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So much for friendly small talk. That was extremely unpleasant. I’m tempted to follow him around and make sure he doesn’t take advantage of anybody. Blair would laugh herself to death if she knew that was going through my head at my first party. I go to the sink and empty the cup before tossing it in the trash. Maybe I’d better stick to beer tonight.
I go outside, and it’s such a nice break from feeling like a sardine in the house. I’m the only person out here alone—everybody’s paired up or in groups of three or four. I can tell some of the girls are new. They have that same wide-eyed look that I know I must have, even if they’re trying to play it off. I lock eyes with one of them, and she smiles. “Are you here by yourself?”
I cringe. “Yeah.”
“You can hang out with us. We all just got here today. I’m Posey.” She gestures to her friends. “This is Erica and Bri. We’re all roommates. What about you?”
“I’m Mia. I’m living by myself. I wish I had roommates to go places with,” I admit, and the three of them tip their heads to the side like they feel bad. They seem nice, genuine.
“We’ll be your roommates for the night,” Posey suggests. She’s a tall, slender brunette whose contour game is better than mine will ever be. Erica and Bri are pretty with their shiny blond hair and blue eyes, but Posey’s the standout.
Erica laughs. “Yeah, because some of these guys are way too obvious.”
“They lurk around, trying to pick off the girls who are here by themselves.” Bri wrinkles her nose in disgust. “It’s sick.”
“I just met one of them inside.”
“Girls need to have each other’s backs.” The girls nod in agreement with Posey, and I do, too. Maybe I’ve found some people I can relate to.
We get our beers and decide to hang out outside, getting to know each other. All three of them come from expensive prep schools, but they seem pretty down-to-earth. By the time I’m finished and almost ready for another drink, I’m feeling a little buzzed and smiley and happy. When was the last time I felt happy? Probably the last time I hung out with Blair.
“Who is that?” Erica’s mouth falls open, her eyes wide. She’s staring up at the back door leading from the kitchen, and I follow the direction of her gaze.
And the ground drops out from under me. The music goes quiet—no, that’s the rush of blood in my ears, deafening me. I should’ve known this couldn’t last long.
Standing there in his leather jacket, he makes the guys all around us look like little boys in comparison. I can see why the girls are practically drooling.
He locks eyes with me before I can react, then stomps his way down the wooden steps. “What are you doing here? You know you’re not supposed to—”
“Who is he?” Posey takes me by the arm, pulling me in close like she wants to protect me. I like this girl. Even if her instincts are slightly off. I do need help from this man, but not the kind of help she thinks.
“Let’s go.” He comes over to me and takes me by my other arm, but Posey is not about to let go.
“Who do you think you are? Get your hand off her.”
Zeke lets out a derisive laugh, looking her up and down, clearly not seeing much of a match. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, so back off. She’s not supposed to be here.”
“Would you stop?” I hiss through clenched teeth. People are staring. Even a couple of girls who were making out while a bunch of guys watched stop what they are doing so they can watch us instead. The guys have phones and were recording the girls—what happens if they record us? My father will kill me if he sees the video. I don’t know how he’d find it, but he would. I know it.
All of this goes through my head in the blink of an eye. I hand my cup over to Posey with an apologetic smile. “Hopefully, I’ll see you around campus.”
“Here, give me your number.”
I call it out to her, and she calls my phone so her contact info will be there.
Meanwhile, Zeke is leading me around the side of the house rather than cutting back through the party. I’m glad since the last thing I want is to be humiliated in front of my newly made friends.
“You know the kind of trouble you could be in right now?” Zeke’s Harley is parked in front of the house, which of course, has attracted attention. I wish the people who brought our things left it behind. The second he snarls at the group that’s gathered around the bike, they scatter. It would be funny if I wasn’t so embarrassed.
“Stop.” I pull my arm free once we’ve reached the bike. “You’re making a scene.”
“You’re the one who put me in this position. What the fuck do you think you’re doing, sneaking out like that?”
“Could you stop? I mean it,” I mutter, glancing around.
“It’s what you deserve. Maybe you’ll think twice before you do some dumb shit like this again.” He puts a hand on the small of my back and gives me a tiny shove. “Get on the bike.”
“In this?” I look down at my dress. It’s a little too short for a ride.
“Not my fault you’re walking around with half your shit hanging out.” He slings a leg over the motorcycle’s seat, leaving me plenty of room to get on behind him. I’ve never been so embarrassed in my entire life, but I know better than to keep fighting. The idea of any of the guys around here thinking they could be my white knight and get in his face nauseates me. There’s no way it would end well.
So I have no choice but to swallow my pride and climb on behind Zeke, wrapping my arms around his waist. Posey’s watching, and I give her a smile to tell her it’s okay. I’ll have to text her later, and… what? Explain that my father doesn’t trust me to exist without a bodyguard at all times? That just for once, I thought I could have a little fun on my own?
“If you think we’re not going to have it out when we get back to the condo, you’re out of your mind.” I don’t have a chance to answer since he guns the engine before peeling away from the curb.
Yes, I’m sure we’re going to have it out.
And after the way he just humiliated me, there’s nothing I would rather do.
