“Just put it on my tab,” Lamar says, and I don’t object. I’ve known Lamar my whole damn life, and the idiot is loaded. Well, his mom is. If he wants to pay for my drink, I’ll let him. He won’t miss the money, and I definitely can use it, easy as that. I’ll never ask for it, but hey, if he offers.
“Sooo,” he begins, settling onto a bar stool, seemingly just as reluctant as I am to return to the booth. “Cheers to the first win of the season.”
We clink our glasses together and drink some. “Technically, it was a practice game.”
“Yes, but it was the most important one.” He nudges me. “If we lose, we’re doomed, baby. If we win? We rock.”
Chuckling, I shake my head. Superstitious idiot. “Our first official game isn’t for a couple of weeks. The game today was just that, a game.” A practice session against an inferior college up north. And on a Sunday, which rarely happens during theseason. But they do it every year before the start of the semester to boost morale.
Yeah. Go Tigers.
“I know, but the team gelled well, especially for a first try. I was afraid the rookies would get the jitters, but they held their own.”
“You sound like a proud co-captain.”
He twirls an Avengers coaster betweens his thick fingers and flashes me a toothy grin. “Jealous that you don't have the spot all to yourself, bruh?”
“Well, no, actually,” I say sincerely. “I'm glad they chose co-captains this year. I don't have the time to handle it all alone, you know that.” Because, yeah, I have my eyes set on an NFL spot like any other player, but I'm realistic about it. I want and need a backup plan. Plus, I spend most of my summers helping out at my big brothers' gym, and I actually enjoy it. Pursuing a business degree is what I'm after.
“Yeah, but you have the best stats. Top quarterback in the league? Fuck, I thought for sure you were gonna get it.”
“But I do have it.” I raise my fist and we tap it out. “Wouldn’t have wanted it any other way, sweetums.”
He cackles. “I’m totally going to get us BFF bracelets or something.”
I smile into my glass, knowing that he’s probably going to buy them too, and spot Missy next to the stage, fumbling with some equipment. I think she’s getting ready for a quick performance. They do a few impromptu songs almost every weekend here–at least they used to last year.
“So, howisMissy?” I ask my self-appointed BFF, nodding towards the stage. “Did you have fun last night? Sure sounded like it.”
“We kept you up again?” His smile widens and he waggles his black brows suggestively. “Weren’t you preoccupied with your girl? Didn’t she just return to campus yesterday?”
I shrug and tinker with the rim of my ball cap, suddenly somewhat tense. “She did, but she didn’t stay over. She was busy setting things up in her new room at the Beta Phi house.”
Lamar frowns–of course he does–but I’m saved by the bell, or a guitar in this case. A short riff surprises everyone and the buzz quiets down.
“Hello there, Tigers! Are you all excited after our first win this year?” Missy’s voice booms through the microphone, eliciting a massive response. She gives a rare smile, her lips painted a dark red, and bows, showing some cleavage because the black dress she’s wearing is very tight and low-cut.
More roars and catcalls follow, with Lamar being the loudest, of course. The idiot.
Missy, being Missy, simply ignores it and slings her hot pink guitar over her shoulder. “Are you ready to give our new frontman a formal welcome? To give Brad a big-ass fuck you?”
The audience cheers again, and the new guy pops on the stage. He saunters to the microphone, sporting a crooked smile.
Yeah, he’s taller than I imagined. The pic that Kaylee showed me wasn’t photoshopped either, as the tight white v-neck he’s wearing leaves little to the imagination. Paired with tight black jeans, heavy boots, and a couple of brown leather strings wrapped around his wrist, his style is pretty basic. Especially compared to his more eccentric band members.
“Hi Tigers. Nice to meet you,” he says with a smile, his deep voice carrying an unidentifiable accent. “My name's Jace, and I transferred here over the summer. Although we did perform at some parties last week, Missy is making me sing tonight and considers this my final test since this is our home base.” The audience hollers, making him smile. “Thank you for having me,and please scream your passionate hearts out. Don’t let her kick me out, yeah?”
He flashes another broad grin while brushing back the longer strands of his sandy hair on top of his head. A girl screams, and he chuckles into the microphone, giving her a thumbs up before signing something to Missy.
“Wouldn’t it be a total fluke if the guy can’t sing for shit?” Lamar asks, and I snicker, taking a sip of my beer. That would be a holler.
“Somehow, I think that he can sing.”
And I’m right.
He starts belting out ‘Natural’ from the Imagine Dragons. And holy shit, it’s fitting because he’s a goddamn natural at it.
It doesn’t take long before this Jace guy captivates everyone in the otherwise rowdy bar, his voice strong, sure and in perfect sync with the band, making everybody shut the fuck up.
