Lost & Found
T. Ashleigh
Chapter one
College
Owen
“Let’s do shots!”
A chorus of cheers rings out in the room of brothers and partygoers and I can’t help but smile at their excitement.
“Yeah! Let’s go!” Pete says, pushing off the couch and stumbling to his feet beside me.
I reach out to steady him, almost dropping my drink in the process. “I think you’re good, man. No more shots for you.”
He pouts, then jabs a finger against my chest before his palm rests in the spot he just assaulted. “Finals are done, I want to get shit-faced.” He manages not to slur his words, but I can tell by the way his eyes are squinted that it’s taking a lot of concentration on his part to focus.
“Yeah. Don’t be a buzzkill, Owen.” This comes from Sterling as he saddles up next to us.
Pete removes his hand and takes a step back from me. I turn, preparing to tell Sterling to fuck off but stop when I take in his grass skirt and coconut bra. I burst into laughter once more as I take him in. “The fuck are you wearing?”
“I lost a bet.” He shrugs before tipping back his bottle of Bud.
My brows fly up in surprise. “With who? And what bet?” I question with a laugh.
“My sister.” He sighs. “Yeah, laugh it up.”
I shake my head as I look around for Abby. She’s such a menace. These two are the perfect brother-sister duo. “Damn, is she here? I’m surprised she’s not over here taking pictures.”
“Oh, she’s taken a few already. She’s probably off somewhere with Ledger now making fun of me.” He says his name so casually but the way his eyes do a slow sweep of the room gives him away, like he always does when they’re in the same place. Sterling gives me another shrug a moment later and then proceeds to down the rest of his beer.
“So, someone said shots?” Pete asks cheerfully before staggering to the kitchen.
Sterling eyes him when he walks away before turning to me. “He’s trashed.”
I nod my head in agreement. “He’s having a hard day. His girlfriend broke up with him this week and he failed an exam. He’s just wanting to let go.” I get what that’s like. I went a little crazy my freshman year of college. Finally getting out from under my father’s controlling thumb made me a little wild. Cliché as fuck, I know.
Sterling winces, then a look of understanding crosses his features. “Sucks. This is why I don’t get serious. It makes things complicated.”
“Yeah. I feel bad.” I tip back my cup, realizing it’s empty, and gesture to the kitchen. “Want another round?”
“I could use a few more.” He glances around again, eyes stopping briefly, and a slight frown forms on his lips. I follow his gaze and spot Abby and Ledger talking to two guys. Ledger’s head is thrown back laughing at whatever the person says and I can practically feel the tension radiating off of Sterling.
I turn back to him and sure enough, he looks pissed off. I push him in the direction of the kitchen, the last thing anyone needs is for Sterling to cause a scene—a bigger scene than he already is in that outfit. “Let’s go, we need drinks.”
“Shots,” he fires back, annoyance evident in his tone.
“Right. Shots.”
Two hours, a few tequila shots, and a few games of beer pong later, I’m feeling the tingle. I need to pee, I need to eat something, and I need to go to bed or I’m going to feel like shit tomorrow.
Tagging another frat brother in to take my spot at the pong table, I head up the stairs to the bathroom. Luckily there’s no line so I take care of business. When I exit the bathroom, I find Pete leaning against the wall opposite, as if he’s waiting on me. Or maybe the bathroom?
“You good?” I question, giving him a smile and looking him over. He looks a little more clear now, his eyes less squinty and his body more stable. Maybe he stopped drinking while I kept going.
He nods, biting down on his lip before he says, “Yeah, I’m good.” I can’t quite decipher the look on his face, but suddenly there’s some weird, fluttery tension between us that was never there before. Or maybe I’m just too buzzed right now. I shake my head, trying to get rid of the weirdness.
