AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I should hold off. If I wanted any hope of independence next year, I needed to keep saving. My heart-shaped box was almost overflowing.
“Can I help you?” asked the guy behind the counter, beckoning me in. He was wearing a tiara and butterfly wings. “Our drinks are to die for. I’ll upgrade you to the next size.”
Dammit, it was the last big campus party of junior year. And the butterfly wings made me smile. I dropped a dollar in the tip jar, plunked down some bills — keeping theYou’re beautifultwenty in the back of my wallet — and walked away with a giant iced mocha concoction.
The music ended. As I slurped, an arm brushed mine, and a whiff of familiar perfume hit my nose. Sydney sashayed past in fringed cowboy boots, her blonde hair swishing.
Impulsively, I grabbed her hand. “Hey, Syd.”
She pivoted, swaying slightly, blinking wide hazel eyes at me. “Oh, hey. Hey, girl. Cuuute top.” She plucked at the ties on my halter top.
I gripped her hand. She was drunk already. Unsteady. “You okay? I heard about you and Brayden Bronson.”
“So did everybody.” She leaned closer, almost in my face. “We’re over. You were right, babes. He could fuck my body, but he couldn’t fuck my mind.” Her voice was a few notches too loud. People were staring.
“I’m sorry.”
“Are you? You have everything. You have a guy who carries you off the court after you make everyone fall down, and he doesn’t even look at other girls. It’s like you’re the only one he can see.”
“What? No. Believe me, I— I don’t have everything.”
Her head swiveled suddenly. I followed her gaze and saw Dexter walking toward us. My stomach tightened.
Sydney let my hand go. “Here comes your ex. I’ll leave you two alone.” She backed away.
“Syd, wait.”
She pushed into the crowd. Ashley appeared and put an arm around her. Maria, on her other side, gave me an accusing look. I hugged myself, staring after them, the warmth of the evening fading with the setting sun.
A familiar hand kneaded my shoulder.
“Hey, sweetie.” Dexter slung an arm around me, pulling me in. “I knew my good-luck charm would show up tonight.”
“Don’t call me sweetie.”
“Well, excuuuse me. What was going on with Sydney? Looked like something special was about to happen.”
“Yes,” I snapped. “A conversation.”
“Lighten up.” He tweaked the hem of my denim miniskirt. His fingers brushed my thigh. “Aw, you didn’t shave for me today.”
“Stop it.” I smacked his hand away. Heads turned at my sharp tone. Dexter straightened up, a flush on his cheeks, his eyes angry.
I scanned the line of concession stands for someone, anyone I knew. Nearby, above the crowd, a mop of unruly hair gave me my out.
“Oh, hi!” I squealed, waving. “Marcus!” Marcus twisted around and gave me awhat the hell?look through his sunglasses. “I’ve been looking all over for you,” I gushed. “See ya, Dex!”
“Him?”he muttered. “That’swho you’re going for now? He definitely deals.”
I wrested free of Dexter’s grasp and pushed through the crowd to give Marcus a big hug.
“What are you doing?” he asked between his teeth as he leaned down. “We’re friends now?”
“Best friends.” I looped my arm through his, walking us away from the concession stands. “Where are you headed?”
“To find my girlfriend.” He frowned at my clutch on the oversize plastic cup and my arm tensed in his. “What are you running from, Lady Christina?”
“My ex.” I took a long drink of mocha slush.
