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“Nah. Business.”
“Oh, that’s cool. I’m studying nursing.”
Aidan nods. “Nice.” He glances at me. “See you.”
Then he’s gone, disappearing into the crowd as quickly as he came over.
Chloe looks to me. “What was that about?”
I shrug, then shake my head. “I barely know him.”
That’s true, at least.
We make it into the dining room, which I doubt is ever used for eating. Watch several rounds of Flip Cup, followed by a few games of beer pong. Chat with some more people whose names I immediately forget. Drain my cup.
It’s almost midnight by the time I tell Chloe I’m headed out. I’m exhausted from forcing smiles and pretending to enjoy myself. Everyone else appears to be having a blast, and everyone else seems to know each other.
I’ve given up on mentioning London, just saying I transferred from BU if anyone asks. None of the guys who approached me incited a fraction of the effect Aidan’s wink had. I hate that that was my metric tonight…but it was. Most were wasted and their main contribution to the conversation was staring at my boobs. I’m not that desperate to replace Aidan Phillips as the last guy I had sex with. Not yet, at least.
Chloe offers to walk home with me, then insists I text her when I’m home after I tell her to stay and have fun.
Definitely hit the roommate lottery. I could have gottenabducted in Boston, and my parents probably would have been the ones to report me missing.
There are even more people here now than when we first arrived. I have to forcefully push my way through the loud crowd, releasing a relieved sigh when I step out onto the front porch into blissful silence and empty space. The colder air feels nice too.
“Leaving already?”
I spin to the left, my hand flying up to clutch my racing heart. “What thefuck, Aidan?”
“What? I’m not allowed to talk to you? That’ll make tutoring more challenging.” He’s alone out here, slouched against the railing that wraps around the porch with his ankles crossed. His eyes roam my body, making my skin prickle with awareness. It’s an adrenaline rush, having his full attention on me. A thrill I fight to hide. “I guess we could just make out the whole time.”
He’s drunk. Maybe. Probably. I don’t know him well enough to tell for sure. But he’s holding a red cup identical to the empty one I abandoned inside, so I doubt he’s sober.
I blow out a long breath as I slide my arms into the sleeves of my jacket, attempting to look unaffected by the prospect of kissing him again. Since I’ve had two drinks, it’s harder than it should be. I watch the tiny cloud of air disappear into nothingness as I zip up my jacket.
“You’re not allowed tosneak up on me,” I tell him. “Scary shit happens to people who aren’t six foot hockey players.”
“I’m six foot three. And I’m just standing on a porch, Alice.”
“Don’tcall me that,” I snap.
He smirks before taking a sip from his cup. “What’s up with Rylan, anyway?”
“Why’s that my name, you mean? Probably a better question for my dad. I wasn’t consulted about the choice.”
Aidan nods. “Yeah, I’ll make sure to ask him before our game tomorrow.”
I scoff, then answer his question for some stupid reason. “I was supposed to be a boy named Ryan, after my grandfather. He passed away a couple of years before I was born. Turned out I wasn’t a boy, so my parents got creative. It’s old English, technically. Means ‘land where Rye is grown.’”
“You learn that in London?”
“Yes, actually.”
He smiles, looking pleased he guessed right. “Do Brits also bail before midnight?”
“I wouldn’t know. Didn’t party much there.”
“Is that why you left?”
