“Um, Liv, that might just be you,” Erika interjects.
Livvie’s head twirls toward her friend. “What do you mean?”
The smaller girl shrugs. “Football players aren’t really my thing. No offense.”
“None taken.”
“I’m offended,” Livvie declares. “How can you not like football players? I mean, have you seen Levi’s body? It’s like he’s been chiseled out of marble. Show her, Levi.” My girl tugs at the bottom of my T-shirt. I bat her hands away. Livvie giggles and tries again.
Beside us, Erika gasps. “Did you hear that?”
The fear in her voice has me straightening immediately. I shove Livvie behind me. “Hear what?” I demand.
“I-I thought I heard a-a-a bear. I heard something growl,” she exclaims. “Over there.”
She points slightly to the rear of us into a collection of trees. I peer into the darkness but don’t see anything. I calculate my odds. I’ve got two girls—one of them who means the world to me. I could stay and fight or I could hustle them home to safety. I opt for the latter.
“Erika should come home with us,” Livvie announces.
I tamp down a feeling of irritation at my private time with Livvie being interrupted by her roommate. A woman’s safety is more important than getting my dick wet. “Sounds like a plan.”
“Let’s stop for ice cream. We can make banana splits,” Livvie suggests.
Erika nods in eager agreement.
“Hey, Audley,” I hear behind me.
I spin around and hold my arms out to shield the girls. When my eyes fall on Tank, I relax and offer my hand in greeting. “Tank, my brother. What’s up?”
He comes forward and greets me, bumping my shoulder with his. “Nothing. Good game, by the way.”
“Thanks.”
“I’ll take the little one off your hands. I’m heading to her dorm anyway.”
“Oh, she’s not going to her dorm,” Livvie pipes up. “We’re taking her home with us.”
“I mean, maybe she wants to go to her dorm,” I say. Tank’s a good guy. In fact, I think Zeke asked him to walk Erika home from the party.
“She doesn’t.” Livvie threads her arm through her friend’s elbow. “She wants to come and have banana split sundaes with us, don’t you, Erika?”
“I mean, well, I guess?” Erika doesn’t sound sure.
Before any of us can get another word out, Tank has Erika draped over his shoulder, one arm clamped around her legs and the other palming her ass. “Like, I said. I’m headed to Erika’s dorm anyways. See you around.”
He takes off with Erika pounding tiny fists against his back, which I’m sure he’s not feeling.
“Hey, come back here!” Livvie yells. She turns to me. “Go after them.”
“Ah, I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Tank’s halfway to the dorm already. He moves fast for a big man. I’m surprised.
“The bad idea is letting some…Neanderthal run off with her. She’s my roommate and it’s my duty to protect her.”
“I think she’s okay.” I point at the outline of the couple. Erika’s no longer being carried fireman-style over Tank’s shoulder. Instead, he’s lowered her to his chest and she’s got both arms wrapped around his neck.
“Oh.” Livvie stares for a minute. “I guess we can check on them later.”
“Sounds good.” I tuck my hand around her ass cheek and pull my girl closer to me. “Let’s go home.”