She began riffling through her bag as her blonde hair slid over her shoulder, masking her face from me. When she glanced up, the same aviators were on and she grinned at me. “Heya stranger. I heard some interesting tidbits about you this weekend.”

I stiffened.

Her lips curved up in a smirk. “Relax. It’s nothing real juicy.” She paused for a second, her mouth pursed in a thoughtful frown. “Is there something juicy? I’m intrigued…no. No, I’m not. Never mind. You’re all closed off and sheltered. I’d have to kiss your ass for you to spill. I don’t care enough to do all that work.”

Did she dismiss me?

And I wasn’t sheltered.

The strap of her top slipped, showing off her bare shoulder and a tattoo design of birds flying down her collarbone. “You can stay all elusive and shit. Fine with me.”

I frowned. This girl was something else, but my own interest was piqued. “What’d you hear this weekend?”

Her lips curved in a sultry come-hither smile. “That you told my sister off. High marks for that one.”

I let out a breath I hadn’t been aware of holding. I thought she was going to say something else, maybe about Jesse, but it was about Tiffany. That wasn’t something I cared about. “Oh.”

A deep chuckle came from her.

As she laughed, her head tilted to the side and her shirt slipped farther down her arm. The girl was oozing sexuality and I glanced around. The guys around our table had taken notice. A few seemed ready to join us. I sent them a glare. That stopped them in their tracks. Nope, I saw one reinforce his smug grin as he strode towards us.

“Heads up. Pick-up Line at three o’clock.”

Hannah glanced over and the sultriness went up a notch.

The guy stumbled in his footing. He almost tripped and fell, but caught himself. Normally this would’ve ended the approach. Not with this guy. His smile never budged. His shoulders rolled back and his cockiness rose.

He was a determined little bugger.

A low deep-throated chuckle came from her again. It was loud enough so I heard, but no one else did. I had to give her some credit. She was good.

When he stopped at the table, I heard one of the worst pick-up lines I could imagine.

“Do you come here often?”

I snorted.

He shot me a glare. It was gone in the next second when Hannah teased, “You mean to this exact table or to this school? Because I do. I go to this school.”

“Oh.” A flush spread from underneath his shirt.

Hadn’t thought that one through, buddy? I shook my head. I was betting that he used that one at the bars. We were in a city with three other colleges. His chances were better off campus.

“Hannah, this guy bothering you?”

Her sister’s boyfriend to the rescue. From the gloating in his voice, I could imagine his entrance. White horse, metal armor, and maybe even a javelin? I shook my head. When I snuck a peek from underneath my eyelids, he wasn’t alone. Cord was with him, along with Kara’s boyfriend. No Jesse. Why did I never see Jesse with them?

I ignored the disappointment that fluttered in my chest.

“Keep going, guys,” Hannah clipped out.

She was annoyed and glaring at both Cord and Jamie.

“Walk, numbnuts.” Jamie warned the guy with a dark look. “She’s off-limits.”

“Shut up!”

Blood drained from Pick-Up Guy before he left. If he could’ve run without looking like an idiot, I knew he would’ve. Instead, his power walk rivaled some housewives I had witnessed in the mall. They wanted to burn rubber in bright spandex and would’ve been envious of his speed.

“You shut up, Hannah. I’m not going to listen to your sister bitch at me because I didn’t stop another guy from climbing in your bed. That’s all she complains about now. You! I’m getting sick of it.”

Derek clapped him on the shoulder. “At least she’s not bitching about you, man.”

Some of the tension lifted from Jamie, but not much. He continued to glower down at Hannah. “Stop being a whore on campus.”

My eyebrows shot up. The guy had balls.

Cord frowned. “Hey, man. We should get going.”

Hannah slammed her hands on the table and shoved to her feet. She glared right back. “Are you kidding me? You are a bigger whore than me. Why don’t you stop dicking around on my sister?”

He moved back a step, but the glower never left. “Whatever. You’re such a bitch.”

“And you’re an ass**le. We’re even.”

Derek stepped between them. “I think it’s a good draw. Let’s call it, hmmm? Jamie, march.” He jerked his head in the opposite direction. “We have to meet Jesse anyway.”

Jesse? My head shot up and tingles shot down my spine.

Cord had been watching me and a knowing look came over him now. A knot shifted in my gut and I fought from glaring at him. I didn’t want anyone to notice and start to wonder, but he seemed smug. Why the hell did he seem smug? My eyes narrowed. He had nothing to be smug about.

“Yes, run along.” Hannah waved her fingers at her sister’s boyfriend. “Go play patsy for the real star in your group. No wonder he’s a recluse around campus. Who’d want to be seen with you? I bet you use him to pick up even more chicks to cheat with on my sister.” Her lips thinned. “Is that what you do when you guys go out?”

Jamie’s scowl darkened and he jerked forward a step. His hand rose in the air, already fisted.

Cord drew him back. “Stop it. Now.” He turned to Hannah, “We didn’t come over for this.”

“Why did you come over?”

“To say hi to you and Alex.” At her disbelieving look, he held both of his hands in the air. “I swear. That’s all. The guy cut us off when he was coming over.”

“My business is none of yours.” She swept them with a cool cold. “None of you.”

Jamie looked ready to argue, but Derek pushed him forward with his hands on his friend’s shoulders. “Yeah, we’re leaving. See you both.”

Cord went after them, lifting a finger in a goodbye salute.

Hannah extended her middle finger. Before they disappeared into the crowd, Cord laughed back as he shook his head.

I had to give it to the guy. Nothing seemed to faze him.

Hannah folded back down on her seat with a huff. Her eyes latched on me with a deep frown. She asked, heatedly, “How do you know those guys?”