11. Felix #2
Cindy Mancini? Close enough.
I clap him on the shoulder. “This is Dahlia and Jane. Jane was just saying something about that cartoon you like, what’s the name?”
His eyes widen with delight as he looks to her. “You’re a fan of Teen Titans?”
I expect her to lie, but she shakes her head. “No, I’ve never heard of it before.”
“Oh.” Lucas’s face falls.
“But you can tell me all about it, if you want.”
“Definitely.” His smile is back, and he drapes an arm around Jane’s shoulder and pulls her closer.
“Look at you,” Dahlia says, “playing matchmaker.”
“She didn’t leave me much of a choice.”
“She’s like that. It’s all part of her charm.” She smiles. “Actually, she’s pretty amazing.”
“So are you.”
She blushes. “I was thinking…about our arrangement. We probably need to set some guidelines.”
“Guidelines?”
“Rules for our relationship. We decided on a timeframe, but what about rules for when we’re at parties together?”
“I’m still not following.”
She leans in a tad closer. “Are people going to keep believing we’re together if we aren’t touching or making out?”
Well, that gets my attention. I clear my throat. “Ah. Good point. Yeah, some PDA is probably necessary.”
“I would do better with specifics.”
“You want to set rules on what PDA is okay?”
“Please.”
I blow out a breath and poke the inside of my cheek with my tongue. “All right. Well, uh, how’s handholding?”
“Good,” she says, smiling. “I’m good with holding hands.”
I reach out with my left hand and take hers. “All right and…dancing?”
She nods.
“We should be good then.”
“No kissing?”
My gaze drops to her mouth. “Sure.”
“Sure to kissing or no kissing?” She licks her lips as her gaze darts to my mouth. “I mean, you’ve already kissed my neck, so I think that’s okay. It can be our signature move. What do you think?”
I step closer, holding her stare, and then drop my head to place a soft kiss just above her collarbone. “Like that?”
“Yes.” Her voice trembles.
“Anything else we need to decide?” I ask, lips still hovering over her skin.
“Yes.”
Reluctantly, I stand tall and wait for her to continue.
“We need to hang out somewhere other than at parties. That’s only one day a week, maybe two at most. That can’t be the only time people see us together.”
“What did you have in mind?” All my thoughts currently involve her in my bedroom so that’s a no-go.
“Maybe lunch or coffee in University Hall a couple times a week.”
“Lunch is usually when I work on homework or take a nap.”
“Oh.” She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth.
“How about breakfast at the Freddy dining hall? I eat there every morning with some of the guys on the team.”
Her bottom lip slips free, and she smiles. “Okay.”
“Okay? We’re good?”
She looks nervous as hell, but nods. “Okay, fake boyfriend. I think I’m ready.”
“One sec.” I release her hand to get my phone out and then stand beside her as I snap a photo.
“What are you doing?” she asks as I upload it to my IG stories.
“Letting everyone know I’m out with my girl.”
“Oh, god. I’m gonna be sick,” she says. “Do I look okay in it? Maybe we should take another one in better lighting.”
“You look perfect.”
“Liar. But thank you.”
That makes me chuckle. I pocket my phone and scan the party. I spot my sisters heading our way and the huge grins on their faces make me groan. “I’m sorry for anything that happens in the next thirty seconds,” I say, just before Stella and Holly step up in front of us.
“What?” Dahlia asks at the same time Stella says, “Hi, big brother. Are you going to introduce us to your new girl?”
Like I have a choice.
“Hi. I’m Stella. This is Holly. We’re Felix’s sisters.” The more outgoing of my sisters jumps right into the introductions. “You must be Dahlia. We’re so excited to finally meet you.”
Dahlia stares at them wide-eyed, a hesitant smile that’s almost a grimace. “Hi. It’s really nice to meet you both.”
“We were just about to go inside and play Ring of Fire. You have to come with us.”
“Yes!” Lucas calls. “I am so in.”
