Fallen Crest University (Fallen Crest High #5)(22)

The second guy was nodding his head in rhythm to the bass, looking glazed over as he pushed on the spout, and the beer started flowing.

When they were done, the guy with the cups stood back up and held a hand out to Summer. “I’m Blaze, and Ruby’s a friend. She said you all were coming, so no worries. Only good guys here. All the bedrooms are locked up anyway. No one can use them. There’s a bathroom upstairs. There’s one on this floor, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Sy keeps plugging it. It’s disgusting, so if the upstairs one is full, there’s one downstairs, too. If you guys need anything, let me know, and I’ll try to help you out. I’m the host extraordinaire.”

The second guy kept bobbing his head, now closing his eyes. His pony-keg duties were done. Still in rhythm, his hips began moving back and forth as he moved away.

“Oh.” Summer shook Blaze’s hand and stepped back into me right afterward. “I’m Summer. This is…” She started to point to me, but her gaze slid over my shoulder, and she trailed off.

Her eyes got big as an arm rested around my shoulders, and I was pulled in close to a hard body.

I closed my eyes. I knew who it was, even before he said a word.

“And this is Samantha, my stepsister.” Logan grinned at Blaze. “I’m Logan.”

Stepsister? Summer mouthed to me.

I shook my head. Too long of a story for right then.

Blaze’s eyes lit up. “Logan Kade?”

“That’s me.”

The two shook hands, and Blaze lingered for a moment longer than Logan before letting go. He pointed the column of cups at him, a wide smile growing. “I’ve heard about you. Holy shit. I heard about everything. Last year. The fight today. What they tried with your brother.” His eyes were threatening to bulge out now. “Mason Kade is your brother! Holy f*cking f*ck. That’s awesome.” He looked past him with a question falling from his lips. “Is he with you?”

I had already been tense, and I became even more so now.

Logan replied, clasping me even tighter to him, “Nah. He’s got football practice tomorrow. He had to go over new plays tonight, but this is Nate.”

Blaze’s arm swung to Nate, who stepped to Logan’s other side. “I’m crapping my pants. You’re Nate Monson. I’ve heard all about you, too. You were with those motherf*ckers last year before you gave them the middle finger.”

Nate shook his hand. “Yeah,” he said to the guy, “I was pretty stupid in the first place to join them.” He glanced to me. “Hey, Sam.”

Blaze took in the greeting and bounced the cups up and down, pointing at me with them. “You. You, I have to tell Ruby about. She’s going to flip out. You’re connected to legends. Do you have any idea?”

Logan was suppressing laughter. I felt it from his chest.

I frowned. “Tell us what you really think.”

“What?” Blaze’s smile never dimmed. “I hate Park Sebastian. Ruby loathes him with the passion of ten thousand fire ants. Whatever you guys want,” he swept his gaze over the entire group, “let me know. You got it. You want pizza? I’ll order it right now.”

“No.” Logan held out a hand, stopping him before he could rush to the phone. “We’re good, but,” he took my beer, “Sam might want another beer.”

“Oh, yeah.” He turned and hollered, “Gus! Get over here. We need the pony ASAP.” He said to Nate, “We’ll get a beer for you, too. Be right back.”

I’d only officially met Kitty ten minutes earlier, but she shoved her way through the group to my side when Blaze went in search of his pony-keg friend. Summer was elbowed to the back. She seemed more startled than offended by the move, but I was elbowed in the side, too.

Kitty said in a loud voice, “Who are your friends, friend?”

Kitty was on a one-man mission.

She seemed hesitant of Logan but warmed right up to Nate, even going to his side as she refused to let go of his hand. Nina replaced Kitty by my side, but she didn’t look inclined for an introduction. She had her arms wrapped around herself and half of a sleeve stuck in her mouth. Summer was watching her too, and as we shared a look, she shook her head. Nina would have to get over her social shyness or whatever her issues were if she was going to enjoy college.

That was exactly what I was going to do—enjoy college.

And still protect Mason.

Logan curved his arm around my neck, hooking me, as he and Nate began to move through the house. I went with him, and trying to peek over his arm, I saw that Summer was following behind us. Kitty and Nina were attached as well since Kitty was right next to Nate’s side. His hands were shoved into his jeans pockets, but she grabbed ahold of his arm. He grimaced, but Kitty was a determined woman.

Going through the dining room and then the kitchen, I was surprised, even though I shouldn’t have been at the amount of people who were already saying hello to Logan. Word about who he was spread fast, and guys were coming over to introduce themselves. The girls were checking out him and then the entire group with interest in their eyes. We were people to know, and I had an understanding to how it must’ve been for Logan growing up.

He was a Kade. The name was known and respected. They were feared by some and wanted by others.

As Logan was saying hello to the guys, the girls were becoming attracted to him. The more he talked, the more they were falling under his spell. I had a moment of sympathy for whoever managed to tame him.