“I don’t think we’ve met. What’s your name?”
Startled, I escaped my muddled thoughts to look down at Noah’s outstretched hand. Desperate for help and maybe a mercy killing, I quickly glanced at Liam, who covered up a deprecating chuckle with his large hand.
If only I were a bug squished under a foot. That would be far less painful compared to this excruciating awkwardness.
Trying to spare Noah of the uneasiness I was currently drowning in, I pasted on a shy smile. But before I could fully accept Noah’s hand and re-introduce myself, I was beat to the punch.
“That istheMaybelle Mason, Williams.”
The three of us twisted to see Trey Turner lazily propped up on one shoulder against the wall. He was watching us with unabashed amusement. “You know her. It’s impossible to forget a face as beautiful as hers.”
A quick burst of heat rushed to my face from the compliment and a fiery stress rash inflamed up my neck and chest from embarrassment.
Cautiously, I peered back at Noah, whose unbothered countenance glowed with recognition. “That’s right, Maybelle. You’re Liam’s twin sister. Sorry; it’s been a minute since we last spoke. It’s good to see you!” Andwhile I was burning alive from my mortification, Noah spun back to Trey, already forgetting about me. “What’s up, Turner?”
Noah stepped up to Trey and pulled him into another “bro hug”.
Trey had on his white button up, black tie, and black pants. Same as Liam and all the other senior young men, but he wasn’t yet wearing his navy-blue cap and gown. He left his tie undone, hanging on either side of his neck, and left the top three buttons of his shirt open.
Trey slapped the boy’s back and when they parted, Noah looked at both Trey and Liam.
“I was surprised to learn that there are, in fact, brains behind those pretty faces. I mean, let me rephrase—none of us had any doubt the closeted nerd over here would finish top of his class,” Williams said as he threw a playful elbow at Trey, who barely moved an inch to block the stunt.
Right. Just another vital brush stroke of the artwork that made up the sensational persona of Trey. He was borderline genius. A fact he had proven time and time again through prime grades and academic awards.
God obviously had favorites.
“But you, on the other hand,” Williams said as he shoved at Liam’s arm like a boy might do to get a rise out of an older brother. “You are the definition of a dumb blonde. You’re just lucky you had a bunch of girls lining up the block to do your homework for you or you would’ve been hosed.”
Liam must’ve known better than to try to plead his case. A sideways smirk tugged at his face as he turned away from the conversation.
A stunning, well-put-together, middle-aged woman strolled by in stilettos and a pencil skirt. Her cat-like eyes found Liam over sharp-framed sunglasses. Her eyebrows rose at him, but when he winked at her, she twiddled her long fingers at him.
Trey’s chin dropped to his chest as his shoulders shook with obvious mirth. All the while Williams’s awestruck expression blatantly admired the woman, she too sweetly smiled at Liam, continuing her long, overly swayed strut down the hall to the awaiting auditorium.
Gross. The things I would do to expunge that blip of memory from my head…
Entirely at odds with the disgust I was currently gagging on, Williams’s eyes were bright with unrestrained idolization. Liam put a brotherly hand on his shoulder. “Not too bad for a dumb blonde, huh?”
Williams finally clicked close his gaping mouth to say, “I’m pretty positive that was one of our linemen’s moms, you crazy motherfuc—”
“Hey, language,” Liam chastised with an easy smile. He gestured to where I was still watching, listening, forgotten about until now. “There are young, impressionable minds present.”
This earned Liam a glower from an unamused sibling and earned me a collective chuckle from all three boys.
“Alright, alright. The team is planning on sitting together to cheer you guys on, and I volunteered to save us a couple of rows. Good luck. I’m proud of you two idiots,” Williams said before looking at me. “See you around, little Mason.”
As Noah Williams departed from us, joined by a couple of other boys I knew from the football team, Liam pranced up to the wall where his best friend stood, leaving me to follow.
“Triple Threat! We did it! Next stop, SDU!” Liam cheered, swinging an arm around Trey’s neck. He pulled his head down and tousled his caramel waves.
Trey shoved Liam off and grinned. “Can’t believe I agreed to share an apartment with your sorry ass. I’m already sick of you.”
Liam snickered. “Bull, you love me.”
Trey chuckled, but instead of responding to Liam’staunting like I expected him to, he turned his attention to me.
The assessment started at my toes. It meandered its way up my exposed, tanned legs. It lingered just under my collar bones, caressed my lips. Then widened at the golden curls that I rarely let loose like this.
