Ethan slipped the vodka into Lorna’s bag. “We’ll bring it with us. We don’t have to drink here.”
Lorna looked behind Ethan at his friends studying away. “I know, I know.She’llhave a fit.”
“It’s her room, too.” An idea bulb flicked on in Ethan’s brain. “How about if you stop keeping alcohol in your room, I’ll get her to tidy up?”
Lorna immediately sparked to the compromise. “Deal.”
As they left the dorm, Lorna gave the study group an exaggerated wave. “Have a great afternoon, guys!”
Ethan noticed something in Anna’s eyes. He thought he saw longing and curiosity opening them up, watching him and Lorna go. She wore a sweatshirt that had a bicycle on it and the words “RIDE ME” splashed underneath. Were her clothes a cry for help? Ethan wondered if she was in the same position as him, if she had this private life she couldn’t tell anyone about. Or maybe she was too afraid to try for one, which was even more depressing.
“Did anyone want to come to the tailgate with us? It’s a lot of fun, even if you don’t drink.” He gazed at Anna for an extra second.
She dropped the pen in her hand. The spotlight moved to her, which seemed to be a new and terrifying phenomenon for her. She glanced at Jessica, unused to having a voice in this group.
“I think we’re good,” Jessica said. Anna returned to studying.
Perhaps Ethan’s mind was just playing tricks on him.
Φ
Ethan kicked ass at flip cup, even if he was playing with water. The more he played, the better his hand-eye coordination got. Henry and June marveled at his speed and accuracy. Practice was making perfect.
He scanned the parking lot, taking in the dozens of tailgates happening in tents or on people’s cars. Everyone celebrating, socializing, having a great time. And Ethan was in the center of it. He couldn’t help himself. He had to sneak a peek at the Kappa Kappa Sigma tailgate.
Just a three-second glimpse. That’s it, he told himself. Only to see what type of beer they had in the keg. He summoned his liquid courage and peered into the fraternity’s tent.
An epic game of beer pong was being played over two connected ping pong tables. Sahil sunk a ball and threw his arms up. All normal stuff. Nothing worth spying on. Ethan continued craning his neck. His three seconds were almost up. They were very long seconds.
And that’s when he made eye contact with Greg. Ethan’s body turned to petrified wood, crystallized instantly. Greg took a lingering look at him while sipping his beer. All their memories and all of Ethan’s feelings rushed back into him. He’d thought he was fine. He’d thought he was moving on. But one glimpse plunked him back into the post-break-up blues.
Ethan did a half-wave. Greg turned his back to him.
CHAPTER thirty
Ethan cheered in the stands at the top of his lungs. The cold air burned his throat, but he didn’t care. His hands were numb from high-fiving so many people around him. The energy from the crowd infused him with a buzz that alcohol couldn’t match. He didn’t know he could care so much about a football game.If Greg could see me now.
During halftime, he and Lorna went to the concession stand. They were talking about the amazing touchdown that Browerton had scored right before the end of the quarter, and they were laughing. For no reason, just out of happiness, out of letting fun take over them completely.
Preston was one line over from them. Ethan had to do a double-take.
“I didn’t know you went to football games,” Ethan screamed over to him.
“Likewise.” Preston wasn’t a screamer, but Ethan made sure to hear every word. “What do you think?”
“I love it! Did you know that nobody sits down at these games? We’ve been standing on the bleachers the entire time.”
“Me too.”
“I probably sound like a lung cancer patient I’ve been screaming so much. And I’m screaming now,” Ethan said. The echoes inside drowned out their conversation. Preston left his line and joined theirs.
“Mind if cut in?”
“You just gave up your spot on the faster-moving line.”
“I don’t mind,” Preston said with a knowing smile. Ethan blushed, but he could just blame it on the cold, right? He smelled something familiar on Preston’s breath.
“Did you pregame with tequila?”
