Me: Yes, but please don’t make it weird. I know you and your friends are disgusting. You don’t need to warn them like I’m some sort of delicate flower.

I ignore the rest of his messages that pop up, telling me he’s only looking out for me or whatever. Having an older, overbearing brother is a real pain sometimes.

The apartment is easy enough to find and I carry my backpack with a change of clothes and toothbrush up to the second-floor door and knock.

“You must be Little Scott.” A guy with a shit ton of tattoos on full display thanks to his bare chest greets me with a goofy smile. “I’m Johnny Maverick.”

“Ginny.”

He pulls the door wide and I enter. A bunch of guys I don’t recognize are standing around the apartment. For real, it’s like I just entered the men’s locker room with the way they all stop what they’re doing and stare at me.

Adam’s head pops up from the kitchen and he hustles forward. “Did you find it okay?”

“Yeah. I have this thing called maps on my phone.”

I spot Rhett in the living room and he lifts a controller in greeting. “Hey, Ginny. Good to see you again.”

I wave awkwardly. They’re all still staring.

Adam shuts the door and I follow him into the living room. He points to the guy who answered the door. “You met Maverick. Ignore any and everything he says.”

He scoffs. “I am hilarious and awesome.”

“That’s Liam, Jordan, and Tiny.”

“Hey,” they say in unison.

“Want something to eat or drink?” my brother asks and goes back to the kitchen.

“I’m okay for now.” There’s an empty seat next to Maverick, so I head for it and sit down.

“Where is Payne?” one of the guys asks him.

“Still showering and jerking it to Mariah, probably.” Maverick stills, looks to me, and clears his throat. “Shit, sorry.”

I laugh and wave him off. “Good for him. And Mariah.”

“I like you.” Maverick puts his arm around me on the back of the couch, but it’s in a friendly way that doesn’t feel like he’s hitting on me.

“Hands off,” Adam’s deep voice bellows from the kitchen.

Maverick rolls his eyes and I’m glad he’s not so easily intimidated by my brother. It was a real issue in high school before Adam graduated. He would look at guys the wrong way for talking to me and they’d scamper off too afraid of him.

He stands and looks down at me. “You need a drink? A smoke?”

“Yeah, I think I might need a drink after all.”