His admission dropped like stones off a skyscraper and landed with force.
“Why are you here then?”
“Mom and dad are gone for the week, and Callen didn’t leave me much choice.”
“What, was he afraid your rambunctious personality would get you into trouble?” I meant it as a joke. Unfortunately, it didn’t come out as lightly as I’d intended it to because his cheeks flushed and he looked like he was going to be sick. “I only meant that you’re old enough to be trusted for a night.”
“Callen,” he started, stopped, and cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable. “Callen is ‘paving my path’,” he made air quotes with his fingers, just a hint of sarcasm evident in his voice, “into his fraternity and says I need to start mingling.”
“Do you want to be in his fraternity? Hell, do you even want to go to the same school?”
“Of course. My great grandfather was the first man in our family to go to college. My grandpa and dad went to the same school, and now Callen and I will go too.” He stared straight ahead, his jaw clenching even before he finished speaking. The words sounded dull.Rehearsed. And a small pang of pity weighed on my brow.
“Yeah,” I nodded. “Sounds like you’re really excited to go.”
“Extremely.”
“A guy like you, I bet you’re excited for hazing.”
The color drained from Damien’s face as every cell of his body filled with stone.
Was that… fear? Dread?
“I’ll take that as a no.” I sipped on the stale beer acting as my prop and tried to hold back the responsive cringe.
Jesus Christ. How did anyone drink Bud Light?
Before Damien and I could get into spewing our hopes and dreams, Callen returned with Andrew trailing behind.
Callen grabbed Damien’s hand, forcing a sweaty can of beer into his palm. “Here you go, bro.”
Damien nodded in return.
The stomach roiling tension returned with force and I decided I’d had enough. “Hey Andrew,” I said lightly, placing my hand on his bicep and leaning in. “It’s getting pretty late. I think I’m ready to go home.”
He looked down, considering me for a moment before he answered, “You sure? I still haven’t fulfilled the ‘night of your life’ promise.” Andrew winked. At the beginning of the night, that wink made butterfly wings sweep my skin in tingling anticipation. Now, however, it made the dread sickening my stomach rise into my throat.
I was being stupid. It was late, I was tired, ready to be half naked under my cotton sheets, and the exhaustion was playing with my emotions. Still, I was ready to be home.
“This has been the best night of my life so far,” I smiled, but let the sincerity of my request play in my expression. “I’m just tired and want to leave.”
I thought he would protest, or that maybe Callen, having just gotten there, would talk me out of it.
Instead, Callen looked at Andrew and said, “You know what? She’s right. This party is lame. I know about another one tonight that’s supposed to be gnarly. Wanna drop her off on the wayand hit it?”
“I can hang,” Andrew agreed. “Why don’t you hop in with us?”
“Sounds tight, dude. Let’s hit it.”
Andrew wrapped his arm around my shoulders, guided us through the house and out to his car. The air was frigid compared to the muggy body heat inside. A wave of goosebumps rose with the shiver coursing over me.
“You’re sitting behind me, alright baby?” Andrew kissed the top of my head before opening the car door and pulling the lever to push his seat forward.
“Are you serious?” The fact that he was shoving me in the back seat didn’t sit well. “Just let me sit up front. It’ll be a total inconvenience for you to have to get out of the car when you drop me off.”
“Nothing about you is an inconvenience, baby. Just hop in. I’ll take care of you.”
I hesitated for one gravity defying moment. Against my better judgement, I acquiesced, struggling with my skirt as I fumbled into the back seat of his car. The leather that once felt luxurious under my skin was too sticky, and the freedom of the missing t-tops was nowhere to be found.
