Chapter 15
SUMMER
I t’s the first day of college and as I walk with Imogen to our first period, I’m not my usual confident self.
“What time did you get in last night?” She asks me innocently and I shrug.
“Not long after you. I found my phone and left soon after.”
I’m saying nothing about my encounter with Luca. It’s best that way because Frankie would be on the warpath if he knew we even kissed last night.
As soon as we reached Willow Tree House, I left him standing and raced inside.
His lips still burning on mine long into the night.
He starred in my nightmares and confused my mind because I never expected to encounter a guy like him at Rockwell flaming Academy.
I wanted to try my luck with a jock for once.
Be an honorary cheerleader and live the whole college dream.
Not him.
Not a mirror image of my brother, cousins, and every damn man I have ever known.
He is wrong. I don’t want that.
I want a cute guy with muscles who works out a lot. Chugs beer and catches movies. Somebody uncomplicated who makes me feel safe. Not a man like Luca Romano.
Not my biggest nightmare.
We head into math and he is the first person I see, sitting at the back beside a guy I’ve never seen in my life.
He ignores me completely and I’m not sure how I feel about that.
I hate how my blood ran hot and my legs weakened when I saw him looking so desirably wicked as he scowled at the back of the room.
He is wearing a black shirt with jeans and a black leather jacket, his dark hair framing those deep ebony eyes, a silver chain tossed around his neck, accompanied by silver rings on his fingers.
I noted the tattoo of an angel’s wings on his hand when he returned my phone and I don’t believe I have ever been so attracted to anyone as I am Luca Romano.
It appears I’m not the only one.
I don’t miss the open gazes of adulation many of my fellow classmates are directing his way and my breath hitches when he rakes his fingers through that tousled hair. I try to forget how his lips burned on mine and how hard his chest felt against me, promising a delightful experience for my hands.
In one conversation and one act, he has ruined my chances with anyone else because fuck the jocks, they are nothing compared to him and that is why I’m in the shittiest mood of my life right now. I was right. My life sucks.
I drop down into my chair and pointedly look away, and yet, as the lesson progresses, I can almost feel his scorching gaze searing my flesh from behind.
It’s as if an invisible rope is joining us and I can’t breathe.
Life goes on around me, but I’m squirming inside.
This wasn’t the plan and I don’t know what to do about it.
Thankfully, he’s not in my next class and I can breathe again. Imogen isn’t either, so I head into English alone and take a seat in the middle of the room.
A guy drops down beside me and smiles. “Hey, I’m Mason. You’re new, right?”
“Yes.” I smile and he grins, the kind of grin I was searching for. Uncomplicated, open and yet sort of sexy at the same time.
“I’m new too. Perhaps we could study sometime.”
“Are you always so direct?” I raise my eyes and he grins.
“You’ve gotta act fast at Rockwell. So I’m told, anyway.”
“Or what?”
“Or anyone of interest pairs off at The Claiming ceremony and you lose your chance.”
“Is that what I am, a chance?”
“Would it bother you if I said yes?”
I consider my response because up until Luca, he is exactly what I was searching for. Open, honest, good looking and easy going. Perhaps he is the antidote to my wicked soul and I should use him as a shield for my own sanity, so I smile. “No. It wouldn’t bother me, but it may bother my brother.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s a little overprotective, and you’d hate a warning from him.”
“But he’s not here now.”
“He’s not.”
I like the way he didn’t back off, although I’m guessing that’s because he doesn’t know who my brother is yet. I may as well enjoy that for as long as we’ve got, so I smile. “We should form a study group, then.”
“For English? I could read you poetry.”
“Best not.” I flutter my eyelashes, openly flirting back because this is what college is in my mind, and fuck the rest of them.
Mason has been sent from God to keep me from falling into the devil’s hands and after class we head to the cafeteria - together.
He even carries my books and I could be forgiven for thinking I’d fallen into an episode of High School Musical.
We grab our food and head to a table near the wall and I love how he offers me the choice of seats and then holds it out for me as I sit.
“You’re a gentleman, Mason.”
I’m loving his attention and the fact he’s easy on the eye is a bonus.
“It’s how I was raised.”
His honest smile captures my interest, because Mason is exactly what I need in my life.
I direct many questions his way throughout lunch, asking about his family and discovering everything about him.
He is from Oregon. His family owns a hardware store and he majors in football.
Tick and tick. He was brought in on a paid scholarship to play for the college team and hopes to head to the NFL on graduation.
He is perfect for my cheerleading wannabe self and I can’t believe how happy that makes me.
As the hour finishes, I’m amazed at how quickly it went and as we part at the door, he says with an endearing smile, “Would you like to grab some pizza after class finishes? I mean–” He hesitates. “In the name of forming our study group of two.”
“Of course. I’d love that.”
“No, she wouldn’t.”
A dark threatening voice rains on my parade and we stare in shock as Frankie glowers at Mason from my side.
“Excuse me.”
Mason is confused and I snap, “Meet my brother, Mason. I warned you about him.”
Frankie glares at Mason, who appears to shrink a little, and I shove Frankie hard and hiss, “Calm down, Frankie. It’s only pizza. What’s the matter with you?”
Frankie throws imaginary daggers at Mason and then hisses, “Fine. Pizza. Study. Call it what the fuck you like, but if you lay one hand on my sister, then you’ll regret it. Do you understand?”
Mason nods, too terrified to speak, and my heart sinks. Did he really fold that easily? Is there any fight in this guy at all?
I’m disappointed and somehow feel betrayed and as Frankie storms off, I say with regret.
“Listen, it was a nice idea, but I don’t want to cause you any trouble.”
“Hey.” Mason reaches out and rubs my arm comfortingly. “It’s pizza and my invitation still stands. Five o’clock at Willow Tree House. I’ll be waiting.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. I’ll admit it took me by surprise a little, but well, it’s pizza after all. Nothing should come in the way of that.”
He glances at his phone. “I’ve got to dash. I’m late for training. I’ll catch you later, Summer.”
As I watch him go, I’m conflicted. Part of me wants this—him and the whole college love story experience.
He’s in the team. Ripped like hell and obviously interested in me.
Then why does another guy edge him aside and replace his position in my mind with the dark promise of more excitement than I could stand?
A man who would stand up to my brother—his equal if you like.
Someone who would take my reservations and set them on fire and take me to the gates of hell with no regard for my safety?
Why do I crave a man like that?
Now I know I’m fucked.