Dempsey vibrates with anger and drops his hold on me. He steps forward until he comes nose-to-nose with Levi. If I don’t do something, there’s going to be a fight.

“Stay. Away. From. Gemma.”

“Or what?” Levi taunts.

“It’ll be the last thing you do.”

A crowd has formed around us, a combination of curious students and those who are laughing, entertained by the impending fight.

“Come on,” I say, grabbing Dempsey’s bicep. “He’s not worth it.”

Dempsey considers my words and then steps back. He takes my hand, threading our fingers together. It’s all a ruse, but Levi doesn’t know that.

I tug at Dempsey’s hand, dragging him past my fuming stepbrother. The eyes of every student in the hallway are on me and Dempsey, quickly forming their own shocked conclusions. That we’re a couple.

“Care to fill me in?” I ask when we’re no longer in Levi’s earshot.

“Your brother is a dick.”

“Tell me something I don’t know. And he’s my stepbrother.”

Dempsey squeezes my hand. “Right. Step. Sorry about all that. I just…” He huffs. “He pisses me off.”

“That’s something we both have in common.” I glance up at him. “Is he really messing around with your sister?”

“Doubtful, but he wants to. My dad won’t let Gemma date, but that doesn’t mean Levi won’t take every opportunity to get with her. The last thing my family needs right now is Gemma causing a scandal by getting mixed up with Levi. No offense.”

I don’t know what half of that means, but I nod in understanding, because any way you shake it, Levi is a bad apple. The Park family is not only wealthy, but they’re the backbone of this community. Levi would be the bad seed that poisons them all. Just like he and his father are at my house.

“I don’t think he’s watching anymore. We can stop pretending.” I go to tug my hand away, but his grip tightens.

“This might work.” He comes to a stop, shooting me a teasing grin. “I mean, we’ve already practically been to second base.”

I roll my eyes, unable to smother a laugh. “You’re a brat.”

“Your brat.”

“Ha.”

“Seriously.”

“No. I will not be your pretend girlfriend.”

“I’m wounded, Reyes. What about my for real girlfriend?”

As enticing as that might sound, my heart isn’t in it. It’s his brother I can’t stop thinking about.

“How about friend?” I offer, arching a brow at him. “I don’t have too many of those.”

“Friend. I guess I can handle that label until I woo you out of your clothes and make you beg for girlfriend status.”

I playfully shove at him. “Asshole.”