Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 125852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 629(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 629(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
I meet Chase’s eyes, and he lifts a shoulder.
“Look, man, shit happens. Most of the time when you least expect it, so maybe just think about it. That way, if you find yourself diving a little deeper, it’s not a whole-ass thing.”
I stare at my half-empty cup of warm beer I’m not even drinking.
I have thought about it. A lot, but if I’m honest, it only started to cross my mind over the last few weeks.
And what does that tell you, dumb-ass?
“All right, I think it’s time,” Mason says, splitting through the mess in my mind, and I look over just as Payton tips her cup all the way back, trying to get something to magically come out when it’s clearly empty. “I might ask her to leave the wig on. At least for round one.” He smirks and walks away, lifting his woman off her feet, her laughter all that’s left as they disappear around the corner as we approach the last two standing.
Paige looks at her watch once they’re out of eyesight. “I should probably go too.”
“Already?” Cameron whines.
Paige gives her an apologetic expression. “If I don’t go now, I’ll have to wait another hour for the campus safety shuttle, and I’m not sure I want to be on it when it’s people who are going to be carried on and given puke bags.”
“You can come home with me and Brady. Take Ari’s bed or the couch?” Cameron suggests, hiccupping slightly. “Or you can take Brady’s bed. He has a lock on the door, so you’ll be safe.”
Chase chokes on his drink, looking from Cameron to Paige.
I fight a grin. “Yeah, Paige. Take my bed. I’m room four, second floor.”
Chase swings his eyes my way, narrowing them on me.
I wink at him and his frown deepens. Has he not figured out he likes her yet?
Man. My friends are slow to the ball when it comes to women.
So glad I’m not like them.
“Okay, yeah.” Paige nods. “One or the other will work. Thanks.”
I nod, meeting Cameron’s mischievous gaze when she looks back at me, happy her little scheme is working out.
She presses into my chest, and I bend to whisper in her ear.
“I take it she’s unaware I have a roommate named Chase Harper?”
“Shh,” she laughs, spotting someone to the side and calling out to them with a smile.
She slips away, drunkenly tugging Paige along as she moves over to hug a girl with pink hair dressed in a catsuit.
A few of our teammates join us, and we bullshit for a while. At one point, Chase disappears and then the others walk off too. Unfortunately for me, a gang of girls appear in front of me next.
“Hey, Brady,” they singsong, swinging props around and sliding in as close as possible.
“Ladies.” I look over their costumes of choice. We’ve got a nurse, policeman, firefighter, convict, and every other outfit along that line, each one the “sexy,” near-naked version. “I’ve been a good boy. No need for the cuffs,” I tease when the cop girl swings her fluffy cuffs around her finger.
“Saw your girlfriend with the new quarterback earlier. Did you guys break up?” one asks.
I open my mouth, but then her words register, and my eyes snap to where I last saw Cameron. I spot Paige and the girl they went over to say hello to, but she’s nowhere to be seen.
My pulse jumps for some reason, and I slip through the group, for once not bothering with an excuse about why I’m leaving them standing there.
I circle the main room, the kitchen, and the game room but don’t spot her anywhere. Tension tugs at my muscles with each passing minute. I pause at the stairs, wondering if I want to go up to his room and see if she’s there. I shouldn’t.
I should just…leave them alone.
I take the stairs two at a time, round the corner, and just as I lift my fist to knock, I spin on my fucking heels and hurry back down with a groan.
Unease wraps around my shoulders and I shake my head.
What are you doing, bro?
Quit with the bullshit already. You did your job.
You gave her time.
It’s like you fucking knew.
Time is up.
Instead of moving toward the keg, I hit the kitchen, letting one of the freshmen pour me a double of something dark.
I throw it back, snag a bottled water, and push through the back patio door.
It’s louder than normal back here, barrels lit up with bonfires, but I tear past them both, moving for a quieter spot in the dark across the yard.
My feet jerk to a stop when a pair of perfect pigtails come into view.
My heart hammers behind my ribs as I watch her.
She’s sitting alone, staring across the fire.
Slowly, I make my way over, nerves I don’t quite understand twisting in my gut, but there’s another feeling in there too. Relief.