Page 26 of No One But Us

I shrug. “He’s just overprotective.”

“Are you dating him?”

“No. He thinks of me like a little sister.”

“No, he doesn’t. He thinks of you like someone he’s either screwing or dying to screw.”

I wish I didn’t feel the momentary thrill those words elicit.

“You’re completely wrong,” I say. “He used to babysit me. He acts like that with every guy who comes near me or Ginny.”

“If that’s true, then why didn’t he seem worried at all about Ginny coming out with us tonight?”

I shrug. “Maybe he just figured, because we dated…that you weren’t a threat to her.”

“So am I?” he asks, sidling closer to me. “A threat?”

“No,” I scoff, stepping back a little. “You’ve probably caught more diseases on this tour than medical research has even uncovered.”

“You know I always use condoms.”

“You don’t wear them for everything,” I say pointedly.

“I can’t catch anything that way,” he argues.

I’m not sure that’s true. I’m also not going to risk finding out. “Well, I can, so the answer’s no.”

“Damn,” he says. “You still give the best blow job I’ve ever had. I trained you well.”

I’d assumed he was hooking up right and left all summer, but it still stings to have it thrown in my face.

“I’m glad you’ve had ample opportunities to compare and contrast,” I snap.

“I’d give it all up if you’d come on tour with us,” he offers, suddenly earnest. “In a heartbeat.”

I thought he might suggest it, and I thought it was possible I’d still be tempted. But I’m not. Not even close. There’s only one person I want, and I’d give almost anything to be sitting with him on the deck right now.

* * *

I stay only on principle, but when they move to the next bar, I announce that I’m going home. I ask Ginny if she wants to come with me, and her gaze flickers to Paul, who she’s been sitting beside for the past hour.

“I think I’ll stay out for a while,” she replies.

She’s been drinking, so I know from experience that there’s no point in arguing with her. Fortunately, I can trust Ryan and his friends not to push her into anything she doesn’t want to do.

Ryan pulls me aside and asks me to come with them, tucking a curl behind my ear like he did earlier. For just a moment he’s the sweet version of himself—the one who played me songs on his guitar and brought me flowers when I got my first D on an exam. But he’s also the guy who admits he can’t keep it in his pants unless I’m there to play watchdog, the guy who never made me a priority. And most of all, he’s not James.

I walk home, feeling defeated in a number of ways. James is waiting when I get inside, holding a book in his hand that he doesn’t seem to be reading.

“Were you waiting up for us?” I ask.

He shrugs. “I didn’t trust that guy. Where is he anyway? And where’s my sister?”

“They went to some other bar,” I say. “They’ll probably be home in a while.”

I sit on the chair opposite him and kick off my heels. The movement catches his attention for a moment. He’d never admit it, but I think he likes my legs.

“Why would you date a guy like that?” he asks suddenly. “Why are you even still friends with him after he told you he was going to cheat?”