Out of Line (Out of Line #1)(51)
Author: Jen McLaughlin

My jaw ticked. “I know it’s not whoever you’re wearing this outfit for.”

“Oh?” She paced in front of me. “Let me guess. You’re the type of guy I need?”

“No,” I said honestly. “You deserve much better than me.”

That made her stop pacing, and she looked at me in surprise. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” I caught her jaw and tilted her face up to mine. “I’d like to say I deserve you, but the truth is I don’t and never will. You deserve a prince, and you’re not going to catch him wearing that.”

“Finn…” She swayed toward me, her eyes soft. “I wish—”

“Is there a problem here?” Cory asked, his voice tight. He glared at my hand, which was still on Carrie’s jaw. The little f**ker was probably mad I dared to touch her. “Carrie? Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” Carrie quickly replied. “We were just finishing up here.”

I dropped my hold on Carrie. “There’s not a problem, Cody. Carrie was about to go change.”

“Change?” Cory looked her up and down, and I swore the idiot’s tongue hit the dirt. “She looks great to me.”

“Of course she does,” I muttered.

Carrie shot me an angry look. “Thank you, Cory.”

“This is touching and all,” I said as I crossed my arms and rocked back on my heels. “but what’s your choice?”

“I choose to ignore you and leave with Cory,” she said, tipping her perfect little nose up in the air. “Now, if you’ll excuse us?”

Cory threw an arm over Carrie’s shoulder and shot me a triumphant grin. “See ya later.”

I fell into step beside them. “No need for goodbyes. I’m coming along.”

“No, you’re not.” Carrie stopped walking and shot me down with her sapphire eyes. “Finn. Please. Just go away. You’re going to ruin everything.”

She gave me the look she probably gave her father. The look that made her get away with everything in the world, and then some. The one that begged me to back off, before her cover was blown. If I kept insisting on accompanying her, questions would be asked. She would no longer be just another girl who went to college. She’d be the senator’s daughter—complete with bodyguard.

“You heard her.” Cory pulled Carrie closer to his side, eyeing me cautiously. “Go away. You don’t even go to this school, do you?”

As if she needed protection from me. I was trying to help her, not hurt her.

Wasn’t I?

Or was my jealousy the thing leading me to protest her outfit? Was it really any worse than what every other college girl would be wearing to the party? Maybe I needed to take a step back and stop playing the part of the overprotective boyfriend. I wasn’t hers, and she wasn’t mine. It was none of my business what she did or didn’t wear anymore.

“Fine.” I flexed my fingers. “You know where I’ll be.”

Carrie bit down on her lower lip and glanced away from me. “Thank you.”

I inclined my head, shot a death glare in Cory’s direction, and faded back into the shadows where I belonged.

Chapter 24

Seeing Finn earlier had messed me up. Especially when he asked me to give him another chance. God, I wanted to, but I was too scared. Too scared to put myself out there again. Once a liar, always a liar. If he lied to me about his identity, what else would he lie to me about? What else had he already lied about?

I grabbed my fourth drink of the night, tipping it back and drinking deeply. It tasted like crap, but I didn’t care. Not tonight. Seeing him had thrown me off-kilter. I’d been so sure I could get over him. Sure that eventually I wouldn’t miss him or need him or want him. Then he’d had to go and kiss me. That had ruined everything. My body had responded immediately to him, as if it remembered the things he could do with his hands and tongue.

And it wanted more. I wanted more.

Marie came over to me, grinning. “Well, if it isn’t the prodigal roommate. Out drinking like the rest of us college kids.”

“Yeah.” I forced a smile for my roommate. We weren’t friends, but I didn’t hate her. “Crazy, huh?”

“A welcome crazy.” Marie nudged me with her shoulder. “I was starting to think I bunked with Mother Mary or something.”

I rolled my eyes. “Believe me, that’s not the case.”

“Coulda fooled me.” Marie took a long sip of her beer. “Although, I saw you on the beach the other week. Surfing. Who was that fine hottie you had with you? And more importantly, who is he to you?”

I tensed. “Him? No one. Nothing.”

“Can you tell me where to find him? I’d like to be his something.”

If Marie thought I would give her Finn’s info, she was barking up the wrong tree. No one would be getting near him with my help while I still had breath in my lungs. “Sorry, I have no idea. He was just some guy…”

A soft laugh sounded from outside, and I glanced over my shoulder. Of course he’d heard that. I turned around and smiled at Marie. Luckily, she was too distracted to see the falseness behind the gesture. That, or she didn’t care.

“Actually,” I said, leaning closer. “I think he’s g*y.”

“Really?” Marie gasped, her cheeks flushed. “Are you sure?”

I nodded, grinning when I heard a few mumbled curses from outside the open window. “Positive. He kept talking about Cory and asking if he was single.”

Marie sighed. “It’s true. All the good ones are g*y or taken.”

“Sadly so,” I said, keeping my voice solemn, even though I wanted to cackle with glee. I pointed at a cute guy across the room, who was watching us. “But he looks single and straight.”

Marie licked her lips. “Wish me luck.”

“You don’t need it,” I said, smiling. “But good luck.”

Marie took off, a swing in her step that hadn’t been there a second before, and crossed the room to the guy. Within seconds of Marie leaving my side, Cory arrived. He threw an arm around me, throwing us both off balance. I didn’t know how many drinks he’d had so far, but it had to be a lot.

Too many for him to be trustworthy.

Maybe he needed some fresh air to sober up. I fanned my cheeks again. “I’m hot. Can we go for a walk?”

Cory straightened and let out a hiccup. “Sure. Let’s go.”