CHAPTER 1
AVERY MOORE
I bobmy head as music blares from the speakers that my brother has set up throughout his two-bedroom campus apartment. The bass pounds against my body, so much so that the contents of my drink are having a hard time staying inside the red solo cup. Having been filled too full by my brother’s friend, Jacob, it’s splashing against the edge of my hand, and as drunk as I am, I lick it away like a cat sipping from a bowl of milk.
At this point, I really don’t give a crap how weird I look because lord knows that literally no one is paying attention to me. As a bigger girl, I’m unnoticeable like that.
I survey the crowded living room as I close my mouth around a particularly juicy drop on the side of my cup. Hell, maybe even the licking will turn some guy on and he’ll approach me and…
Gosh, it’s only been a few months, and I’ve turned into a hussy. I wrinkle my nose in disgust.
It doesn’t matter. There are far too many pretty girls here to flirt with. However, if one decided to give me the chance, I wouldn’t say no to a little “attention.”
Sucking my tongue back into my mouth, I frown.No, Avery.No having sex with a stranger. That’s unlike you. You’re a strong, confident woman.
Ugh, but I’m positive my vibrator is losing steam despite the new batteries I put in a week ago.
I glare at the drink because glaring at my greedy pussy would probably be more frowned upon than the licking of my own hand. “This is your fault,” I slur to the drink and then quickly take a sip.
Someone loaded the jungle juice with a heavy hand, but I’m long past tasting and cringing at the amount of alcohol anymore. It tastes delicious.
I’ve been standing alone for…what…five minutes? Or has it been longer? Hell if I know. I have no idea where I set my phone so I can check for the time, and in this tight dress, there are no pockets. I don’t even know where my heels are.
My best friend Ivy was standing next to me. But when she’s drunk, she has the attention span of a fly and often disappears, the social butterfly that she is.
I didn’t want to come to this party, but my brother begged me. He threw it for me so that he could introduce me, his sister and newbie to the college, to his friends, most particularly his best friend, whom I still haven’t met. And though I haven’t met all of them in this room, a great number came to introduce themselves in the beginning. You know, before all the alcohol. A few couldn’t stop staring at my chest, and at the time, I cared. Big girl boobs and all that. But now? I definitely don’t. Come stare at my breasts, boys! I really need to get laid.
No, I don’t.
Yes, I do.
Crap.
But, as the popular guy’s sister, I might as well have a paper bag over my face that says “Off limits” anyway because, thoughthey looked at my boobs, they kept the conversation strictly friendly.
In a desperate attempt to not seem like a loser standing by herself, I look around to find Ivy so that she can talk me out of dry humping the nearest male, but when I spot her, she’s on the couch with her lips locked to my brother’s.
My shoulders slump. Well, isn’t that just great?
Maybe I can pull her away. My brother gets her all the time, and I’m in serious need of a talking to right now.
As I make my way over to the couch to do just that, the music changes.
Whipping around, I gasp while wobbling unsteadily to the side. The press of bodies steadies me as my favorite song starts blaring.Young Bloodpours into my soul, and immediately, I start dancing. It’s far too crowded in the living room, however, so to get some space, I climb onto the coffee table and do a little twirl before rocking my hips. A few hoots and hollers come my way, making me grin as I continue to shake my body to the tune.
I’m not normally this brazen. I swear.
“Get it, Avery!” someone shouts.
I raise my hands in the air and sway them, briefly wondering what the hell I did with my drink.
As I do a spin, my foot slides off the table, and my eyes widen as I start to fall off the surface. It feels like slow motion as I fall, and I know, without a doubt, that it’s going to be painful come morning.
Strong arms wrap around my waist before I can plummet to my death, holding on tight. Taking a few gasping breaths, I saythank youbefore looking up into the eyes of my savior. And the words die from my lips because staring back at me are the most gorgeous hazel eyes I’ve ever seen. There are flecks of gold in them, and around the outside of the iris is a rim of chocolate brown.
I don’t know how long I stare at him because, again, time moves differently when you’re wasted, but eventually, his full, red lips curve into a smile that accentuates a perfect jawline and the most beautiful nose I’ve ever seen. Can noses be beautiful? Heck yeah, they can.
“Are you okay?” he asks as the music switches to a new song. My cheeks immediately combust in flames. I definitely stared too long, and I probably looked like an idiot while doing so.
