Chapter 15

Denny

Lauren seemed hesitant. Was it because of me? Was she embarrassed to go out with me?

Despite what people thought, I cared a lot about what others thought about me. I was a people pleaser by nature and in my younger days it had often gotten me into some bad situations, or the kind of situations where I just came out looking like an idiot for the joy of others.

I could still do that. Mostly it didn’t bother me, but there was always this little voice in the back of my head telling me others only liked me because I did what they wanted.

It would look bad if I didn’t show up to the party, or at least make an appearance. But also, none of the frat would think anything of it. They all knew what I was going through and would be on my side. I was positive about that, but if the Panthers or Theta girls showed up, they’d notice and comment on it.

Not that long ago, it would have bothered me. Now, I wasn’t sure I cared.

The last thing I wanted to do was make Lauren uncomfortable.

“If you don’t want to go to the party, we don’t have to,” I told her.

“Don’t do that. I know you want to go. It’s just that I’ve never been to a party before.”

“Never?”

“Not even a birthday party. Nothing. I have no idea what to expect or what to wear. I wouldn’t even know what to do or how to act.”

I considered that for a moment. It shouldn’t have surprised me to hear it, yet it did. Not even a birthday party as a kid? That was so sad.

“Well, it’s nothing fancy. You can wear what you have on. Jeans and T-shirts will mostly be the attire for the evening.”

I knew that wasn’t entirely true. If any of the sorority girls were back, they would show up dressed to perfection trying to look as hot as possible in hopes of taking one of my boys home with them or make it back to one of their bedrooms. I wasn’t even sure they cared who it was, just that it happened.

Lauren wasn’t that type of woman. I loved her casual style. She didn’t need short skirts and massive amounts of hair product and makeup. She was naturally gorgeous. And I hoped the only man whose bed she might want to make it back to was mine. Otherwise, I shuddered to think of what might happen.

The edges of my vision started to cloud in shades of red as I thought about another male looking her way.

Could I handle being in that position?

Suddenly, I wasn’t so sure that going to this party was a good idea after all.

I’d been okay with having her around my brothers, but I knew and trusted them. I hadn’t had to tell them to stay away. They knew because they knew it was not normal for me to be territorial like that.

Lauren was mine.

A low growl threatened to rumble through me, but I pushed it back down.

“We can skip it,” I blurted out.

“Isn’t it sort of your party? Don’t you have to make an appearance?”

“Yes, but it’s okay. No one will miss me. They probably won’t even notice.”

“I doubt that’s true.”

“It’ll be fine. We can just go back to your hotel room and talk or maybe go out to dinner.”

I had the week off from the restaurant I worked at. Since it was freshman welcome week and all, I knew I’d be too busy. But I could still take her there. I didn’t need my employee discount, but I was too frugal not to use it. Plus, I’d never taken a woman there before. It was a nice, higher-end date place, and I’d been careful to never do the whole girlfriend thing.

Thinking back on my decisions in college, I was grateful that I had steered clear of settling down or dating anyone seriously. What a nightmare that would be now. And I was very thankful I’d decided to stay this extra year. Because, what if I’d graduated on time and missed this opportunity to meet Lauren?

It was crazy to think of the forces of nature at work necessary to ensure Lauren and I met here now. This was meant to be our moment. It was perfect timing. I was in awe thinking about it.

“You don’t have to do that, you know.”

“Do what?”

“I can tell you want to go. I’m sure everyone expects you to go.”

“But I’d rather spend time with you.”

And the more I thought about it, the more I really did not want to go. I just wanted to be alone with my mate.

“I know, but we don’t have to do everything I want to do either. I’ve never been to a party, and I really have no desire to, but I can try it. Maybe I’ll love it. I don’t know.”

I started to protest then stopped myself. She deserved to just be carefree and young for once. Maybe a party and a couple of drinks would do her some good.

“Are you sure?”

She nodded, and I started to relax.

Compromise was good in a relationship. Right?

Selfishly I couldn’t wait to show her off and let the others all know this woman was all mine. As long as she stayed by my side, I could handle it. Or at least I hoped I could.

“We’ll make an early appearance and play it by ear. Okay?”

“Okay.”

I couldn’t tell for sure if she was agreeable because she wanted to please me or because she actually wanted to go to the party.

