Summer Breeze Kisses - Addison Moore Page 0,253

the other half of me.” She bites down on her lip the way she does when she’s about to cry, and I panic for a moment. As history has proven, whenever one of us cries, the other is not far off. It’s biology, genetics, or lousy timing—take your pick. “I guess it kills me that he sort of looks at you that way.”

Crap. She’s got me. It’s true. “Hey—in no way are you being replaced. I love you. And just because I have room in my heart for one more person doesn’t change that.”

“Wow,” she marvels, blinking back tears. “Who died and made you the king of mush?”

“So, we’re good?” Harper gives Trixie’s sleeve a quick tug. Her eyes are glittering with tears too.

“Yes.” Trixie makes a face. “You know, I never really liked Janelle. I don’t know why, but we never clicked. Maybe you and I can hang out sometime—without the giant toad following us around. I’m in Cutler Tower, so maybe you could meet me at Hallowed Grounds once in a while? I’ll tell you all those deep, dark secrets Knox is too ashamed to let out.”

“Don’t you dare.” I glance to Harper. “Not that there are any.”

“I’m definitely taking you up on it. And by the way, I’m in Prescott Hall. I’m sharing a room with an old friend of mine.”

Trixie’s eyes explode in size. “I thought you two—”

“We’re not living together,” I offer. “Harper thought it was best to take things slow.”

“I’m all about the mysteries and mud masks, if you know what I mean.” She winks at my sister. “Plus, I’ll probably still be at his place more than mine anyway.”

“Like every night.” I frown at my sister. “So don’t use that key I gave you, just in case.”

“Eww.” She looks as if she’s ready to puke. “Well, I’d better get in there. My new roommate is already on the prowl, and I have some catching up to do.”

A groan comes from deep within me. “No, Trix. Stay away from the boys. The guys in there are animals.”

“It’s true.” Harper laughs as if she knows firsthand, and she does. “They’re all hungry, ravenous bears, and they’re hungry for human flesh—especially young, tasty girls with long legs and big—”

“All right”—I wraps my arms around Harper—“this is my baby sister we’re talking to. Let’s keep it G.”

“I’m no baby.” Trixie eyes the crowd as if she’s going in for the kill.

“Whoa, slow your roll. This isn’t high school. You’re not going to run in there and tease some poor kid to death. These boys move fast and you don’t. I want to keep it that way.” I know for a fact Trixie is a virgin. She’s saving herself for love, not giving it away to any idiot she sees. “Stay away from the frat boys. Hell, stay far away from the jocks. And whatever the hell you do, don’t come near those eligible idiots I hang out with. You need a nice kid—someone untarnished by life, and there’s no one who fits the bill at Briggs. Sorry, sis. You’re out of luck.”

Trixie’s mouth opens slow in some incredulous sarcastic smile as if everything I said was laughable. “Maybe you’re the one out of luck, Knox. I’ll see you both later.” She dives into the crowd, and I lose sight of her. A part of me wants to dive right in there, wrap my arms around her and keep her safe from all the hurt, all the psychos in the world, and that’s just the dudes at Briggs.

Harper inches me to the door. “Boy, you are going to die a slow and agonizing death when she finally finds the one.”

“Not true. I happen to know for a fact Trixie’s personality is inhospitable to the male species. There’s no way she’s finding the one at Briggs. She’s a castrator, a walking dominatrix. No dude is going to want to hand over his balls just because she says so. I’m safe right through grad school with her. Trust me on that.”

Harper bubbles with a laugh as we step out into the balmy night air. A floral perfume replaces the scent of pizza and beer as the rowdy bar gives way to the final Saturday night of summer vacation.

“It’s been a long, hot summer,” Harper moans low and sexy as hell, and my balls ache just to hear it. “Sylvia is in desperate need of a massage. Do you think Will might be able to help her with that?”

“Will is already