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“We met at a party,” Alex volunteered. Did he know I needed a break?
“I guess that’s to be expected,” Robert said. “Two good-looking people like you—stands to reason you’d meet at a party as opposed to class.”
Alex chuckled. “Brooke was way too focused on her studies to meet people in class, anyway.”
Liam smiled. “That sounds like my girl.”
I shrugged as my cheeks stung with heat. “I was serious about my schoolwork.”
“So, this party...” Leah said.
God, she was like a dog with a bone.
I turned back to Alex, letting him know to keep taking the reins.
“Well,” he said. “It was the start of the sophomore year—at one of the ridiculous frat houses.
“You liked those frat houses,” I said before I could think better of it.
He smirked. “I did then, yes. So, the frat house was packed, and I was upstairs with my best friend.”
“Oh, yes,” Leah said, “the female best friend. Maria? No, Mariah.”
The sound of her name made my ears ring.
Alex continued, seemingly unfazed. “So, I’m playing an epic round of beer pong with Mariah, and these two goofballs from the frat, when the ball goes flying past me. I turned around to retrieve it, and guess who’d picked it up and was holding it out for me?”
God, I remembered that day like it was yesterday. I had already been watching Alex like some creepy stalker when I saw the ping pong ball fly off the table and straight in my direction. I’d scooped it up just as he’d turned around.
“So, what’d you do?” Liam asked me.
I smiled so wide at this next part of my memory that my cheeks hurt. Taking my pledge to get out of my shell ever so seriously, I had done something completely out of character.
“I stepped around him and tossed the ball into the opposing team’s cup. Nailed it on my first try.”
Every jaw around the table went slack, and then a burst of laughter erupted. I’d felt like a rock star then, and I felt like a rock star now.
“Damn,” Leah said with admiration. “That’s an awesome first impression.”
“It really was,” Alex said, gaze boring into me again, this time filled with something I couldn’t put my finger on.
“So, what happened next?” Leah said. “Did you keep playing? Did the two of you hit it off? Become friends? Date?”
My stomach flipped over. Leah was really keen on all these questions.
“I kept playing for a bit,” I said, trying to keep it simple. “I was with my best friend, and we were on a mission to meet people, so we left shortly after.”
It wasn’t entirely a lie. Sabrina and Ihadleft beer pong shortly after to explore the house a bit more, only to end up coming across Alex again an hour later. By that time, Mariah wasn’t around anymore, and Alex and I got to talking. Sabrina had met someone, too, and she was long gone by the time I’d realized how much of the night had passed. Alex and I talked until three in the morning. It had been one of the most amazing nights of my life.
“Probably good that you left, with that Mariah girl in the picture,” Leah said.
“Leah...” Alex said, for the first time looking uncomfortable.
If I were truly honest with myself, I’d have to admit I enjoyed watching him squirm for just a second.
“What?” Leah said. “You were tight-lipped, but there’s no way the two of you were just friends. My guess is that girl didn’t want you having any other female friends, let alone anything else.” She tilted her head in a loving gaze, adding, “I’m just glad she’s out of the picture. I don’t need the competition.”
Everyone around the table chuckled while my brain screamed. Mariah was out of his life? When had that happened? More importantly,whathad happened to send her packing?
