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Ever.
I seriously can’t believe how much fun I’m having. We’ve been dancing for what feels like hours. At first it was Carina and a couple of girls I recognized from our floor sophomore year when we lived in the dorms, and then Brooke showed up. I haven’t seen her in ages.
The continuous flow of drinks certainly hasn’t hurt either. I suspect that might be part of the reason I’m flying high. Who knew alcohol could make you feel so good?
Every time Ryder scowls at me from the edge of the dance area, I raise my plastic cup toward him before taking a healthy swallow. It’s become something of a game. One he doesn’t realize is happening because he’s been wearing a permanent glower since he caught sight of me tonight.
That guy can take a flying leap, for all I care.
Even though my back is turned, the heat of his glare burns a hole through my skin. I don’t think I’ve ever been more hyperaware of another human being than I am of Ryder McAdams.
I hate it almost as much as I love it.
Which is…confusing.
All I know is that my brain isn’t racing a mile a minute with everything that needs to be completed for school, and I’m no longer focused on what life might look like a year down the road.
My mind is centered on the here and now.
The fun I’m having with Carina, Brooke, and the other girls.
It’s surprisingly freeing.
When was the last time I smiled or laughed this much?
I rack my brain but can’t remember.
With my arms lifted toward the ceiling, my head falls back, and I close my eyes, allowing the music to wash over me before it pulses through my body. One song bleeds into another and then a third until I lose count.
When I crack my eyes open again, I’m surprised to find Crosby pressed against Brooke’s spine, his large hands wrapped around her waist as he buries his face in the crook of her neck.
A little pang of longing blooms in the pit of my belly as I stare at them. Brooke and I have been friends for years and I adore her. She’s so sweet and a genuinely nice person. If there’s anyone who deserves all the happiness in the world, it’s Brooke.
I can’t help but wish that I had someone who cared about me as much as Crosby cares about her. All you have to do is look at the guy to see how totally in love he is.
At the end of the day, isn’t that all we really want?
To find someone who loves us for the person we are?
Someone who will stick by us through thick and thin?
As that thought circles through my head, I bring the cup to my lips only to find that it’s empty.
Hmmm.
Looks like it’s time for another refill to keep these good vibes flowing.
I get Brooke’s attention and point to the kitchen, jiggling the red plastic cup. Honestly, I’ve lost count of how many I’ve had tonight. All I know is that I’ve never drank this much in my life.
With a nod, she burrows closer to Crosby as I slip through the sea of students cutting loose on a Friday night. I glance around, searching for my roomie only to find that she’s MIA. Less than thirty minutes ago, we were just dancing together.
I also ran into Maverick earlier. He took one look at me and frowned. Honestly, it reminded me of Ryder, which was a total buzzkill. So, I gave him a little wave and took off. I haven’t seen him since, which is probably for the best.
As I wind my way through the crowd, I catch sight of Ryder from the corner of my eye. It would be impossible to miss him. He’s taller and more muscular than a lot of the students we go to school with, looking more like a grown man rather than a twenty-two-year-old guy in college.
For the first time since he decided to shadow my every move, he’s busy talking to another teammate, making it easier to slip into the kitchen. The last thing I want or need is him up my ass.
The kid manning the keg gives me the once over before his gaze returns to mine. With his babyface, my guess is that he’s a freshman.
