THIRTY
Playing: “Sailor Song” by Gigi Perez
“I’m goingto get more water. Do you guys want anything?” Stacia asks as she passes by.
“Something fruity!” Rory answers mid dance.
“Same!” I confirm as I spin in a circle, the alcohol warming everything in my body. I can drink on my meds, but only at night. It’s such a long duration from my dose that it doesn’t affect anything. That’s one good thing about it, thankfully. Rory and I continue to dance with the guys, all of our energy going into the music. Ciro’s eyes are shut as he moves his head in ways that don’t make sense for the beat, and Dax attempts the sprinkler. Uriah moves his head gently, mainly trying to keep his drink away from the guys so he doesn’t spill it.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen any ofmyguys, though. Not long after we got here, Kit successfully convinced Sam to relax, and he was living it up for a while. He kind of started our impromptu dance party, but it’s been a minute since I’ve seenhis blond locks in the crowd, along with my stoic soldier and anime-loving ally.
I remind myself to stay in the moment with my friends, though. They’ll turn up eventually. And it is an Alpha Xi party, so maybe Sam had some business to take care of somewhere else in the house. According to Kit, that’s how he spends most of his time at these parties anyway.
The song changes, and in its place is a loud guitar riff that echoes throughout the entire house. Everyone cheers, and someone raises their cup just before the most angelic but also gritty voice I’ve ever heard rings through the air. The sound is angsty and turbulent, but also delightful and wispy. It pulsates in the air around us as people start to dance to the tune.
“I love this fucking song!” Rory looks around. “I wonder who turned this on.”
“Agreed because it’s not exactly house music. What is this?” I ask her, chuckling at Ciro as he plays an air guitar.
“This new band, Vicious Velvet. They’re all omegas and they’ve been skyrocketing.” She laughs as Dax joins Ciro and starts to headbang to the song. “I guess even frat boys aren’t immune to their stuff.”
“Of course not! I’m not even into things this hard andIlove it. They’re likemagic,” Stacia says as she comes up behind us with refills. She hands a few bottles to Rory and me while drinking out of a water bottle herself. Atlas takes it from her when she’s done so she can bop along to the music with us.
Jett finds his way through the crowd, his arm immediately going around Rory as he arrives at her side. “I think we have a few more songs before he realizes what I did,” he says.
His mate raises her eyebrow. “What are you talking about?”
He points at the ceiling, but I think he’s actually referring to the music blasting from the speakers. “I needed a break from the party music, so I changed the playlist.”
Our eyes go huge. “So, you’re the culprit!” I yell over the music, pointing a finger at his face.
Jett puts his hands up in surrender, but the amusement on his face remains. “I couldn’t help it. Rory plays this all the time, and it’s been stuck in my head, sue me.”
My blue-haired friend kisses him on the cheek. “You’re amazing. Look at all of these frat guys dancing to it! I wish I could record it.”
Everett comes up on her other side, his phone pointing toward our drunk friends. “Already on it.”
I never feel as much joy as I do when I’m with my friends. They’re just so full of light and happiness that it ricochets over the entire room. We all start to dance, taking in the moment with this new band. It’s a breath of fresh air, the hardcore rock echoing throughout the house with no complaints or issues from the partygoers. We all just jam out, and it lasts for a long time before the music finally turns back to generic house music, and everything seems to go back to normal party mode.
“Aw, man! Go make him turn it back, Jett,” Rory pouts.
Jett shakes his head. “No, no way. The guy in charge, Bradley, talked my ear off aboutbees. Please don’t make me go through that again.”
Atlas lets out a massive, knowing laugh, and Stacia giggles behind her hand.
“Is that something he usually does?” Rory asks.
“You have no idea,” Kendall responds, breathing heavy from all the headbanging. “He even annoys Sam with it, and you know Sam is practically impossible to annoy.”
The reminder of their absence sends me into motion. “On that note,” I say, elation still flowing through me. “I’m going to find Kit.”
“He was in the kitchen when I was getting water,”Stacia tells me. I thank her with a nod before I head off in that direction, looking for my friend in the sweaty midst of bodies.
The kitchen isn’t as crowded as I’d thought, but I don’t find any of them loitering in there. I grab a water bottle while I can and then skip through the herd, looking for any insanely tall people that might resemble Thatcher. Everyone is talking, hanging around in groups. It’s busy for a normal Saturday night party at Alpha Xi, and it makes me wonder if my roommates had to retreat upstairs for some quiet.
I walk up the stairs, very aware that it’s off-limits, but I know the president, so I’m not too worried. Our grumpy alpha is my ride home anyway, so it’s not like he can kick me out. I laugh at myself for that inner thought when I come across another living space upstairs. It’s not very crowded, and all the occupants are members of the fraternity so I don’t hesitate to enter.
I spot the two people I’m looking for in the corner, facing one another and speaking low. Thatcher issmiling, their conversation seemingly titillating as they go back and forth. Their faces are close, and I spot just the barest tint of color on Kit’s cheeks as he listens to his alpha. They look so enamored with each other, and it brings a smile to my face. Instead of barging in, I sneak away from the door, leaving them to their alone time together.
