My gaze swung to her. “I have.” I didn’t want to elaborate. They’d been more concerned about my father’s bank account than me.
“Who?” Cocking her head, she narrowed her eyes.
“Uh, Melody Cousins. She was with Ford.” Dipping my gaze to my drink, resting in my lap, I chewed my cheek. “We only dated a few times. It’s not like she was a girlfriend.” She hadn’t done it for me. None of them ever had. I peeked at Malik. He was it for me.
“Hey, do you think I could model?” Lifting her chin, she struck a pose, straightening her spine. “What do you think?”
“I…yeah, sure.” I didn’t have an eye for something like that. After fingering the edge of my cup, I drank the rest of my drink.
She turned toward me, shifting on the couch, and came in close. “You could be a model. You’re very handsome, Greyson.” She ran her fingernail down the front of my thin sweater, her gaze locked on mine and her lips close. “I find you really attractive.” She brushed her mouth across mine.
Jesus, fuck. I twisted my head, grabbed her shoulder and pushed her away. “I, uh, need another drink. How about you?” As I hopped off the couch, my gaze landed on Malik, his gaze hard and jaw clenched. We had to escape this mess.
“Where are you off to?” Malik rose and planted his hands on his hips.
“Getting another round of drinks. Want to help me?” I glanced at Ella, pouting and downing her drink.
“Yes.” He took Tiffany’s cup from her and waited.
“Ella, pass me your cup so I can get you a refill.” I held my hand out.
With a pointed look at Tiffany, Ella gave me her cup. “Don’t be too long, boys. You don’t want to lose us to one of these frat boys.” A lop-sided smile quirked her mouth.
Malik tsked as he seized my elbow and hauled me into the kitchen. Through his teeth, he said, “I can’t do this anymore, Grey. I can’t sit here and watch you kiss her.”
“I didn’t kiss her.” Stomping into the kitchen and stopping at the liquor bottles, I faced him. “You know I don’t want her.” Hell, could I lose Malik over this? My chest stung. “Help me come up with an excuse so we can leave.”
His gaze softened as his shoulders relaxed. With a deep inhale, he shrugged and said, “Hell, we can just tell them the game took a lot out of us, and we’re exhausted. It wouldn’t be a lie.” He huffed. “We’ll tell them we’ll be better rested for tomorrow if they let us go home early tonight.”
With a nod, I tensed my lips and poured fresh drinks. It might work. “Did you put any alcohol in my drink?”
“Yeah, but not a lot. I gave the girls some strong-ass drinks, though. I’m surprised they’re not slurring right now.” He sniggered and added a little more vodka to the girl’s cups. “Tiffany smelled like a distillery when they got here.”
“Yeah, Ella did too.” How much had they drunk at the game? As I lifted two of the refilled cups, Malik grabbed the other two.
I said, “Let’s tell them after these drinks we need to go home.”
“Sounds like a plan.” He wagged his brows at me.
We’d beensuccessful in convincing the girls they’d have a much better date with us tomorrow if they let us leave the party early. They’d wanted to stay longer since Tiffany knew some of the fratboys at the party. I hoped they’d both hook up with them. Maybe it would give Malik and me a break tomorrow.
I parked my car in our garage and followed Malik into the kitchen. All I wanted was him.
“You’re home early,” Tex said, sprawled across the couch and watching a gay Hallmark Christmas movie. “Didn’t go well, I take it?”
He knew about the situation and had kept his opinion to himself—at least with me he had. I wasn’t sure what he’d discussed with Malik. Tex probably thought I was an ass. “Yeah, we convinced the girls that the game exhausted us, and we needed our rest.”
“Well, that’s a win, then, isn’t it?” Tex lifted his brow and straightened. “Were the girls nice at least?”
“Nice enough.” Malik sighed and rubbed his eyes. “I don’t want to talk about it. We have another day of this shit tomorrow.” Frowning, he glanced at me.
“I’m sorry.” As an ache took hold in my chest, I hooked my arms around his neck and pulled him against me, kissing the side of his head. “It’ll be over by tomorrow night.”
“I know.” He slumped against me. “It’s okay, Grey.”
Tex clicked his tongue. “I feel for you guys, I really do. It’s got to be tough living a lie.”
I swallowed a lump climbing my throat. He hit the nail on the head. With my voice cracking, I said, “Let’s go to bed, Malik.” All I wanted was him next to me, skin to skin, nothing between us.