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So that’s how I was being introduced? Not even as John’s friend?

Short Stack nodded. “Yes, sir. I can.”

John released his grip on him and patted him on the back before Short Stack skidded over to the piano and fiddled with the different bottles.

“Short Stack?” I raised an eyebrow and John turned his full attention back to me.

“Yeah, his brother was Stack, so when he joined he became Short Stack. The kid is like some science genius and they made him my little brother. It comes in handy when he makes drinks.”

I watched as Short Stack scanned each of the bottles, putting them back in their place or pouring a tiny bit into a red plastic cup. He treated it like it was some sort of experiment or maybe he’d been a bartender.

“But did you need to call on him like a dog?” I asked then covered my mouth. “Sorry, that came out wrong.”

John shook his head and smiled before he looped an arm around my waist, pulling me closer to his side. “Nah, I’m actually one of the nicer big brothers and I think he likes feeling like he’s wanted. Everyone wants to feel like they belong somewhere.”

Short Stack ran back over, part of the drink contents sloshing out of the cup before he came to a halt in front of us, a big smile on his face. “Here’s your drink, Red.”

“Thanks.” I took the drink and put it to my lips, waiting for the burn. Surprisingly the burn never came and it tasted more like orange juice. “Wow, this is really good, Short Stack.” I had to take slow sips, afraid that it was so good I would down it in one gulp and there would be no way that I’d be able to stand, let alone kiss John.

“Good job, Short Stack. What’s in this one?” John slapped him on the back and almost knocked the kid out of his Converse.

“Thanks, dude. I mixed some Jack, orange juice, peach schnapps and a little bit of a lemon vodka. I call it ‘The Red.’”

“Good choice on the name.” John squeezed my side and my whole body felt like it was on fire just from his touch. Or it could have been because I took a few big gulps of my drink.

“Thanks.” Short Stack nodded his big head of hair. “Um, but is it cool if I get back to playing Madden?” He rubbed the back of his neck.

John slapped him on the back again, letting out a deep belly laugh. “Do whatever you want. You don’t need to stand here.”

“Okay. Nice meeting you, Red.” He didn’t even look at me before he turned around and ran back to his spot on the couch.

John shook his head. “He’s a nice kid, but dude has got to get better with the opposite sex.”

Me and him both.

“So, you want to watch the guys play some Madden or go downstairs and play some pool?” He squeezed my side and I looked up to see the hint of his eyes underneath his cap. God he was sexy.

“Um.” My hands shook, fiddling with the straps on my purse before I opened it and pulled out his t-shirt. “I brought this back, so I don’t know if you want to put it up in your room first, so I don’t forget it again.”

An all out grin crossed his face. “Keep it. It looks way better on you.”

“Yeah, but it’s yours.” My hands shook, holding his t-shirt between my fingers. Hopefully he didn’t notice.

He leaned over, his lips vibrating on my earlobe. “I think you’re just looking for an excuse to go to my room. You don’t need one.” His tongue traced my earlobe and my legs turned to jelly.

I couldn’t even form any words. Instead my bottom lip quivered and something that sounded like a whimper came from my lips. His breathy laugh fell on my ear. “I’ll take that as a yes.” He lifted his head, turning me toward the staircase.

Each step was like pushing through wet cement. I was really doing this. I was really about to take the stairs up to John’s bedroom. My phone vibrated in my purse and it stopped John in the middle of the stairwell. “Do you need to get that?”

Dammit. Who would be calling me right now? No one ever called me. I usually got a few texts from Monica and my mom and sister rarely called. It had to be some sort of telemarketer. “No, it’s cool.” I tugged on the soft fabric of his shirt and we continued up the stairs.

When we got to the second floor landing there was a couple making out, practically having sex, but that was it for people. They didn’t even acknowledge us. If only my phone would do the same thing. It started vibrating again the moment we got to John’s door.

“Are you sure you don’t need to get that?” He tilted his head, his hand on the doorknob.

“No, no. It’s fine. It’s probably just some really persistent telemarketer.” A cock blocking telemarketer.

“That works for me then.”

He opened his bedroom door and turned on the light. It looked the same as it did the night of the party and had the same smell of stale liquor and sweaty socks. Maybe I should have invited him back to my place instead. The smell alone might have killed me, let alone trying to avoid the land mines of dirty clothes and food wrappers he had on the floor. I took another big gulp of my drink; maybe that would make the room smell better and give me the courage to actually go through with hooking up with the hot bad boy.

“Sorry, I should have cleaned up.” He let go of my waist and bent down, picking up stacks of clothes and tossing them into a pile to clear a path.

“No, seriously it’s fine.” I took another big gulp of my drink and inched down to sit on his futon.

“DON’T SIT THERE!” He yelled and I sprang up like my ass was on fire. I looked back down at the futon and didn’t see anything precious that I could have been sitting on or anything extremely gross.

He dropped the clothes in his hands and then ushered me toward his bed, motioning for me to sit. “You don’t want to know what’s gone on, on that futon. I think Short Stack may have even lost his virginity there.”

I wrinkled my nose. Was that supposed to make me feel better that other people were using his futon for sexual things? I wondered how many girls he had on there himself. Though, it did make me feel a little better that maybe he didn’t just think of me as some sexual tryst. Then again, I also hoped that didn’t mean he didn’t want anything to do with touching me.

Surprisingly, his mattress was very soft, like it was memory foam or something and it molded around my body. His sheets and comforter felt like they had been recently washed and were silky smooth underneath my fingertips.

John threw another pile of clothes and fast food wrappers aside before he took my drink and put it on the night stand and then crouched down in front of me. “Sorry for yelling at you. I just thought you might want to sit somewhere more...comfortable.” His fingers ran down the length of my arm until he interlocked them with mine.

I moved my free hand up to his hat, turning the brim around to the back and locking my eyes with his. “No need to apologize.” The alcohol in my system was making me braver and my libido was turning into full overdrive.

He dipped his head down, leaning in closer until I felt the stubble of his chin on my cheek. know how to control myself around you. “A guy should always apologize, even if he’s done nothing wrong. But I’ve done a lot wrong. I shouldn’t have ignored you. I didn’t want this to be a one time thing because you’re too damn hard to stay away from.”

I giggled. Short Stack really made the drink strong. My nervousness already felt like it was melting away. “So are you. Hard to ignore I mean.”

“I’m glad you feel that way.” His breath tickled my jaw line before he ran his tongue along it. “But I’m sorry about your back.”