“Stell, she doesn’t like cards.”
“It’s okay,” Dahlia says quickly. “I’d love to play.”
I watch helplessly as Stella links her arm through Dahlia’s and takes her away from me. My sisters and I are close. I love them, but I also don’t really want them in the middle of this thing with me and Dahlia. Looks like they’re not giving me a choice though.
Stella continues to commandeer Dahlia’s attention while we play cards.
As annoyed as I am, it gives me a chance to sit back and watch her.
Like when playing flip cup, she’s competitive.
Still quiet, but she sits forward, taking everything in.
She’s never the last person to do something.
She’s too observant for that. She is, however, terrible at rhyming.
Twice she fails at that and has to drink.
It’s all fun and games until some douchebag soccer player draws a queen and becomes the Question Master and starts asking people really cringe-worthy and inappropriate questions.
“Okay. I think I need to walk around,” Teddy says, standing and waiting for Holly to do the same.
“I’m gonna head out.” Stella checks her phone. “I have to be up early tomorrow for swim, and I want to call Beau.”
“She means phone sex, right?” Lucas asks.
I groan. “Not something I want to think about.”
“Bye, Felix.” Stella hugs me, then smiles at Dahlia. “Nice to meet you.”
“Yeah, you too.”
“Do you have a ride?” I ask Stella. She and Holly live in the dorms, which aren’t too far, but she shouldn’t be walking by herself this late.
“Uber is pulling up now.” She starts for the door. “Bye!”
Everyone disperses quickly after that.
“Sorry about that.” I hang back as everyone heads out so I can have a minute with Dahlia.
“It’s fine. I had fun. Your sisters seem nice.”
“Nice,” I try out the word. “Maybe to other people.”
The backyard is still packed. We lose Jane and Lucas to the dance floor. I can’t tell if they’re into each other or not, but they seem to be having a good time.
Dahlia and I stand with Holly and Teddy on the patio next to some guys setting up a new game of beer pong, including the douche from inside.
He’s loud and obnoxious, and at a party filled with people being loud and obnoxious, that’s saying something.
I glare at him, but he’s not paying attention to me.
He’s looking at Dahlia in a way I don’t like.
To be fair, I don’t want him looking at her, period, but I know that’s some caveman bullshit she doesn’t need from the guy she’s only pretending to date.
“You’re that girl!” The guy elbows his friend. “That’s her. I knew it. I’ve been wracking my brain to figure it out.” He mocks Dahlia’s voice as he says, “Felix Walters is stupid hot. I want to lick him all over. That was funny shit.”
He starts in, repeating things from the video again, in that high-pitched voice that sounds nothing like Dahlia, and she’s gone white next to me.
“That’s enough.” I edge in front of her.
“I’m just having some fun.” He careens his neck to try to see past me to Dahlia. “I must have watched it thirty times or more.”
“Dude, stop talking,” I warn him.
“What are you, her bodyguard now?”
“No, I’m her boyfriend and you’re making her uncomfortable.”
“Her boyfriend? No shit?” He laughs as he takes a step and I feel Dahlia cower behind me, which snaps something inside me.
I push him backward to put some space between him and Dahlia, and then I get a shot in before he can get his balance.
“Felix,” Holly shrieks.
His friends step in before I can land another punch, and Teddy hugs me, turning so he’s protecting me with his body. I fight his hold, but he’s a strong son of a bitch.
“All right,” I say, still struggling to get free.
“You good?” Teddy asks.
No. “Yeah, I’m good.”
He loosens his grasp and I shrug away from him. Dahlia stands next to Holly, the two of them watching on wide-eyed.
“Come on, let’s get out of here.” Teddy takes Holly by the hand, and Dahlia and I follow. We’ve only made it as far as the kitchen when Gavin runs in behind us. “Is everything all right? I didn’t see it, but I heard you just punched a guy out.”
My jaw tightens. “He’s still walking around. Unfortunately.”