Luka repeated it as if committing it to memory. Then his attention swung back to me. “Now we have to find Vasilije.”
He headed back inside and pulled on my hand much like it was a leash. We squeezed our way through the people in the main room and went to the kitchen.
We were further away from the music, but the roar of conversation was much louder. Luka took a sip of his beer, and then tossed the cup into an overfull trashcan. The laminate floor was sticky with spilled beer, and the room was stiflingly hot.
His gaze scoured the area, and he scowled. Obviously Vasilije wasn’t here. Luka pulled me to the giant guy who was still manning the keg. “Have you seen my brother?”
The guy shook his head. “You check the game room?”
It was our next stop, but again, Luka searched the sea of faces and scowled. “Where the fuck is he?”
I tried to extract my hand from his grip, but it only made him squeeze tighter. My head was buzzing again from the fresh wave of alcohol, and this one hit me fast. Luka was determined to find his brother, and I could use that to my advantage. “Why don’t we split up and look for him?”
His jaw set and his expression turned icy. It made me feel like I was the dumbest person in the world, aided by his patronizing tone. “So you know what my brother looks like?”
Crap. No, I didn’t have a clue.
“Or maybe you’re just trying to leave without me again.” He yanked me up against his chest, so I collided with his hard frame. “I’m taking you home, and that is not up for discussion. Got it?”
I pressed my free hand on his chest and pushed off of him, trying to put space between us. Why was I fighting him on this, anyway? The car would be faster, warmer, and safer than walking home drunk by myself. Nothing could happen once we got to the dorm. Luka could demand I invite him upstairs all he wanted, but male visitors after hours had to be signed in at the front desk. I’d simply refuse to do it, and he’d have no choice but to leave or face security.
Luka angrily tapped out another text message, but it must have gone unanswered, because he dragged me all over the house searching. After a while, his grip on mine became less about control and more about support. I stumbled on my heels, and he kept me from crashing to the ground.
Had I forgotten how to walk? It suddenly seemed so . . . challenging. Not the act of it, but the physical exertion. I was so, so sleepy.
Luka pulled abruptly to a stop, and I slammed into him. As I ricocheted backward, he dropped his grip on my hand and his arm looped around my waist, holding me upright. He glared at the man in front of us. “Where the fuck have you been?”
This was Luka’s brother? They looked nothing alike, not until Vasilije’s eyebrow lifted in a perfect upside-down V, shooting the same look of disdain Luka was capable of.
“Dan got his drone out. We were at the soccer fields flying it around and shit.”
Vasilije’s costume was a fire-engine red suit and a black shirt, and a pair of horns rose out of his brown hair. He was the devil, and one look made me believe the costume was fitting. Luka’s younger brother was the quintessential frat guy. Attractive. Probably my age or a year older. He looked big and toned beneath his suit, and gave off a cocky, entitled attitude.
“I texted you a bunch of times.” Luka’s face twisted with annoyance.
Vasilije shrugged. “My battery’s dead.”
“Whatever. I’m taking her home,” Luka said, squeezing me tight against him.
Vasilije’s gaze swept over me, like he hadn’t noticed my existence until Luka prompted him to. Why did I feel the urge to stand up straight? Vasilije evaluated me as if I were cattle at an auction.
“Isn’t she a little young for you?” He grinned, flashing a huge smile complete with dimples. Did Luka have dimples? He never smiled, so the world would never know.
“Don’t get into any shit,” Luka snapped, “and we’ll both agree I was here for another two hours.”
“Sounds good to me.” Vasilije waved us off. “You kids have fun, now. Make good choices.”
I couldn’t stop the giggle, and Luka’s gaze snapped to me. His curious expression demanded I explain what was so funny. “Make good choices,” I said. “I think it’s a little late for that.”
What on earth? A strange hint of emotion passed through Luka’s eyes. Was that . . . hurt? It was fleeting and gone in a blink, but existed long enough for me to feel bad, which made no sense. He didn’t care about my feelings; why should I care about his? But I couldn’t stand the disapproval. I was a people pleaser down to the marrow of my bones.