We tell him where to find us and duck back into the crowd. Only one song later, he and Josh turn up, fresh beers in hand and grins on their faces. I flirt shamelessly. I’m on the rebound—from two different guys—and I have no fucks left to give. Josh is a decent dancer and smells of expensive cologne. He’s not my usual type, but that doesn’t matter. He’s no-strings-attached, all hotness and pure fun.
We move together as the band plays Fiona Apple. I like the way he feels, more like Zander than Leo, wiry and slim. We try to talk a little, but we quickly tire of shouting into one another’s ear. I know he’s a sophomore biology major, and that’s plenty.
He’s been on good behavior, confining his hands to my waist and keeping his lips to himself, but when I turn to dance with my back to his front, he dips his head low, tickling my neck with his breath. Goosebumps sprout on my skin, and my imagination rushes into uncharted territory. For the first time in my life, I consider a one-night stand.
Or is that what I had with Leo?
No. There’s no baggage with a one-night stand. No lies or broken hearts. No expectations. It’s just sex, pure and simple. Yeah, I might be down with that.
Liam is a lot more handsy than Josh is. I’ve watched Liv not-so-subtly adjust his grip at least three times. I wonder what she’s thinking and what’s going on with her and Braden. She hasn’tupdated me on the Sweetheart situation, but then again, we’ve barely spoken to one another all week. Does she still consider Braden her boyfriend? Because right now she’s not acting like she does. And she was awfully willing to spend a Friday night without him.
When out of the corner of my eye, I see her kissing Liam, I’m certain something’s up in Braden-land, and it makes me feel like crap. If they’ve had a fight, I should’ve been there for her instead of moping over a dumbass faerie. I abandon my fantasies of a cathartic one-night-stand and recommit myself to my Bestie role. No more drinking tonight. I need my wits about me if I’m gonna keep Liv from doing something she’ll regret.
My efforts to get her to go to the restroom with me fail, but Josh escorts me upstairs, directing me to the back hall before turning into the kitchen for more beer. I join the long bathroom line, propping a hip against the wall every time progress stalls. As the line inches forward, I pass two bedrooms. In one, there’s so much pot smoke the lamplights reflect off it in swirling white cones. In the other are about a thousand people. I squint into the dim light. No, about thirty people, pretty much all couples. It’s like an orgy in there, although everyone is mostly dressed.
Feeling like a voyeur, I turn away, but not before my eyes land on a set of linebacker shoulders and a head of reddish-gold waves. His back is to me, but I have no doubt who it is. Braden. And in his arms—and plastered to his face—is a little bleach-blond I’ve never seen before.
Fury blazes through me and curls my hands into fists. I want to march in there and yank him away by the ear. But I don’t. Because something tells me it’s my own pain and humiliation that’s triggering my anger, not Liv’s. Considering what a good time she’s having with Liam, she doesn’t appear to be suffering.
As my concern for her fades, panic kicks in, because where there’s Braden, there’s Zander. I thought for sure we’d be safe from the O-Chi’s. They hardly ever party at another frat. They must’ve come for the band. Bottom lip between my teeth, I scan the millingbodies and faces. I don’t want to see Zander, I can’t cope with him. Not now. Not aftereverything.
I think I may die.
When it’s finally my turn to use the restroom, I lock myself in and draw in deep breath after deep breath, trying in my drunkenness to settle myself down. It may be possible, in this huge, packed frat house, to avoid them all night. But what if we can’t?
I peek around the door before I go back out into the hall. No sign of Braden. Or Zander. No O-Chi’s at all. I keep my head low as I cut through the sea of people, grateful to be short enough to get lost in a crowd. Josh has already rejoined Liv and Liam where we left them.
He puts an arm around me and draws me to him. “I was beginning to think you’d left.”
“No. The line was just that long.” I peek over my shoulder at Liv. She’s pretty content and, uh, preoccupied. She probably wouldn’t care if she ran into Braden. Either that or it’s exactly what she wants. The jealousy game has worked on him before. If he has any feelings for her, the sight of her in the arms of hottie Liam should do the trick.
We dance until the band finishes their second set, then Liv announces she and Liam are going outside for some air.
Uh, no. Not without a chaperone. “Oh. Are you?” I give them big, ingenuous eyes. “What a good idea. Josh, you wanna go outside with them?”
He grins boyishly and shoves his hands in his front pockets. “Sure.”
Liv is oblivious, but Liam seems a tad annoyed. Too bad. Isn’t he supposed to be keeping an eye on his Little Brother, anyway? We make it the whole way up the stairs and out the front door without seeing Braden or Zander. As soon as the cold air hits my face, I exhale. Just a moment too soon.
“Betts Peterson! Fancy seeing you here.” Lara is on the porch right in front of me, giving me a simpering smile. Fortunately, Livand Liam have walked past, too absorbed in one another to notice her.
Lara knits her brow. “How are you holding up?”
“Holding up?”
Her gaze flicks to Josh as he presses a hand to my back. “Oh, I see.” She grins and I swear evil shoots out of her eyes. “Looks like you’re doing just fine. What happened to that guy you’re always going to the library with?”
“He’s just a friend.” I try to step around her, but she’s not having it.
“Have you talked to Zander lately?”
Oh, this is bait, big time. “Nope.”
As I try to slip by, she grabs my arm. “So, does that mean you’re totally over him?”
All her fake concern makes me want to vomit. “Yep. Totally.”
“Oh good,” she coos. “Then we can girl talk.”
