“What are you talking about?”
“We’re about to go to a party where you could very well meet the love of your life.”
“I don’t think—”
“And here I am, parading you around as myfakeboyfriend, depriving you of the chance to meet other women and—”
Arden grips my shoulders, pulling my focus back to center. “Dani, I don’t care about anyone else. I made this agreement with you and I’m going to uphold my end of it. That’s all.”
“But—”
“It’s. All.”
With a tentative look, I nod and Arden takes that as his cue to release me. The shadow of his hands on my skin leaves an uneasy feeling. Together, we walk down the street, close enough to touch our hands but not close enough to actually do it. In Southern gentleman fashion, Arden had maneuvered himself to the outside of the sidewalk as we walked out of the parking lot. And, of course, I noticed.
The Kappa Alpha house is an even shorter walk from this apartment than the one that I shared with Margot and Sydney. We’re at the house within a few minutes.
Already, there are people spilling out of the door onto the porch and front lawn. I’m kind of surprised that the med school party is happening at the KA house but at this point, having spent so much time with former KA president and my best friend Margot’s boyfriend, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of these boys ended up in the psych ward.
Case in point…
“Danimal?” The voice calls to me from the doorway.
“I thought you graduated last year, Keith,” I say, bounding up the porch stairs. Arden stays on my heels.
“I could say the same about you,” Keith says, pulling me in for a hug. I feel Arden’s chest hit my back when I step out of Keith’s embrace. “And who’s the hunk?”
I chuckle, grabbing Arden’s arm and pulling his hand to rest on my stomach. “This is my boyfriend, Arden.”
Keith feigns shock. “Wild child has aboyfriend?”
The giggle bursts out of me involuntarily. I forgot how much fun it was to hang out at the KA house with Alex and his friends.
With a strong hold, Arden grips the front of my dress and I suddenly realize that he has no idea who Keith is, or the fact that he’s one hundred percent gay. The music is loud so I reach up and pull his neck down to whisper in his ear.
“He’s probably more attracted to you than to me.”
Arden’s gaze hits mine and he smiles in a way that would threaten to take my breath away.God, he’s really beautiful.We blink a few times in that position, an incredibly intimate one, before Keith pulls us back to reality.
“Well, damn. You know we have bedrooms upstairs, right?”
Rolling my eyes, I reluctantly pull myself out of Arden’s grasp, and I might be crazy but I feel like he is just as reluctant to let me go.
“Beers in the kitchen. Have fun, love birds,” Keith calls as we enter the house.
I walk directly to the kitchen to get the sustenance I’m going to need to survive this party. Handing Arden a cold one from the cooler, we both open our beers and take a very generous sip.
“Let’s go scope out the scene. I bet Gemma is here somewhere.”
Arden nods, letting me take the lead. I know this house like the back of my hand, having spent basically the last four years partying here every weekend. A quick walk from the kitchen finds us in the center of the living room where a makeshift dance floor has been set up.
As if I summoned her, Gemma pops up directly in front of me. “Dani! About time! Let’s dance!”
Without any further ado, I’m pulled directly onto the dance floor. Giving Arden a look of distress that’s met with laughter, I allow Gemma to take me away.
“I’m so excited you came!” Gemma says, moving her hips to some Shakira song, taking a sip of her beer.
“Of course I did!” I reply, dancing just the same. We move to the rhythm of the music for a few more songs and every time I look over toward Arden, he’s standing against the wall, looking at me. His gaze is intense and warm at the same time. He looks like he was carved from stone, just for me. I just hope none of the vultures on the dance floor are thinking the same thing.