Disappointment settles in my chest as Ryan disappears into the crowd.
I should’ve known it was too good to be true. Something always bites me in the ass when everything’s going well. It’s like the universe loves to remind me that I can’t have nice things.
I haven’t evenlookedat a guy since Jacob dumped me, let alone talked to one the way I talked to Ryan. But with him, it was easy. We joked, flirted, smiled, and for the first time in a while, I felt likemeagain.
Then my brother walked in.
Before that? Ryan was just Ryan. Fun, flirty, hot Ryan. But now? Now, he’s Nathan’s teammate. His best friend. His very hot, totally off-limits friend.
I shake my head, grabbing a cup from the ping-pong table and tossing back whatever beer’s in it. It’s warm and gross, but I don’t really care right now.
“I don’t know what’s up with him,” Nathan’s voice breaks through my thoughts. I glance up to see him shaking his head. “He’s been so off lately.”
Off? Ryan was anything but off two minutes ago.
“What were you doing with Ryan, anyway?” Nathan raises an eyebrow, his eyes narrowing as he looks me over. “Didn’t even know you two knew each other.”
My eyes widen slightly. He can’t know what really happened. Not when I’m still trying to figure out whatexactlyhappened between us. So, I shrug and press my lips together. “I don’t. We just met and played a game of beer pong.”
Nathan shoots me a dry look. “Izzy,” he warns. “He’s my teammate. Don’t even think about it.”
I hate that he can see right through me. It’s like he has some radar that can detect when I’m up to something. I just want to be able to live my life without my big brother crowding me, judging, and controlling every single decision I make.
“Quit the protective big brother crap. Nothing happened.” I roll my eyes and take a long gulp from my cup, hoping the alcohol will dull the sudden tension in my chest. “We were just talking.”
Nathan shakes his head, but the tension in his shoulders eases. “Good. Cause he’s not good enough for you.”
I arch a brow, crossing my arms. “Isn’t he your best friend?”
“Yeah, I love the guy,” Nathan admits with a shrug, “but I alsoknowhim. I don’t want him—or any other of my teammates for that matter—anywhere near you.”
I let out a frustrated sigh. “You have nothing to worry about, because nothing was happening between us.”
He groans, running a hand through his hair, clearly not buying it. “C’mon, you’re hanging with me.”
I raise an eyebrow. “I don’t need you following me around. I’m not a kid, Nathan.”
He shrugs, flashing me an arrogant grin. “Doesn’t matter. I’ve been looking out for you since forever. You’ll always be a kid to me.”
I roll my eyes. He’s two years older than me, not a decade. But, apparently, Nathan’s always going to act like I’m still twelve.
I glance around, looking for Aurora. No sign of her. Where the hell did she go?
“Fine,” I finally give in, shooting him a look. “Only because I can’t find Aurora.”
Nathan gestures for me to follow him with a tilt of his chin. I push off the ping-pong table and trail behind him through the crowded party.
People stop him left and right. Slaps on the back, handshakes, and a few girls trying to get his attention, running their hands over his arms or tossing him flirtatious glances.
I press my lips together, trying to stop the bile from rising in my throat. I could do without watching girls practically drool over him. I’d much rather hold onto the image of my overprotective, somewhat-innocent big brother… though I know that’s a little unrealistic.
Nathan stops to talk to everyone who approaches, effortlessly flashing that trademark grin of his. It’s a little surprising how well-known my brother is around campus. Especially since he tends to keep to himself.
“Hayes!”
My brother stops when a guy on the couch yells his name, giving him a lazy grin, drunk out of his mind.
“Where the hell have you been, man? I missed you.”
