Beg You to Trust Me (Lindon U #2)(31)

Skylar is about to protest when her friend pipes up with an enthusiastic, “Deal! I’m Olive, by the way. Yes, I know how stupid the name is. No, I haven’t chosen something better to legally change it to. Now, can you introduce me to Alex?”

Our mutual friend gapes at Olive like she can’t believe she sold her out. Me on the other hand, I’m happy as ever. “Follow me, ladies.”

A pair of jean clad legs matches my strides. “Blondie? Still? I thought that was something you were testing out.”

I bump her shoulder and watch her make a face and casually inch away from the playful contact. “It’s fitting. Blondie was one of my Ma’s favorite bands. She met Debbie Harry when she was younger. Said she’s spunky.”

“And you think I’m spunky?”

“You’ve got fire in you, yeah.” I smile down at her as she studies me skeptically. “You just need to let it burn a little more often.”

She lets it go. “You can’t expect me to leave with you after this. Olive only agreed because she’s excited to meet Alex.”

“One of my buddies is driving me back to our place. We’re going to order some pizza, probably watch a movie or play video games for a bit and just kick back. Nothing big. That seems more your speed than this anyway.”

I’m not wrong, and we both know it. Which is why she doesn’t disagree. “Even if that’s true, I don’t want to go back to your place.”

I want to ask what she has here that’s better, but I’m not sure I’d want to hear the answer. So, I decide to ask, “What do you have against the house?”

No response.

In fact, she tenses.

“If it’s back to the whole—”

Her hand raises to stop me. “Nope. Not going there again.”

“You need to stop being so sensitive, babe,” I tell her calmly.

That’s when the real fire comes out.

“And you need to stop calling me babe and assuming you know what’s going on in my head,” she snaps at me, causing us to halt in the middle of the crowd.

Olive inches forward. “Um…everything okay, you guys?” Her eyes are on Skylar only, not paying an ounce of attention to me. At least this friend seems to actually give a shit about her.

“Peachy,” our mutual friend murmurs in an unconvincing tone. “Let’s go meet your hockey guy.”

I watch as she starts walking off, obviously having no idea where she’s going. “It’s the other way, Blondie,” I call out, trying to lighten the mood.

She stops, shoulders drawing back, before turning slowly to me. Her sigh is heavy before she crosses her arms on her chest and waits for me to take lead again.

Grinning as I pass by her, I guide them to where O’Conner is sitting with a group of his followers flocking him per usual. I don’t know the dude that well. Just know that he definitely enjoys the attention. He’s tight with our captain and OG quarterback Justin Brady, so he can’t be too much of a dick.

“You sure about this?” I hear Sky whisper to her friend.

“I’ll make sure he considers naming our future daughter after you,” is Olive’s response.

I snort and stop in front of the hockey player. He stands and slaps my hand before noticing the two women lingering behind me.

“You bring me more fans, Bridges?” he asks cockily, his eyes going to the taller brunette instead of the shorter one. There’s recognition in his eyes that makes me think back to Caleb’s warning about Skylar’s reputation around campus.

I step in front of Blondie to block his view, nostrils flaring with irritation over his roaming eyes. “Got a friend of a friend who wanted to meet you. Big fan. Olive, this is Alexander O’Conner. Not that you need me to tell you that. O’Conner, this is Olive. Don’t know her last name. But she’s a feisty one and could give you a run for your money.”

Thankfully, that’s all it takes for his interest to be diverted to the chick practically bouncing where she stands.

I turn to Sky. “Look, I’m not big on these things. I plan on heading out soon, and I don’t want to leave you by yourself. If you don’t want to come have pizza at my place, then let me and Caleb drop you off at your dorm, yeah? Unless there’s somebody here you want to hang with instead…”

Her eyes go to her friend, who’s already in deep conversation with O’Conner about game talk, before they trail back to me. She draws her bottom lip in and nibbles, thoroughly capturing my attention. In the dim light I see they’re painted some sort of pink color. Almost neutral but enough to make any man want to stare for a little longer than necessary. “Olive looks like she’ll probably want to stay…”

“Doesn’t mean you have to.”

She takes a deep breath. “I don’t really feel like being alone tonight,” she relents. “But if I want to leave, you’ll take me back to my dorm anytime?”

I stand straighter. “Of course.”

Her eyes are weary, yet she says, “Okay.”



While Skylar uses the bathroom, I eye the guys in the living room fighting over who gets to play the next round of their game. “Hands to yourselves tonight,” I say, grateful it’s only a few of them here. Justin, Caleb, Stephen Marks, another wide receiver, and Aiden are here. Everyone else that lives in the house are scattered. Probably at the bonfire or the Halloween bash at the sorority a block away.