He looks down at himself and grins. “Don’t get too used to it, Hunt. Within a couple of hours, I’ll be back in my regular shit. Creature of habit and all.”
Cane Hale eats, breathes, and sleeps baseball. I guess as the starting pitcher for a D1 college, you kind of have to be that way though. And I know he’s hoping to go pro one day.
Jameson heads over to the cupboard and opens it up to take out a bunch of shot glasses before grabbing the vodka and filling them all to the top.
“Oh shit, here we go.” Clark smirks, and the only reason why that fuckstick is here right now is because I told Jameson to invite him.
Isla said she was going to the dance with someone—I needed to make sure it wasn’t him. Luckily, I watched out the window as her Jeep drove by a bit ago, loaded with a bunch of chicks.
If he was going to take her, I probably would have knocked him out, tied him up, and locked him in my closet.
“Come on, fellas,” he says, holding one up. “Well, besides little Hale. He’s the DD.”
I almost feel bad for Cash, but he offered to be the designated driver tonight. I mean, it’s not like I want to show up completely annihilated. But truth be told, I don’t think that Cash even drinks. He’s a freshman, his stepdad is the assistant coach, and the dude is way too hard on himself. That doesn’t leave much room for fucking off.
Me? I seem to balance fucking off and playing hockey just fine together. Then again, I grew up in an atmosphere that was extremely fucked up, so I learned to excel in the chaos.
“Cheers to us all looking handsome as fuck tonight,” Jameson drawls. “And to all of us getting laid too.”
“Cheers,” we all repeat, clanking our glasses together before pouring them back.
Quickly, Jameson refills them, and we down another before he claps his hands together.
“Woo!” he cheers, slapping his hand on the countertop. “All right, let’s roll. I’ve got my dancing shoes on tonight, motherfuckers.”
Grabbing my phone from the table, I slide it into my pocket and follow the rest of the guys out the door.
Isla may have said no to being my date tonight, but she’s definitely going to have to face me when I get there.
ISLA
On the makeshift dance floor at the campus’s largest fraternity house, I sway with my friends to the music, letting myself get lost in the sound, even though it’s not easy when I can feel someone’s gaze on me.
It’s been like this since about half an hour after we got here. I haven’t looked around to find Hendrix, but I know he’s here. I can feel it.
Daring myself to sweep the room with my gaze, I find him standing in the shadows in a corner with a group of guys, all talking to one another, eyes on the dance floor.
In the darkness, the strobe lights illuminate his face just enough for my eyes to meet his. I could look away. Correction: I should look away.
Guys like Hendrix Hunt are dangerous. They tell you all the things you want to hear and make you believe them, and thenthey’re onto the next girl. I used him in that supply closet, and now, he’s looking at me like I’m some sort of chase.
I run my hands down my body as I dance, and even across the large room, I watch his jaw tighten.
He’s not looking at other girls tonight, and I suppose that’s because right now, I’m his conquest. As stupid as it is, knowing his gaze hasn’t strayed from me is exhilarating. It gives me life.
I look away from him and back to my friends as we all move, turning into sweaty messes with the smell of Sol de Janeiro filling the air around us. My spray tan didn’t do much, seeing as I washed it after less than two hours. But it gave me enough of a glow to feel confident in this short black dress. And Haven doing my hair in this messy updo added to my look for tonight, which was certainly an upgrade from my everyday appearance.
After a while, we all agree that it’s time to go get a drink and cool off for a bit. We’ve been dancing since we got here well over an hour ago, and it’s hotter than hell.
Haven and Harley head over to see some of their teammates, leaving me, Summer, and Eden at the bar by ourselves. I fan myself but can’t seem to cool down.
“I’m going to find the bathroom,” I tell Summer and Eden, continuing to wave my hand in front of my face. “My blood runs hot. I need to splash cold water on myself before I die.”
“It’s upstairs, the third or fourth door down the hall on the right,” Summer says, nodding. “We’ll be somewhere out here.”
Walking off, I head toward the staircase at the end of the dimly lit hallway. Everything being so obscure in here makes it a little eerie, especially with the music blaring from the main living area. If something happened … no one would hear me.
I shake my head at myself. Nothing is going to happen. I’m at the freaking homecoming party with hundreds of other students, for God’s sake.
