AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He stays on his knees and smirks back at her. “I’ll give you two months’ worth if you can convince her.”
She nods her head, faces me, and wags her eyebrows. “What do you say, Evie? Can we go?”
I sit back up, my jaw slack in shock. “Are you kidding me? You just got bought out for a damn cup of coffee?”
“Not a cup, asshole. Two whole months of lusciousness for free waiting for us when we get up.”
I have no words. I stare at her for another sixty seconds before I finally relent. The last time I left her alone at a party was a night we both really wish we could take back, so I’m certainly not letting her go with me. I get out of bed and walk towards my door, pushing Taylor over as I go.
“Get out. Both of you,” I say, defeat clear in my voice.
She smiles as she passes me, but Taylor looks confused.
“So wait, are we going or not?”
“Get out before I change my mind.”
He hurries to the door, kisses my forehead, and whispers, “Thank you.”
“Whatever, asshole,” I say and slam the door in his face.
* * *
Music is pumping out of the glassless windows of the abandoned fort that’s currently holding a bunch of Stratham University students. The party started hours ago, but just because they convinced me to be here, I decided to take my time.
I’ve got on my favorite black skinny jeans, Converse, and a button-up underneath my black hoodie. I even let Celeste put makeup on my face as a delaying tactic.
We walk past the entrance gates, and I can’t help but remember the last time I was here. It had been the first time I’d seen Caleb and Micah since we were kids.
Celeste squeezes my hand the closer we get to the abandoned fort, and I squeeze back out of reflex. I’m pretty sure that means I’m giving her reassurances that I’m here to support her—at least, I think it does.
Taylor wedges his way in between us and offers his elbow to her as we get to the threshold.
“It’s going to be okay, Cele. I promise,” he whispers, taking her hand and placing it on the inside of his arm. He turns towards me, offering his other arm, but I just swat it away.
“You got me here, but don’t push it.”
He gives me a side grin and places his hand at the small of my back. “What? Don’t want to give the impression that you’re part of my harem.”
That gets a rise out of Celeste. “No one’s that stupid, Bryant. Let’s just get through tonight.”
Taylor visibly shivers and walks us toward the bar. “You guys keep calling me by my last name like that, and I’ll have to make it my personal mission to get you both back in bed. This time sans clothing.”
Celeste pulls her hand out from under his arm and sashays forward. “You and your Womb Raider can stay celibate. I don’t need a babysitter that badly.”
By the time we reach the bar, the three of us are laughing at Taylor, anxiety forgotten. I catch a glimpse of Taylor, and the glint in his eyes makes me wonder if he’s really that goofy and immature, or if he does it on purpose to distract us from our anxieties.
Something tells me it’s the latter.
Is there more to Taylor than I thought?
I find myself grinning from ear to ear as I watch him work the room, annoy Celeste, and keep an eye on me out of loyalty. Much to my surprise, Taylor was right. No one is staring at us or whispering like they were at Orientation. They’re not exactly welcoming, but it’s not unpleasant either. Even a few kids from my calculus class nod their heads in greeting at me.
We watch as Taylor wins his second round of beer pong, proclaiming his mastery of the game, when I suddenly feel goosebumps litter my arms. I glance over my right shoulder, and I’m met with a pair of captivating hazel eyes.
For a moment, Caleb and I are the only ones in the room. But a moment is all we get. In the next, Genna comes into view and reality comes crashing back to me.
I stare as the rest of Psi Kappa Psi and Zeta Sigma Rho get closer to invade the space Cele and I have been hanging out for the last thirty minutes. It’s like watching a car crash. No matter how much I want to look away, I just can’t. I guess we’ll see how strong Justin’s word is now that the main instigating assholes are literally within feet from me.
