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The game had been an early one, and it was now midafternoon. “Grab your swimsuits. We’re going to a pool party.”
“Pool party!” Carly jumped up. “You know, the parties at their house are legendary.”
“So I’ve heard.” Was I expecting anything less? When the biggest stars on campus threw a party, I assumed everyone wanted to be there.
Julian snorted outright. “Yeah, get a bunch of meathead football players together with unlimited alcohol after a win, and let the stupidity commence, folks. Why would I want to be at a party with that crowd?”
“Because I need my friends, and I would do the same for you.”
Carly said, “I’m in.”
We both looked at Julian, who had his arms crossed in a defensive pose across his chest, and he finally nudged his chin. “Okay, bitch, I’ll do this for you because I can’t resist your Romanian ass.”
I laughed and jumped into his arms. “You are the secret sauce.”
“Fuck yeah, I am. Don’t forget it.” He rolled his eyes, looking like he would rather have a root canal.
We pulled onto the street, and there was already a line of cars filling the cul-de-sac. I adjusted my black cover-up that slipped off my shoulder. I could hear music playing in the background and wondered if Dmitri was here. I’m certain he was, since he lived here, and he didn’t even mention this party to me. I shook my head, thinking how some things never changed. Probably thought he was doing his duty by keeping me in the dark about a college party. Too bad, he was going to learn I wasn’t in high school anymore. His warning from earlier crossed my mind, and I quickly deleted that file.
“Wait,” Carly said when we made it to the driveway. “Let’s take a selfie.” She fished her phone out of her bag.
Julian’s short braids whirled as he turned his head. “You have five seconds before my window closes.” He was dressed in a light blue designer T-shirt and plaid board shorts, with Gucci flip-flops. He’d been surly since we left the apartment, but when Carly had her phone facing us, he grinned with a precious camera-ready smile as if he’d taken a selfie or two thousand. He was very photogenic.
“Show off.” I grinned after Carly had snapped the picture.
“I don’t have to show off. Iamthe show.”
He did have a point.
We passed through the gate opened off to the side of the house and followed a stone path around to the spacious backyard with an outdoor patio and Olympic-sized pool that was already filled with people.
Girls were sitting on guys’ shoulders, having chicken fights with each other, which included squealing, splashing, and bikini tops being tugged down.
“Really?” Julian leveled a disappointed glance at me.
I was beginning to wonder why we were here myself. I didn’t see “he who shall not be named” as I scanned the scene in front of me. As a matter of fact, I didn’t see any of them. I also wondered how he and Axel could be around each other, much less live together, after what I witnessed today.
“Sorina,” Kenzie called out, with Theo at her side. “You made it.”
I introduced them to my friends.
“Come on.” Theo linked her arm through mine. “Let’s go inside, and you all can keep your things in my room.”
The house was nice and spacious. I didn’t realize how big it was since I never made it inside when I came over that first night. It seemed like most of the party was outside; there were only a few people lingering in the kitchen. There was still no sign of Dmitri. Maybe he wasn’t here.
We turned down a hallway to a door at the end of the hall. “You can put your things over there on the dais. Nobody will come in here.” Theo opened the door, signaling us to pass through. This room was huge and modern, with floor-to-ceiling windows lining one side of the room and views of trees and greenery and rocky cliffs.
“This is nice.” It was more than nice. This place made our apartment look like a tiny box. It was grandiose for a college pad.
“It’s not bad.”
“Where are the guys?” I asked.
“Hanging out in The Lair.”
“The what?”
“It’s the guys’ man cave. I’m sure they’re playing a quick game of Madden.”
