Ten minutes later, I strolled out of the room and made a beeline for the dorms.

Chapter Twenty

Why hadn’t I realized until now that I’d never been on a date? What do I wear? Are we eating? Holy crap! I’m think I’m going to be sick…

Kiersten

“Does it look okay? Really?” I asked for the twentieth time.

Gabe smacked his hand against his forehead and cursed. “Just chill out! Geez, I have half a mind to give you alcohol right now. Sit. It’s almost ready.”

I smirked.

Another deadpan expression from Gabe as he ran the iron over the white shirt. “I take this to my grave you know.”

“What? The white shirt?” I asked innocently.

“No.” He rolled his eyes and unplugged the iron. “My Martha Stewart skills.”

“He can sew too,” Lisa announced as she walked into the room and dangled a necklace in front of my face. “In fact, I’m pretty sure if you asked him to knit you a sweater you’d have one by Christmas.”

“Thanks, cousin.” Gabe flipped her off and threw the shirt at me.

“Hey!” I caught it midair. “We don’t want all your hard work going to waste.”

“I need more guy friends,” Gabe mumbled as he took a seat on the couch and sighed into his hands.

Lisa gasped. “I’m offended! You know I’m your favorite.”

His eyes narrowed. “You know you’re a loser when your best friend is your cousin.”

“Aw, Gabe.” Lisa pressed her hand to her chest. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

“Right.” He folded his arms and groaned, leaning his head back on the couch. “I need a smoke.”

“You quit,” Lisa sang.

“Fine, then I need alcohol.”

“You don’t drink anymore.”

I laughed when Gabe gave me an exasperated look. He pushed to his feet and walked over to the kitchen. I heard water running and then cursing.

“Don’t mind him.” Lisa waved in Gabe’s direction. “He really isn’t as annoyed as he seems. Promise.”

“Lies,” he yelled from the kitchen.

“Now…” Lisa pointed to my t-shirt. “Strip. He worked hard on this and I want to make sure it looks good with the skirt.”

“Uh…” I shook my head no. “Gabe’s in the kitchen, like right there. I’ll change in my room.”

“It’s like he’s gay. I promise he won’t notice.” Lisa nodded emphatically. Another curse was heard from the kitchen. Poor Gabe.

“Fine.” I quickly took off my T-shirt and reached for the one she held out to me. I slowly did the buttons and then stood for her to examine me. I had a cute miniskirt with tan and white stripes that hugged every curve and a white button up blouse that hung loosely over my hips. In my mind I thought it would look awfu,l but by the large smile on Lisa’s face I could tell I was the one in the wrong.

“Damn,” Gabe said from behind me.

I jerked around.

He grinned. “Oh, and by the way, not gay and most definitely watched.” He said watched with such a predatory snap of his teeth that I took a step back.

“Gabe, stop scaring her,” Lisa scolded. “Now, Kiersten, put on the necklace and heels and you’ll be ready.”

I did as she said and then stood in front of both of them and did a quick turn.

Gabe leaned forward, his forearms flexing against his legs as he put pressure on his legs to stand. “Nope. Change.”

“What? Why?” I felt my face fall . “Doesn’t it look good?”

“Lisa, do you want her to be taken advantage of?” He shook his head and walked around me like a tiger stalking its prey.

“The top isn’t even low! She has it buttoned for crying out loud!” Lisa argued.

“Right,” Gabe snarled.

Before I knew what was happening he’d reached around me and put two of his fingers directly on my chest at the last button. “And every damn minute of the night he’s going to wonder how many seconds it will take to strip every last button on her shirt.”

“The skirt’s fine.” Lisa stood her ground.

“Right.” Gabe’s hand moved to my skirt and gave it a little tug. “It may as well be a second skin the way it hugs every single curve, and you know what guys think.”

Lisa rolled her eyes. I, however, stood frozen in place.

“He’s going to want to touch her legs. He’s going to want to—”

“Gabe!” Lisa stood to her feet and marched over to us. “Is this about him? Or you?”

“I don’t want in her pants!” he all but yelled.

“Um, I’m standing right here,” I said in a quiet voice.

Gabe paced around the room in front of me. “It’s about him. What if he touches her? What if she can’t find her whistle, and—”

“You’re going to be such a great dad,” Lisa announced. “Now, it’s time to cut the apron strings. Tell her she looks pretty and let it go.”

Gabe crossed his arms and pouted.

I waited with Lisa.

Finally, he swore and looked me in the eyes. “You look really pretty.”

“Thank you!” I slowly walked over to him and kissed him on the cheek. “That means a lot.”

“Lisa,” Gabe said with gravel in his voice. “Give us a minute.”

“But—”

“I said give us a minute.”

“Fine.” She stomped off into her room leaving me alone with Gabe.

“Do you know how to hit a guy?” he asked, grabbing my hands. “If I pull you close to my body, do you know how to knee me, where to knee me?”

I lifted my knee quickly, causing Gabe to stumble back and smile. “Well done.”

“Anything else, Dad?” I laughed.

He growled and pulled me close again. “If he tries to touch you, if he does anything that you don’t want, you blow the damn whistle and call me. I don’t care what time of night it is, okay?”

I sighed and nodded.

Gabe released me.

“Why are you so protective of me? You don’t even know me.” I went to sit on the couch, waiting for Wes to come pick me up.

“No freaking clue.” Gabe took a seat next to me and put his arm around the back of the couch. “I just can’t stand the idea of something happening to you. And even though I keep saying this until I’m blue in the face, it’s not because I’m jealous. I just… I have a really bad feeling about him.”

“You gotta let the baby birds fly, Gabe.” I smacked his knee. “And you have to trust my judgment. He’s been a complete gentleman with me.”

“I know that.” Gabe pinched the bridge of his nose. “But don’t you think it’s weird? His entourage? The fact that he’s an RA? I mean, why is he an RA? I even asked a few of the other upperclassmen. It was never supposed to be him, and nobody’s talking. And then the whole football thing. One of my friends on the team said he collapsed at practice. What if he’s on drugs or something?”

“I highly doubt that.” I shook my head, refusing to believe it. “I think he’s probably just overwhelmed. I mean, wouldn’t you be?”

After a while Gabe answered. “Probably. Just be careful.”

“And for the twentieth time,” I sang out. “I will.”

At the sound of the knock on the door, my heart began thumping against my chest as if it was going to beat its way out and land on the floor.

Lisa ran from her room, nearly tripping over the table blocking her way, and stopped in front of the door, fixed her hair, and swung open the door.

Chapter Twenty-One

For the first time in a year, I wanted to live — because I wanted to spend every freaking day watching her open her eyes to the world. Hell, I wanted to be the first thing she saw. Sometimes, reality’s a bitch.

Weston

I don’t know what I’d thought she’d be wearing — but it wasn’t that. It was a short skirt, a billowy shirt, and high heels made to make guys want to touch her feet. And I was so not a foot person.

“You look…” I swallowed. “Beautiful.”

I heard Gabe grunt behind her. So clearly he still wasn’t a fan. I made a mental note to try to win him over later that week rather than sit by and listen to him grunt and groan every time I paid a compliment to the girl I liked.