Page 22 of Give In
I started on my makeup as Tonia paired pieces from my closet, switching them out until I lost track of what she had spread out on the floor.
“Why don’t you come with?” I invited.
We were both so busy—our schedules usually opposite—we rarely got to hang out. When we did, it was a reminder of how much I was missing out on.
She grimaced before flopping onto the bed with an audibleoomph. “I wish, but I’m busy tonight. Brooks’ frat is infamous for their hotties, and you know hot guys have hot guy friends. Their parties are legendary for the eye candy. I’ll expect all the details tomorrow.” She sat up suddenly. “Oh, we’ll go shopping.” Before I could respond, her eyes landed on my clock. “Crap, I’m running late. Don’t forget a single moment of tonight.”
“I won’t,” I called to her retreating back.
After doing my makeup and hair, I quickly changed into the outfit she’d set out for me. A fitted dark blue sweater that went way off one shoulder. The entire back was lace, making my black bra underneath visible in the right lighting. Tonia had paired it with a pair of distressed skinny jeans and soft black heels that had a bow near the peep-toe.
I’d bought the shoes to dance in, but I hadn’t wanted them to get all scuffed and torn so I’d never wore them.
Pretty and delicate things were easy to ruin.
Slipping them on, I didn’t worry about wearing heels to a party where I’d be drinking and on my feet. Compared to the teetering ones I danced in, they were practically tennis shoes. Even drunk, I could go for a run in them without wobbling.
I packed my bag and paused to check the mirror one last time.
Good girl gone bad.
Tonia really has a knack for reading my vibe.
*******
The ride with Brooks had been like all things with Brooks.
Light.
Fun.
Easy.
As he drove, he’d told me a little about his frat. I’d been so engrossed in tales from the other side that I hadn’t even noticed we’d arrived until he’d pulled over to park on the packed street.
I opened the door, but before I could stand, he was there, offering me his hand.
“Thanks.” My nerves went wild, which was stupid. I could get practically naked in front of a full club without blinking, but a simple party had me sweating.
When Brooks shifted to walk next to me—though he kept hold of my hand—I got my first real look at the neighborhood.
My, how the other side lives.
And I’d let him drive into my dicey neighborhood to see my trashy apartment.
The entire street was McMansion after McMansion, and we’d parked in front of the biggest one. Strong bass, bright lights, and the steady strum of voices streamed out the propped open doorway.
Digging in my heels, I stopped us on the sidewalk. My eyes scanned the other beautiful houses. “Is someone going to call the cops over the noise?”
It wasn’t the idea of being arrested that freaked me out, it was the thought of shelling out bail money.
He laughed and shook his head. “Almost every house on the street is a sorority or frat. And most of them aren’t going to call because they’re the ones inside making the noise.”
My jaw dropped. “How do you all—” I cut myself off and cringed, realizing how rude the question was.
Brooks pointed behind us. “Campus is less than a block that way. About five years ago, a developer got the crazy idea that all the bigwigs and professors would want to live close to the school. They didn’t. Neither did anyone else. Living near a college is a mess of traffic, noise, and drunken drama. So rent is cheap, especially factoring in how many ways it’s split.”
Doubting his definition of cheap matched mine, I just nodded as we started walking again.
