“Captain,” I greeted him with a mock salute, and he cocked an eyebrow at me.
“Selene Anderson, what brings you to our humble celebration?” he asked drily.
“You sound like a doofus,” I scoffed, and he burst into laughter, immediately transforming back into his normal, low-key self. The same guy who gave me class recommendations and never missed a chance to mess up my bangs.
“Make yourself at home. If anyone gives you shit, let me know,” he finished hurriedly as some six-foot-plus maniac hooked an arm around him and dragged him over to the bar. I tucked my hands into my coat pocket as my friends and I moved through the room. I didn’t know most of the players, but I did recognize a lot of the students who were there.
“You want to get a drink?” Janel asked, pointing at the bar, and we followed her lead.
“Have you seen Tyler around anywhere?” Bailey whispered into my ear.
I automatically glanced around, searching for the guy’s distinctive head of curls. Tyler was a good-looking guy, but I’d never liked him. He struck me as conceited and self-absorbed. The few times I’d ever actually heard him open his mouth, it was exclusively to brag about his sexual performance.
It was just one of the many reasons I wasn’t into the trifling little boys who surrounded me at school. I was attracted to strong, self-assured men. Men who took what they wanted without worrying about getting approval from other people. The kind of man who proved his manhood with his actions and didn’t need words.
Every time Neil and I were together, I felt like a child again, too inexperienced to fight with an unmanageable and devilishly complicated person. A girl, whose lack of experience was not enough to heal her inner wounds.
Deep down, I knew that Neil needed a stronger woman than me. Someone who could stand up to him and face down the beast that lived within him.
And whenever that awareness resurfaced, anguish shook my body.
“You’re thinking too much,” Janel said, handing me a strawberry vodka cocktail. I let out a little gasp; I’d just been staring blankly at the bar with no idea what was going on around me.
“Are you still thinking about Alyssa and what she told you?” Bailey added, taking small sips from her own cocktail.
“No. I’m fine,” I reassured them, sniffing the contents of my cup. I didn’t really like alcohol, but I wasn’t the teetotaler I used to be either. I decided I could probably use a distraction; maybe a drink would be a good place to start.
“Having fun?” Ivan appeared behind us not even five minutes after he’d been dragged away. His cheeks were a little flushed, and his green eyes looked brighter than I remembered.
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t athletes supposed to avoid getting drunk?” I asked skeptically.
“I’m not drunk,” he said with the look of a wayward child who’d just heard something insulting.
“Of course, you’re not. And how many fingers am I holding up?” Bailey raised four fingers, and Ivan narrowed his eyes at her.
“Four. And knock it off, I’m perfectly sober,” he insisted before looking back at me with a strange sort of half-smile on his face. “A couple friends of mine would like to meet you.” He jerked his chin back the way he’d come, and I leaned slightly to get a better look. They were two of his basketball teammates.
Tall, strapping, and wearing sickly matching grins.
“Ivan… No, I’m not interested.” I shook my head and set my drink down on the bar. All of a sudden, I didn’t feel like drinking anymore.
“Oh, come on. I’ll be right there with you. You know, it’s kind of an honor for us to have you here. My friends noticed you back in freshman year, and this is the perfect opportunity for them to finally talk to you.” He took my elbow gently, coaxing me to go along with him while my own friends watched, saying nothing. I wove through the crowd with Ivan at my back until I made it to the couch where the two players in question had sat down next to some girls.
“Here she is. Fellas, meet Selene,” Ivan announced, his hand still resting on my arm. I discreetly pulled away from his touch and registered the gazesof the two other players, which were gliding along my body. They looked first at my chest before dipping down to my thighs highlighted by my tight skirt. It was on the shorter side, but not so short that it should be provoking perverted thoughts in anyone who looked at me.
“Damn…you’re even prettier than I remembered,” one of the two guys noted. He was blond with deep hazel eyes. He looked wholesome enough, but I was very familiar with the reputation that athletes had on campus. “I mean, nice to meet you. I’m Cameron,” he added, with a little wave.
Then it was his friend’s turn.
“I’m Alexander, but you can call me Alex.” The other boy had black hair and jet-black eyes to match. I smiled politely at the two of them, and Ivan gestured for me to sit down with them all. Instead of taking a spot next to one of the boys, however, I chose to perch on the armrest, away from everyone. Ivan chuckled and flopped down next to me, passing a hand through his dark hair.
“So, Captain, have you told Selene about the kind of games we like to play here?” Cameron asked, giving Ivan an inscrutable look. My forehead creased as I turned to look at the three girls who were also lounging around. Each one of them was dressed to impress, and they looked at ease amongst the athletes. They all watched me, however, like I was some new challenger they needed to chase out of their territory.
“Cam, what the fuck are you talking about?” Ivan answered, suddenly sounding annoyed.
“Doesn’t she know about how we entertain ourselves here at the Delta Psi house?” Alex continued, turning his attention to Ivan, who had begun to sprawl out comfortably on the sofa next to me.
“She’s my sister’s friend, you dick,” he snapped irritably, and it sounded like a warning.
