I remember how Cross had been before he’d been with me. He slept around. Girls liked him, and even when we got together, there were still girls after him, but I felt like I had a modicum of control in that environment. They knew me, or at least knew about me. I was feared, but here…it was a whole different ballgame.

I was not known.

I was not feared.

I was not even around.

That twinge was acting up again. Just a small fraction, though.

Zellman took the row behind us as Jordan came in from the side. Cross came from the bottom and dropped into Zellman’s vacated seat. He dropped a kiss on my forehead, moving and murmuring in my ear, “Hey. You look weirded out.”

I shrugged, but said back, “I can’t cut all the girls wanting you. I don’t know how to process this feeling.”

He drew back, frowning at me, then he laughed. Cupping my face in both hands, he moved down until his lips were on mine. And then, he proceeded to kiss me. It wasn’t a chaste, polite in public kiss. It was an indecent kiss, one where he was enjoying me, claiming me, and making me start to pant for him.

And I was. Panting. Lots of panting.

Then he pulled back, a smug smile on his face. My heart was racing, and I knew I was flushed in the face.

He did that on purpose. As much for himself and me, as well as for those bitches.

Leaning back in, he whispered over my lips, “I love you.”

I whispered back, fisting the front of his shirt, “I know.”

He drew back, his hand sweeping down my back. Tugging me against his side, his arm went back to my shoulder and I felt good and anchored to his side. I loved him, and I loved that, too.

Cain’s soccer team won.

Blaise was the MVP, but according to everyone’s reactions, that was common around here. We were leaving, heading to the parking lot with Aspen beside our group when a couple guys were moving to head us off. Cross and I saw them at the same time.

Cross saying, “Jordan,” the same time I spoke, “Heads-up.”

Jordan and Zellman looked, and both slowed.

Aspen was frowning, looking from the guys to us, and back again.

She didn’t say anything, moving so she was behind me more. Smart.

Zellman said to us, “Harper’s frat brothers.”

Cross made a low noise. “Blaise found me on campus today.”

All of us looked at him, our heads whipping around.

His eyes were guarded. “Harper’s back at the frat, called a meeting.”

Zellman scoffed.

Jordan’s mouth fell open an inch. “You’re telling us this now?”

Cross shrugged. “Kinda had other pertinent shit happening, you know.” The glance toward me was noticed, by everyone.