“Yeah, but tonight’s celebration is for Lucas’s birthday.”
It certainly didn’t have anything to do with football. Lakemont had lost against Piney Woods University this afternoon.
“Then where is the birthday boy? The party has been raging for two hours, and I haven’t seen him anywhere.”
Lucas Allen, wide receiver and campus heartthrob, had been known to ruin a lot of women in the last three years. Rumor had it he didn’t date, and if a woman got too close, he dumped her faster than she could blink. I’d heard tall tales about him from Ajax, a football player in my biochemistry class. Nothing scandalous but bragging about how girls lined up to get a piece of Lucas.
My gaze swept the crowd, but I didn’t see Ajax, the running back for Lakemont who on occasion had been my lab partner. He’d asked me out last year, but after my breakup with a possessive asshole in my freshman year, I had no desire to date. Besides, Ajax wasn’t my type. He was nice enough, but I preferred men with blond hair, not dark.
“Lucas should be here soon. According to Erik, Lucas is dealing with some family stuff.” Bails lowered her sunglasses. “Before I forget, the midnight pep rally and the homecoming game are in two weeks. I want you to come. You have plenty of notice to change your shifts around at the casino—that is, if you’re on the schedule. Maybe we’ll get lucky again. Anyway, it's going to be a fun weekend.”
I wished I had it as easy as her to party and do whatever I wanted. Her very rich parents insisted she concentrate on her four years of college and enjoy the ride because after graduation, it would be all work and no play.
“We had such a great time in our freshman year at the midnight pep rally.” I remembered how exciting it had been to be in the stadium with thousands of students where the atmosphere was electric while yell leaders conducted traditional cheers, building anticipation before the homecoming game the next day. “But you know I need to work.” I hoped like hell my boss, Greta, gave me the hours I needed.
She sat up, sighing. “I missed you last year at the pep rally. I had to do the Wolf Howl all by myself.”
I fake pouted. “Ah, but you found Erik. Didn’t he kiss you that night?”
“Best night ever. Look, I know you need the money. But think about it. If you do work, you could leave work at eleven p.m. and still make it to the pep rally.”
I really wanted to go with her. I missed doing all the college activities. “I’ll see what my schedule looks like. That’s all I can promise.”
She beamed. “Thank you.”
“It’s my turn to use the bathroom. It’s in the pool house, right?”
Bails gave me a nod. “Feel free to corner a hot guy. Lord knows you could use a night of wild sex.”
Amen to that.
I wove through the crowd, dodging bronze bodies, giddy women, and guys talking about the football game. Near the entrance to the pool house, goose bumps prickled along my arms despite the warm evening. An inexplicable sensation of being watched made me glance out and over the waist-high gate that led to the driveway.
I stopped and made eye contact with a broad-chested guy who was leaning against a shiny black truck and wearing a hoodie, phone to his ear, his legs crossed at the ankles. A hoodie in the Texas heat? Either he hated attention or wanted to disappear.
Then he lowered his hood as if to say, “look at me.” And I couldn’t bring myself to move or look away from none other than Lucas Allen. From where I stood, he was certainly handsome. Messy blond locks shorn on the sides. Scruff on his sharp jaw.
Stop staring, and go to the bathroom. For some reason, I couldn’t tear my gaze away until my phone rang. I fished it out of my back pocket then groaned at seeing my mom’s name. I debated whether to answer. Kaylee was fine since she was at her friend’s house for the weekend. But on the off chance that something had happened, I tapped to connect the call.
“This better be good, Mom,” I blurted out harshly.
“Daughter, is that any way to greet the woman who gave birth to you?”
I pressed my fingers to my temple, gripping the cell tightly with my other hand. “What do you want?” I was thankful that Bailey had convinced me to come to this party and not stay home with my head buried in books.
“I need to borrow your car, but I can’t find your keys.”
“What’s wrong with yours?”
“It won’t start. I think it’s the battery.” She clucked her tongue. “I need to buy groceries.”
I snorted. “You mean your box of wine.”
She blew out a frustrated breath, which I knew all too well. “Maserati Meyers, do not start.”
I winced at hearing my first name. She’d come up with Maserati after screwing my dad on the hood of one, and that image was cringeworthy, which was the reason I shortened it to Mazzie.
“Where did you get the money? Because we both know you don’t have a job.”
