Shadow Mate - Jen L. Grey Page 0,51
to ourselves.
As we reached the main door, Bree's phone went off. She pulled it out, and a huge grin spread across her face. "I hate to do this, but I've got to go."
"Everything okay?" Liam couldn't have gotten injured. My heart began to race.
"Chill." She bit on her bottom lip and sighed. "I hate to pick up and leave, but I haven't seen Nate in months. He just let me know he's in town." She smiled and shrugged. "And he's staying overnight, so I'm going to go spend some quality time with him if that's okay with you three. The game just finished, and the humans are leaving campus. It's my chance to blend in."
"You're leaving me here with those two who are supposed to be on a date?" Tripp lifted both hands in the air and shook his head. "Aw, hell no. I'm leaving too, then."
No, wait. That can't happen. "You don't have to."
Tripp chuckled, and a wide, evil smirk spread across his face. "Oh, I do. I'll see you tomorrow at some point." He turned toward Bree and wagged a finger. "Don't get pregnant."
"Oh my God ..." Bree's mouth dropped open, and then she snorted. "I'm not doing that. I'm going to get the car keys and a change of clothes, and then I'm out of here." She buzzed us in the door and saluted Tripp. "Don't get too drunk tonight."
"Yes, Mom … I have to at least have one good college experience. Get drunk and find a good lay." He pointed at Bree and then me. "It's not going to be happening with you two, so I'll go find third place." He patted Kai on the shoulder. "See you." He turned back, heading in the direction of the stadium.
Not knowing what else to do, I followed Bree inside with Kai right behind me. I liked Kai, but I couldn't help feeling nervous about him and me being alone in the dorm together. Shifters had needs, and most were pretty uninhibited by them. Although with Liam's smell still in my nose, there was no way I could do something with him.
We passed through the lobby and went straight to the elevators.
"Who's Nate?" Kai's forehead lined.
"He's my..." Her eyes widened, and she stopped talking.
"A close friend of hers if you know what I mean." I hated making sexual innuendos, but if she didn't want to let him know that he was her mate, there wasn't really any other option I could go with. Kai knew her family, for Christ’s sake.
"Yeah, we like to hook up every once in a while. He's the best I've ever had." A small smile spread across her face.
She’d meant that.
"Oh, okay. So he goes to another school?" Kai wrapped an arm around me as we entered the elevator.
"Yup. Anyway, I'll be back first thing in the morning so don't worry about me." Bree bounced on the tips of her toes. Soon, the elevator door opened, and she flew out of it.
"Someone is eager." Kai chuckled as we made it to the wide-open door.
"Yeah, she is." I wanted to ask her to stay but couldn't. That would be selfish. She rarely got time with him as it was.
In the next second, she breezed back through the living room with a small overnight bag. "All right. See you in the morning." She hugged me and hurried out the door, slamming it shut.
The next few seconds were the most awkward ones of my entire life.
Kai took my hand and pulled me over to the couch. "You smell anxious."
Great, so now I smelled bad. "I'm being stupid." I took a deep breath as I sat and turned my body in his direction. "It's just you and me alone ..." Gah, I always rambled in awkward situations. "In a dorm by ourselves."
"We don't have to do anything if you don't want to." He turned his body toward me and smiled. "I'm really into you. If you don't want to rush into anything, I can wait."
God. I was really being stupid. Here, sitting before me, was one of the most attractive and nicest guys I'd ever met. Why didn't I want to do anything with him? It wasn’t like Liam would ever be this for me. "No, I'm sorry. I really am being stupid."
"You had four assholes staring you down during half-time. I'd say it's okay to be a little anxious." He reached out and brushed his fingertips along my cheek. "I've got all the time in the world for