I never had a problem with talking about the object of my attention in detail before. Wasn’t because I was embarrassed about her or any shit like that. Everything with Brit was different. I’d feel like I’d be insulting her if I starting talking about all the things I planned on doing with her to Cam.
“Want a beer?” he asked, motioning over to the fridge in the corner of the garage that was eternally stocked with beer.
“Nah.”
Cam looked like I’d just told him I was planning on entering priesthood, and a wry grin twisted my lips. “I’m not going to be hanging around tonight.”
He glanced back to where Brit stood with his girlfriend and sister and then he chuckled. “I take it neither will Brit?”
The back of my neck tingled in an odd way. “Nope.”
“I got ya,” he replied, taking a swig of beer as he picked up a Ping-Pong ball.
“Where’s Jase?” I asked, changing the subject.
Cam shrugged. “No clue. He’s around here somewhere. Steph was looking for him, so I’m sure she’s got him cornered somewhere.”
I was hoping to get cornered with Brit soon. Lingering a couple of more minutes, I told him I’d swing by tomorrow afternoon. When I graduated and left for grad school, a lot of the partying shit had been left behind. I was ready to get out of here.
Stalking across the garage, I joined Brit. “Hello Avery and Miss Teresa, how are you doing this fine evening?”
Teresa giggled, and upon close inspection, her eyes had that happy, glazed look. I wondered if Cam realized his sister was close to being trashed. “We’re doing good.”
“Great.” I captured Brit’s tiny ponytail. “I need to borrow you for a second, si?”
Brit’s eyes went heavenward, but her cheeks flushed a pretty shade of pink. “I’ll be right back. Senor Fucktard can’t want me for that long.”
“It’ll be a while,” I corrected, and her blush traveled down her neck.
Taking her hand, I steered her out of the garage. “They’re watching us, aren’t they?” she asked.
I glanced over my shoulder. “Yep. They are grinning and whispering.”
“Great,” she moaned.
We stopped midway on the driveway, and I looked at her. “You don’t want them to know we are . . . well, whatever it is we’re about to do? If you’ve changed your mind about this”—please God, tell me you haven’t changed your mind—“we don’t have to do this. We can stay here and chill. That’ll be cool, too.”
“No. I haven’t changed my mind.” She tugged on my hand as she started down the driveway again, and I about dropped to my knees and starting praising Jesus. “And I’m not embarrassed to be seen with you. It’s just . . .” She looked away, focusing on the road ahead.
“It’s just what?” I probably should’ve let it go, but I was curious. “I know I have a reputation, Brit. And you’ve never seemed shy of saying what’s on your mind.”
She cast a grin over your shoulder. “Okay. I know you’re not into relationships and all of that and I don’t want them jumping to conclusions. Like I know they will.”
“What kind of conclusion?”
“Oh, I don’t know. That this one night is going to lead to an epic romance.” She turned to me, walking backward. “I know that’s not what you’re really about. And I’m okay with that. I mean, I’d be okay with . . .” Her nose scrunched up the cute way it always did whenever she was about to say something she didn’t want to. “Anyway, I’m okay with this. I want to know if you have a reason to be so cocky,” she teased.
Oh, I had a reason, but for some asinine purpose, I wanted to ask her why she didn’t think I was into relationships. Which was stupid, because my track record showed why. I shouldn’t care that she wasn’t going into this expecting anything other than great sex, but I kind of did.
We stopped by my car, and she slipped her hand free. “We could go back to my dorm. My roommate’s gone for the weekend.”
“Works for me.”
She flashed a quick grin. “I’ll lead the way then.”
As she started to pull away, it felt too much like a random hookup that could’ve been any number of girls I’d picked up at a party or the bar, and that didn’t settle right in my gut. Brit was different, and this was the first time for us, probably the last time.
