Shadow Mate - Jen L. Grey Page 0,58

to come home with me one weekend." Kai chuckled. "I've never had him want to spend time with a girl I'm interested in before. It's kind of nice, but I think it's because of whatever that means." He pointed to the necklace.

"It's just five paw prints." I didn't see what the big deal was. I pulled it out so he could see it more clearly.

"It's sorta like The Blood Council, which is even more of a reason not to wear it." He ran his fingers down my arm. "I don't want anything bad to happen to you."

"You're right." I'd have to ask Mom about it next time I saw her.

"Here, let me get it." He turned me around gently and brushed my hair to the side. As he unclasped the lock, his fingers brushed my neck.

It should've given me chills and made my body warm, but it didn't.

"There." He held out the necklace, and I turned back around, taking it from him.

"Thanks for telling me." He didn't have to. He could have kept this all a secret from me, but he was being honest. I was learning how damn rare that was around here.

"Always." He smiled.

"Come on. Let's go." Bree yelled from the living room. "You two better not be getting it on. We gotta get to KSU and pronto. My man's waiting on me."

"Dear God," Tripp whined. "I don't want to be the only one who has to suffer her obsessive need to get out the door. Get your asses in here. You can make out later."

I was going to kill him for that. He knew what was going on.

"Come on, we’d better go." He held his hand out to me.

"Yeah, one second." I rushed over to my jewelry box and put my necklace back in it. Once it was situated, I turned to him and smiled. "Now I am." I walked over and took his hand in mine.

It was time to go.

As we pulled into KSU's parking lot for the game, I couldn't help but feel tense. "Are you sure you want to park your car where everyone else does? It's going to get banged up." The parking lot was already full, and the game was still over an hour out.

"It's just a car, Mia." He glanced at me and smiled.

It was more than a fucking car; it was a 2020 Bentley Bentayga. The car probably cost more than all of my parents’ and Max's vehicles combined.

"Not all of us come from money like you two do." Tripp leaned forward between the front seats to glance at me and then Kai. "And I'm with her."

"It's just metal." Bree snorted.

"More like plastic." At least that's how the exteriors look nowadays with all these new vehicles.

"True." She tilted her head to the side.

Kai found a parking spot near the back and pulled into it. "It'll be fine." He put the car in park and turned off the engine.

We all climbed out and headed toward the dorms.

"So your brother lives on campus?" Kai caught up to walk beside me.

"Yup, he had to his freshman and sophomore years though I’m not sure why." I shrugged my shoulders. "The last I heard, Nate and he might be renting an apartment together off-campus next year."

"Nate's current roommate graduates, so it's kind of perfect timing." Bree appeared on my other side.

"Well, this place is kind of cool." Tripp glanced around, and he winked at a couple of girls that walked by. "I'm not with her in case you're interested." He pointed at Bree.

One girl slowed down and smiled. "That's interesting."

"Really? You're pulling that shit right in front of me?" Bree's mouth dropped, and she tensed up. "Remember what I told you would happen the next time you even thought about cheating?"

"What?" The girl wrinkled her nose in disgust and turned to catch up with her friends.

I burst out laughing.

"What the hell?" Tripp lifted both hands in the air and shook his head despite the smile spreading across his face.

"Sorry, I couldn't resist." She bumped her shoulder into his. "Anyway, she was a slut. You need someone better than that."

"Who said I was looking for a relationship?" He pointed at Bree and then me and Kai. "You are catching up with Nate, and those two are on a date …" He paused and pursed his lips, "kind of a date. And I'm all alone. So let me have some fun."

"Oh, stop." Bree pushed his arm. "You'll find another one in seconds. Just don't make us hang