I don't like the way every male in the building keeps casting glances her way. There are too many of them for me to beat every single one of them up, and besides, they're not doing anything but looking. I know that technically what they're doing isn't wrong, but it grates on everything in me because Penny is mine whether she realizes that yet or not.
She doesn't glance my way anymore. It's like she's completely forgotten I'm here, and the thought that she can push me out of her mind so easily rankles me.
It was obvious she was less than thrilled to see me, and that makes my heart fall. If her opinion of me is that low, it looks like I'm going to have to work a lot harder than I anticipated to convince my girl that we belong together.
But I'm up to the challenge. I don't care what it takes. I'll do whatever I have to to show Penny how much I care about her.
And if that means standing in the corner and watching her as she parties to make sure she's safe, then that's what I'll do.
To be honest, from the way she always sat in the corner of the lunch room with her nose in a book, I never pegged her for a party girl, and I still don't think she really is. I think whatever this is, it's her spreading her wings or maybe acting out because it's her first true taste of freedom.
I don't know, but there's no way I'm going to leave her here alone. I know all too well the horrors of what can happen to girls at a frat party, especially if they're all alone. She may have some friends for now, but they're not her roommates. She literally just met them. I can't trust these girls to watch over her. I can't trust anyone to watch over her the way that I will.
My frown deepens and I stiffen when I see another dude approach her. He hands her a fresh glass, and every muscle in my body tightens as she takes a sip. He places his hands on her waist and starts to grind up behind her, and that's when I fucking snap.
I storm across the room, pushing drunken frat boys and coeds out of my way until I reach her. I grab her by the hand and pull her to me.
She giggles before she looks up at me, her smile turning into a frown. “Hey!” she protests. “What are you doing?”
I ignore her and continue pulling her up the stairs.
I hear a few of the guys hooting and hollering, no doubt thinking that I'm taking her upstairs to get laid, but that's the furthest thing on my mind right now. I'm livid with anger at how she's conducting herself.
I can't believe she was careless enough to accept a drink from a stranger like that.
I push her into the first empty room I find and then firmly shut the door, locking it behind me.
She crosses her arms and glares at me, even going so far as to stomp her foot. “Just what is your deal, Joey?”
I try not to get distracted by how my name coming from her lips makes my cock stiffen in my pants or how beautiful she looks with her hazel eyes blazing in anger and her blonde locks wild all around her face where she’s been dancing. Her cheeks are flushed—as is her chest.
Fuck, I swear she's never looked more infuriatingly beautiful.
“My deal is you,” I tell her as I take measured steps toward her.
She squares her shoulders and lifts her chin defiantly as she stands her ground and doesn't back away from me. I'm at least a foot taller than her and probably triple her size. She's such a tiny little thing, and something about that makes my chest swell with protectiveness.
I motion toward her. “Why are you dressed like this? Why are you acting like this? Accepting drinks from random strangers?” I shake my head. “That's not you, Penny.”
“How would you know anything about me?” Her eyes glitter up at me. “You've never even spoken to me before tonight.”
I look down and see her try to hide the hurt, but I see the flicker of it in her eyes before she looks away, and it pierces something in my heart.
Did I do the wrong thing? Should I have approached her a couple of years ago? But her father would have skinned me alive. She wasn't legal yet, and I was sure he'd have no doubt thrown my ass in jail just for taking her out on a date even if we didn't do anything.
“Maybe you're right,” I tell her softly, “but we went to high school together, Jenny. I've never seen you dress this way.”
Her lip trembles as she chances a glance back up at me. “I didn't think you ever saw me.”
She looks back down and lets out a shaky breath before she crosses her arms again, as if she's angry at herself with that admission.
My heart softens as hope lights my chest.
I can help myself no longer and reach out a hand to tip her chin until she's looking up at me with watery eyes.
“Jenny, honey, I've always seen you.”
CHAPTERFOUR