take you up on your offer for some French.”
“I don’t want her.” I moved around to stand in front of her, and she raised her chin defiantly. “I want you.”
She shook her head, laughing in a bemused way. “You don’t even know me.”
“So? Let me get to know you. This weekend. We can celebrate your move into the building.”
“Thanks,” she said and moved in a step closer. She wet her lips slowly, with intent. Her eyes lowered in a sexy, hooded way and she nibbled her bottom lip. “But no thanks,” she finished and offered me a patronizing pat on the chest before brushing past my shoulder and heading to her friends. “Trust me, Archie. This Betty’s not interested.”
I rushed to follow her, chugging the rest of my beer. “If I recall, Betty was quite interested in Archie.”
She turned, walking across the room backward. “Not this time.” Her eyes flicked to Chrissy, still shaking her ass on my coffee table. “You’d do better with Veronica.”
Jesus. I looked back and forth from Shelby to Chrissy. I could have Chrissy tonight…easily. Only, damn, I didn’t want her. Didn’t want any of them, just Shelby. I shook myself out of it. It was the challenge, that was all. It had to be. Falling into bed with girls was just too damn easy these days, especially while at a party. I watched her cross the room, landing next to Harrison. She leaned against his shoulder, and he draped an arm casually around her, as though it was second nature for him to touch her.
Annoyance and jealousy seethed through me. Yeah, fucking irrational, I know. I tossed my empty bottle into the recycle bin and grabbed the shot Brad had poured earlier. Squeezing my eyes shut, I swallowed the liquid, and it burned the whole way down to my stomach. I hissed a curse, pressing the back of my hand to my lips, and slid the shot glass to the end of the bar. “One more,” I called to Brad, who leaned there next to the bottle of José, checking his phone. I turned to the fridge, grabbing two more beers. Why, exactly, had I been taking it easy tonight? Because I had class tomorrow morning? So what. It was a double fisting kind of night.
Chapter Three
SHELBY
My mind reeled, running like a vengeful toddler on a sugar rush. Walking away from Tate took all of my effort. He was clearly just a flirt. But dang, did it feel good to flirt back. It had been months since my last date—I just didn’t have much time for it. And to be honest, the guys weren’t exactly knocking down my door to get to me.
What would I have done if he had called my bluff and kissed me, right here in front of everyone? I shivered and the tremble caused my nipples to harden. Shit. Clearly I wanted him to kiss me…whether or not I wanted to admit that to him or myself, it was the truth.
Harrison pulled me in tighter. “Everything all right in there?” He tapped the tip of his finger to my head and I nodded.
“How’s the sangria?”
He handed me his cup with a smirk and I drank the fruity deliciousness. Seriously, who would drink beer—something that tasted like the devil’s piss—when drinks as amazing as sangria existed? I had another sip then handed it back to Harrison. He pushed the cup back over to me. “No, you can have it. You seem to be enjoying it more, anyway.”
Reagan leaned in, her eyes floating somewhere past my shoulder. “He wants you.”
Harrison snapped his head up, his glare darkening. “Who?”
Reagan rolled her eyes. “Who do you think? Tate. Duh.”
Harrison tensed beside me, and I tapped my elbow to his ribs, offering a comforting smile. “He wants anyone with tits. Especially if that someone says no.” My neck burned with the desire to turn and look at him, but I was proud of myself that I didn’t. I could feel his eyes on me, searing into the back of my head. “Trust me. He wants nothing more from me than another name he can brag about at poker night.”
“Then he’s a fucking moron.” Harrison gave me a small smile, and I returned it, finishing the sangria.
“I dunno, Shelby,” said Reagan. “He’s seriously staring at you. I think you want him to be like the other guys. It’s easier to run if he is.” Her tone was light, but she looked right through me to my soul.