In some ways I suspected my mate and I weren’t all that different. She may not be the people pleaser that I was, but she would give up everything for those she loved, which made her a similar self-sacrificer.

“What do you want to do until then?” I asked, suddenly wanting her to relax and just experience all the things in life that she’d never allowed for herself.

She shrugged. “I have no idea.”

“I’m sure Kylie will be off to get ready with the others soon, so I think I have you all to myself.”

“You aren’t obligated to entertain me every second of the day. I’m perfectly fine with being on my own.”

My wolf growled and before I even considered stopping it, the sound roared from me.

Lauren jumped back.

Fortunately, she didn’t look scared, just surprised, and then maybe even slightly amused.

“I know I don’t have to,” I said, choosing to ignore what had just happened and pretend it was perfectly normal. “But I want to spend time with you. Honestly, I hate the thought of you even being out of my sight. I don’t mean that in a stalkerish creepy kind of way or anything.”

“I know what you mean. My wolf gets unsettled when you’re away too.”

It warmed me when she admitted things like that. And it didn’t make me feel quite so crazy.

“You can always stay here for the rest of your time here if you’d like.” Which would be forever if I had it my way. I wasn’t sure she wanted to hear that just yet though.

I’d already told her I would follow her back to New York. I didn’t think she realized I was being serious. If she wanted to get away from me, she was going to have to be the one to break our bond because I was certain, without a doubt, that this woman was made to be mine.

“Come to think of it,” I continued when she didn’t say anything, “That would be a great idea. Kylie’s staying in the dorms anyway. You’d be even closer to her and save a couple of nights’ cost of staying in the hotel.”

She chewed on her bottom lip as she considered it.

I was great at reading people and knew that my first suggestion she’d practically rolled her eyes and dismissed me as being ridiculous. But this time I appealed to her more sensible side. She’d shared enough with me to know that money was a constant concern for her. If she let me, she’d never have to worry about that ever again.

“That wouldn’t be right. What would people think? Plus, isn’t this a fraternity? As in all boys?”

I shrugged. “Wouldn’t be the first time, and no one here would think anything of it. Well, they would. They’d think, ‘Wow, that lucky bastard found his one true mate. Why can’t I be that lucky?’ But of you living here? Nah. It’s cool. When Chad was President, Ember lived here for quite a while. We all loved it. It was never an issue.”

I didn’t even have to exaggerate that. We’d had others come and go. New mates often moved in until other housing arrangements could be made. So it really wouldn’t be a problem to have Lauren stay with me for a week or a semester. Hell, she could stay until I finally graduated.”

“Are you sure?”

I refrained from showing any external emotion, though on the inside I was doing a happy dance.

“I’m sure.”

“And it won’t be weird? Where would you sleep?”

My jaw dropped. I hadn’t considered that.

“I can make a bed on the floor,” I blurted out.

It was a queen-sized bed. There was more than enough room for the both of us. But if that’s what it took to make my mate happy, then so be it.

I sighed in resolve. “Or if you need your space, I can bunk in one of the open beds. There’s a few from those who graduated. Obviously, since the school year hasn’t started, we haven’t filled those yet. Freshmen aren’t even supposed to rush until their second semester here to allow them time to settle in.”

“But you’ve already started recruiting.”

“Of course I have. I want to make sure we find the best of the best for the doghouse and ensure they are compatible for us. That keeps harmony in the house. So I’m always on the lookout for brother potential.”

“You really love it here, don’t you?”

“I do, but also you’re avoiding the question.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

She huffed. “I hate to put you out, but I could really use that money.”

Her brow crinkled and she continued to nibble on her lip.

“Being closer to you is not putting me out. The hotel might not like it when I take to sleeping in their lobby or outside of your room once the thought of how many men could be staying there hits me and . . .”

She cut me off. “I get it. It would be a win-win for the both of us.”

“Wait, are you agreeing to this?”

“Yes. I hate being there by myself so far away from Kylie.”

“Okay then.”

“Okay,” she said.

Before she could freak out and over think it, I jumped into action.

“The new day rolls over at four. If we hurry, I can probably talk them out of making you pay tonight.”

She scoffed. “I doubt that’s possible.”

“You’d be surprised. I’m very good at talking.”

“That doesn’t surprise me one bit.”