It was kinda weird, seeing him like that with her.
But it was nice, too.
My mom and Gracie love her, just like I knew they would. See, Lana can come across as closed off at first, but once they saw past her bullshit mask and she actually started to feel comfortable with them, they were laughing and joking and enjoying each other’s company.
My mom even showed her my damn baby pictures afterwe’d all finished our Thanksgiving dinner, and when I say Lana did not stop teasing me about them, I mean it.
We’re driving back home now, only this time around it’s just the two of us. Gracie decided to go visit her friend for the day before she returns to campus tonight. It’s nice to know she has people in her corner other than me and the guys.
Lana stares out of the window, her feet resting on the dash, which she refuses to stop doing even though I’ve told her how goddamn dangerous it can be, but whatever.
“Thank you for coming with me,” I murmur, and her head turns towards me, but I keep my focus on the road ahead of me, knowing that if I look towards her now, I won’t be able to take my eyes off her. That, and I’m pretty sure she’d be able to look into my eyes and see the truth behind the reason I asked her to come with me.
“To be your buffer, you mean?”
Right, that.
Though from the tone in which she says it, I’m guessing she knows that it was a lie just to get her to come with me. I’m not above deceiving her if it’s for her benefit in the long run.
“Uh huh.”
She tsks. “You know I’m aware that’s bullshit, right? I mean, your dad was a dick to you, and I get that you might find that difficult to deal with, but I know that wasn’t the reason you persuaded me to come.”
“Oh yeah? What was the real reason?”
She chuckles softly. “I’m amazing, and you’d miss me if you had to go days without seeing me,” she teases and I grin, since she’s not wrong. Only, she missed the part where the thought of her spending the holiday alone threatened to shred my chest to pieces.
I’m not used to caring so much about someone, but I’ve given up trying to avoid my feelings. Instead, I’m diving in headfirst and letting the wave that is Lana James take me for a ride.
“Bullshit. I just needed someone there to stop me from getting bored.”
“Hmmm. Whatever you say, pretty boy.”
I shake my head, not bothering to give her a response, and focus on getting us home. Before I know it, we’re pulling through the gates to campus and driving around to the back where our cottage is.
I know I don’t have much longer of her living with me, since we won’t be able to keep up the excuses, but like hell do I want her to leave and go back to the dorms.
Not only because when she’s with me, I can see her and know she’s safe, but because I’ve gotten so used to being around her that the thought of her not being there makes me itchy and has a weird feeling forming in my gut.
I don’t understand what any of it means, but I’m trying not to overthink it.
We get out of the car, and I open the trunk, taking out both of our bags and slinging one over each of my shoulders before nodding for Lana to go ahead of me, since I’ve apparently turned into a gentleman in the last couple of weeks.
Lana bounds up the steps with me following behind her, her hips swaying, and I can’t wait to get her inside and tear those damn gym leggings from her body. She’s been wearing them a lot lately, and I’m pretty sure it’s because she knows they drive me wild. The way they mold to her ass and thighs makes me hard as soon as I see her in them, and she knows it.
I’m so lost in my head, picturing what I want to do to her—or what I want her to do to me—once we get inside that Idon’t realize she’s stopped in front of me, and I almost walk into her. I steady myself and frown at her staring towards the entrance. Since I’m still behind her and on the steps, I can’t see what she’s looking at.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, already on high alert.
“You said the guys weren’t coming back until tonight, right?” she murmurs and bends down, reaching into her boot and taking out a knife.
Oh, wonderful. We’re playing with knives again.
Only not in a fun way, this time.
“No, they’re not,” I say and put the bags down on the ground before stepping closer, only to find the door of the cottage open a crack. Even if the guys did come back early, they’d never leave the door open. We all grew up with money, and we all grew up knowing we’d be targets, so despite what Lana and Dare seem to think, we do actually take security seriously.
“Get behind me,” I whisper and go to step in front of her, but she snorts, shaking her head, and kicks the door open before charging inside.
