I rocked back on my heels and laughed. “I don’t recall you asking for forgiveness, but you’ll be one step closer if you have skittles.”
“Please.” He snorted. “I always have skittles; they are one of the four food groups.” he held up his hand for a high five.
I moved to hit it only to have him raise it higher and higher; he busted out laughing and then flicked me on the nose. “Still the same old Annie even though you cut your hair.”
My heart sank. “Yeah, still the same old Annie.”
If he knew me, truly knew me, he’d know that wasn’t a compliment, but I was desperate to hang out, to escape, to do anything except feel like a charity case.
“Annie.” Ash’s voice barked out my name like a curse. “The hell are you doing?”
I jerked around in confusion as he stalked toward me, looking more angry Roman god than senior in college.
“I was waiting for you?”
He gritted his teeth. “Tank.”
“Ash.” Tank crossed his arms.
The tension was thick.
Students clearly noticed as they started giving us and the tree a wide berth as if there was going to be a fight between the guys.
“Let’s go.” Ash reached for my arm.
I stepped back. “Actually, Tank invited me over to hang out for a bit.”
Ash’s eyebrows shot up his forehead. “I’m sorry, can you repeat that? Because it sounds like you said Tank here asked to hang out with you.”
Tank glared. “Because I did, dipshit. It’s a free country, and she needs a friend, and lucky her, I’m standing right here.”
“She has me,” Ash proclaimed, sounding like a mini-dictator.
I snorted out a laugh before I could stop myself and then covered my mouth with my shaking hands and muttered, “Sorry.”
“It wasn’t a joke.” Ash eyed me up and down.
Tank started to chuckle. “Could have fooled me… Anyway, I’ll drop her off around dinner. Annie, let’s go—”
“Yes, let’s,” Ash interrupted with a terrifying smile. “She’s under my family’s protection, which means, where she goes, I go, so what are we doing?”
My jaw dropped. Was he seriously inviting himself?
Tank clenched his teeth, eyes wild. “You think I can’t protect her?”
“The way I could?” Ash let out a snort. “Not a chance in hell. Get back to me when you’ve killed your own cousin in cold blood for uttering the word ‘no,’ and then we can talk.”
A chill ran down my spine.
Tank was quiet, and then. “Fine. You can come.”
“I wasn’t asking, but thanks for your permission anyway,” Ash muttered. “I’ll follow you.”
“I’m sure you will.”
“Come on, Annie.” Ash tugged me again. “Apparently, you have a play date.”
I jerked away from him. “Actually, I think I’m going to ride with someone who doesn’t treat me like a toddler.”
His blue eyes flashed. “Annie, I was kidding.”
“It wasn’t funny.” Tears filled my eyes.
He opened his mouth, but I turned away. Whatever he had to say, I didn’t want to hear. It was like he couldn’t help but use his words as weapons, constantly firing them at my face and then my heart for good measure.
I took a step and accidentally collided with a student who obviously wasn’t paying attention as he ran into me. My bag fell to the ground, my two books, kindle, and headphones all fell out, scattering over the concrete.
“Watch where the hell you’re going!” Ash shouted.
I thought he was talking to me.
And then he surged from behind me, grabbing the student by his collar and shoving him into the grass. He was on him in a flash, his fist coming back before colliding with the guy’s jaw. Blood spurted as I heard a crack. Ash shook the guy, then slammed his head back into the grass, again and again, only to hit him in the cheek.
“Son of a bitch!” Tank grabbed Ash from behind, but Ash threw his head back, hitting him in the chin, causing him to stumble backward.
More students circled us.
And then King and Maksim were running into the circle. Thank God they had class today too. A flash of blond hair was all I saw as Maksim leaped into action, grabbing Ash, while King went to the other side and broke them apart, not that the other guy was putting on a good fight.
He looked seconds away from passing out and needing medical care as his eyes rolled to the back of his head.
“Go!” King shoved Ash’s chest. “Tank, get him out of here. Annie, you good?”
I gave him a jerky nod, not trusting my voice as Maksim slowly went to his knees and gathered all my things, shoving them back into my bag, his blue eyes locked on mine. He reminded me of an angel with his fair looks and strong jaw.
“You sure you’re okay?”
“I will be. I’m headed to Tank’s,” I whispered, grabbing my bag from him.
He kept holding onto it. “So was he pissed about you hanging out with Tank or the fact that that idiot ran into you?”