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Talking about it is making me miserable. I try to change the subject about Alex’s own girl problems, but that makes him miserable and now we’re just two miserable peas in a shriveled-up pod.
According to Alex, I need to give Kandace some space. Especially on pledge week.
She doesn’t send anymore pledges my way and I avoid the urge to send her more gifts or show up with more flowers. Isn’t that what guys do to apologize for being complete assholes? Buy flowers or other gifts to make her swoon?
Kandace isn’t like other girls, but shouldn’t the gesture still be there? Doesn’t everyone like flowers? I like flowers.
People should give flowers more often. If Alex showed up one day with a bouquet of colorful stems, I’d forgive him for anything he’s done. If I’m having a bad day and Finn picks a dandelion for me, my mood would instantly lift.
Fuck, everyone could use a flower.
The last day of pledge week is upon us, and that means party central throughout fraternity and sorority rows.
The two blocks that are composed of the fraternity and sorority houses are filled with students celebrating either their acceptance into a house or the end of the grueling week everyone endured.
In the past, I’d be all over that to check out the fresh meat. Tonight, I’m just going for a stroll, checking in on the scene. Just in case anyone wants to talk or see me. No one in particular. I’m just playing it cool.
A few freshmen girls wave, and I recognize at least one of them that kneeled down offering herself to me, and another that was walking with Kandace after the flower debacle. I get the attention a lot, but if they’re smiling at me, that means Kandace hasn’t completely turned them against me. There’s hope she doesn’t despise me as much as she lets on.
“Have you seen Vic?” Willa bounces over to me with a gold flask in her hand. “I tried looking for him. He said he’d walk over. "
“Willa,” I sigh and shake my head. I’m about to tell her to drop Vic. She needs to stop being so delusional and face the facts. She can’t find him, because he has his head up another girl’s skirt. But then, out of the corner of my eye, I see Kandace talking to some guy I don’t recognize.
They talk and do little quick touches to the arms and side. She has on a short, light blue-green dress that brings out the green in her eyes. It hurts. Like a knife through the chest, it fucking hurts to know she’ll be heading off with him any minute.
I’ve seen her work her magic before, and it doesn’t take long.
The pain is too unbearable to keep watching as I turn my attention back to Willa. I don’t want her to feel the same heartache. I don’t wish that on anyone. So, I say nothing about Vic. She’ll figure it out and I’ll be the one kicking his ass when she does.
“I haven’t seen him.” I wasn’t going to drink tonight. We have a game tomorrow, and I wanted my head clear for Kandace. But after seeing her, I changed my mind. “What’s in that?” I ask, taking Willa’s flask and tipping it into my mouth without waiting for an answer.
Vodka. Not a big fan, but it will do.
A few shots and a couple of drinks later, I’m being carted away from a very intriguing group of women by Alex and Finn.
“Hey! I was trying to get laid.” I say, trying at a feeble attempt to stay.
If I was really going to get laid, I would’ve left with at least one of them by now. There’s only one woman I really want.
“Those are freshmen puck bunnies. Too inexperienced and too young for you,” Finn says, wrapping his arm over my shoulders to lead me away. “I believe you made the rule to at least wait a semester to tap any of that.”
A very smart rule.
I take one last look around, but I haven’t seen Kandace in hours.
“She left a while ago,” Finn whispers. “C’mon, we have a curfew and a game tomorrow. Coach may even announce the captains this time.” A peek of Finn’s Irish accent comes out when he gets excited, and especially after he’s been drinking. He lived in Ireland for half his life.
“Oh, my cheeky Irish lad.” I grab his ass cheek and give it a good squeeze, trying to mock him in my best Irish accent. I’m the fucking lucky charms leprechaun. “Do you wish to make captain? Want me to put in a good word for ya, hey?” Somewhere it turned Scottish.
He laughs and pushes me off of him.
I used to wish to be captain of the team. I wanted to be just like Nick and lead my team. Last year, that dream was washed away.
Chased down with a bottle.
I’m lucky to still have a place on the team.
Chapter 10
