Unknown: I can be there in 15. Where can I find u?
O’Neal: There’s a bench on the left side of the building
Unknown: Got it
He didn’t say anything after that, and she programmed his name into her phone. She had no doubt that his mom, Clare, had put him up to this. Clare had been so great since she’d found out about Nana and Pop cutting off O’Neal’s funds. But even if Auden was doing this out of obligation, she felt better knowing that she was about to see a familiar face.
She’d just ignore the embarrassment still burning in her stomach over the last time she’d seen that face.
And kissed it.
CHAPTERTWO
Auden grabbed two bottles of water out of the fridge and tossed them into his backpack. He checked the time on his phone. If he was going to get over to O’Neal’s dorm by the time he’d told her, he needed to get going—and get this over with.
Lennox stepped out of his bedroom, zipping up his jeans, his blond hair still wet from the shower and his T-shirt slung over his shoulder. The new tattoo he’d added over the summer, scrawled poetry lines that traced up the side of his left rib cage, seemed to dance as Lennox exhaled loudly. “Damn. Watch out for the hot water setting in that shower. It goes from cold to boil-your-nuts-off with one little twist.”
“I’ll call Doug about it. He said they’ll take care of whatever we need here,” Auden said, grabbing his keys. He’d hoped to slip out before Len was done with his shower but no such luck.
Lennox pulled his shirt over his head and nodded toward Auden’s backpack. “Where you headed? Wanna grab lunch?”
He glanced toward the door. “Can’t. I need to go to campus and help a friend get moved in. I told her I’d be there in a few minutes.”
Lennox’s eyebrows lifted in interest. “Which friend?”
“Just a friend of my sister’s. My mom asked if I could help her out. Her family couldn’t be here and she’s a freshman, so you know how crazy move-in day is.” Auden realized too late that he was talking too much, giving too many details.
“A family friend. A freshman.” Lennox smiled that wolfish smile of his, the one that made it nearly impossible to ignore him. “Your poker face is shit today, Aud. I mean, I feel like I’ve taught you better, but you’re showing your whole hand.”
Auden groaned. “Shut up, man. I gotta go.”
“It’s her, isn’t it?” Lennox looked all too proud of himself.
Auden’s fingers flexed. “It’s no one.”
He laughed. “Oh shit,it actuallyis.Hell, I was just casting a line out to see if I could catch some trout. This is little sis’s friend, isn’t it? The high schooler who’d never kissed a boy and had you feeling all the guilty feelings?”
“Bye. I’m going.” Auden gripped the door handle.
“Hell yes, you are. And I’m going too,” Lennox said, swiping his Doc Martens from the side of the couch and meeting him by the door.
“No way,” Auden said, tone sharp. “I’m just going to carry some boxes because my mom asked me to help her out and then I’m done. This isn’t a social visit.”
Lennox grinned unrepentantly and tugged on his shoes, hopping on one foot as he did so. “Get over yourself, man. I’m simply being a friendly graduate student helping out the underlings. The poor girl is brand-new to campus and probably doesn’t know anyone. I can help with boxes too. I’m a great welcoming committee.”
A ripple of trepidation went through Auden. Len was one of his favorite people in the world, but he could also be a weapon of mass seduction. In their kinky corner of the campus underground, that worked to Auden’s benefit. Lennox had taught him a lot, introduced him to things he never would’ve known he liked. But Auden didn’t need that world or anyone in it touching the one that O’Neal and his family occupied.
“Come on,” Lennox cajoled and put his hands in a prayer position. “I’ll be on my best behavior. Promise. An absolute choirboy.”
He gave Lennox a look of warning. “Fine. You can come, but O’Neal is off-limits. Like one hundred percent off-limits. Beyond the fact that she’s a freshman, she’s a direct line to my sister. I can’t have her knowing me as anything but the guy I am at home.”
“Mr. Pious Goody Goody who accidentally-on-purpose kissed her and who secretly wanted to relieve her of her virginity in your parents’ kitchen. Got it.” Lennox nodded resolutely like he was memorizing the story.
Auden made a pained sound. “I’m serious, Len. No messing around. No flirting. No innuendo. She’s…you’ll see. She’s smart as hell, but she’s been wrapped up like fine china her whole life. She’s never even been on a date. So don’t freak her out. Being here on campus where they’re handing out condoms instead of Bibles is probably overwhelming enough.”
Lennox lifted his hands, his expression losing its jest. “I hear you, okay? I actually am capable of behaving myself when I need to.”
Auden let out a breath and nodded. “Fine. Let’s go and get this over with.”