“Where?”
“At the residence hall. Angelo and Zack’s and the guys in the room next to them.”
“Okay,” I say with a nod.
“I’ll be there around nine-thirty,” she says, standing up.
“I’ll see you then.”
“Bye, loser.”
“Bye, beautiful.”
“Ugh. I hate when you compliment me.”
“I know,” I say with a laugh.
She grabs a yellow stress ball from the dresser and throws it at me before shutting the door, cackling in the hall.
“Bitch!”
“That’s more like it,” she yells back.
I shake my head with a laugh and go about finishing my food, trying my best not to think about Oliver.
***
I don’t show up to the party until a little after ten, because me and my roommates were discussing how much more we’ll all have to pay for rent and bills if we don’t find another person to move in soon.
When I get to the room Angelo and Zack share with Miles and Brent, I scoot through a tight-knit group of people lingering in the doorway to get inside. I walk straight into the long, narrow kitchen that’s on my left, with the living room opening up right in front of it.
Zack comes up and gives me a fist bump. “Hey, man. Glad you could make it.”
“For sure. Vic told me about it. Is she here yet?.”
He nods at someone walking by. “Yeah, I think I saw her earlier. She might be next door.”
I know Zack and Angelo from our business communication class. I eventually got to know their roommates over time, and they often have parties with the four guys in the room next door.
They’re some of the lucky ones on the South River campus who got the four bedroom residences. They come furnished—the most basic furniture, but still. And they have full kitchens, a living room, and two bathrooms.
“Okay, I’ll go try to find her.”
“Beer’s in the fridge.”
“Cool. Thanks.”
I grab a bottle of Bud Light before I push through some more people and make my way next door. I say what’s up to a couple people I recognize on the way, and then I spot Vic on the couch, sitting between her best friend, Marcie, and some guy I don’t know.
“Hey.”
“Hey!” she squeals, standing up to jump on me.
“Someone’s been drinking,” I say with a laugh, peeking at her friend Marcie who nods in agreement.
“We may have done some pre-gaming before walking over,” Vic says, pulling away from me to flop back on the couch.
“So, any hot girls here or what?” I ask, looking around the room.
