Linden: Rocking Pleasure: New Adult College Romance (Coral Gables Series Book 3) by Drucie Anne Taylor

third guy.
    “ Hello.” I nod at him.
    “ You must be the lady who brought my brother here,” he says, taking a few steps toward me and pulling me into an embrace instead of just shaking my hand.
    I feel trapped, letting my arms dangle at my sides. “All right. I think that’s enough,” I groan, because he’s all but suffocating me in a bear hug.
    “ Jayden, let go of her.” Linden laughs, and his brother complies.
    I rub the spot on my hip where he embraced me a little too hard, and then I look at Hailey, who’s standing against the wall with a wide grin on her face. “Okay, I guess we’ll be going.”
    She shakes her head.
    I frown at her, but she merely shrugs at me. I roll my eyes. Jesus, any more of this, and I’ll go insane .
    “ Why don’t you stay?” Jayden suggest with a smirk. “Linden was just telling us how you rebuffed him.”
    “ That was something.” Alexis chuckles.
    My eyebrows travel upward slowly. “Not really, and I already told Mr. Kingston that I can’t stay long.” I force a smile so they don’t think I’m a total bitch.
    “ That’s a pity,” Linden gripes.
    “ I’m sorry, Linden, but my world doesn’t revolve around you. I need to study and prepare for my exams.”
    “ Oh, you’re a college student?” he asks, sounding genuinely interested.
    Hailey giggles. “You could also call her a lecture hall decoration, because she hardly ever does anything but sit around.”
    I throw her a scathing look over my shoulder before answering, “Architecture and engineering.”
    “ Interesting,” Linden says, scratching his stubbly chin.
    “ In any case, I really gotta go,” I declare. “I hope you’re as good as new in no time, Linden.”
    “ Thalia?” he stops me, just as I turn away from him again.
    “ Yes?”
    “ Wouldn’t you consider having that dinner with me?”
    “ Of course she would,” Hailey chirps, before I even have the chance to answer.
    “ No, she wouldn’t,” I whisper.
    “ Uh, what? Yes or no?” Linden asks.
    I exhale loudly. “Okay, fine. Call me when they let you out of here.” Whatever. I’ll spend this one evening with him, and I can leave whenever I feel uncomfortable, or bored, or cornered. And Cami still owes me one “no questions asked” card, which I intend to use for that dinner.
    “ I’m looking forward to that.” He smiles at me.
    Can’t say that I am, my brain replies. “See you then,” my mouth says.
    Hailey grins at me as I shove her out of the room. “Ouch. Watch your step.” She giggles.
    “ What was that all about?” I bark at her. “You knew I didn’t want to go out to dinner with him, yet you practically forced me to say yes!”
    “ Don’t make it sound like such a big deal. What’s so wrong about a nice dinner?”
    “ I didn’t want this!” I march off toward the elevators. Why does my best friend think double-crossing me is fun?
    “ But why? What’s the worst that can happen? Nothing!” Hailey says, annoyed now, too. “All you’re going to do is have a nice evening, that’s it.”
    “ Hailey, he’s engaged. I told you!” I hit the button for the elevator with more force than necessary and then cross my arms. I’m really angry… Or maybe disappointed. I don’t know.
    “ I’m sorry. I thought you were just reluctant because of his girlfriend or whatever she is. But if this didn’t mean anything to him, why would he ask a second time?” She looks at me.
    I refuse to look back at her. With a snort, I step into the elevator and push the first-floor button. “How would I know? I still think it would have been better to decline.”
    “ And I’m convinced that you’re going to be thankful for this later on,” she counters.
    “ Bullshit.” I’m looking forward to dropping her off now, because I don’t want to fight with her, but I can’t believe she made me accept his invitation. That was dumb. Why does everyone treat me as if I can’t decide for myself what to do and what not to do? I