Argyros’s ears flatten. A deep growl rumbles from his chest, low and warning, as he steps in front of me and bares his teeth at her.
Rebecca stumbles back, eyes wide. “Jesus! What the hell’s wrong with that dog?”
“Argy, no!” I grab his collar just as his jaws snap in her direction. Huge, gnashing teeth catch the moonlight like razor-sharp silver knives.
Rebecca stumbles back, hands up, face pale with horror. “Get that psycho mutt away from me!” she cries. “He’s feral!”
“Just like my sister,” Amber says, shooting me a smug, satisfied smile as she loops an arm around Rebecca’s shoulders. “Come on, Becca. Let’s go.”
“Did you see that?” Rebecca hisses as they retreat toward the patio doors. “She tried to have thatthingattack me.”
They disappear into the frat house, their laughter trailing behind them like poison. My hands tremble at my sides, fists clenched with the effort it takes not to scream.
What was I even thinking defending Rebecca? Believing, even for one stupid second, that she might actually want to be my friend?
God, how embarrassingly naïve.
So she showed me a few moments of kindness in class. Big deal. That doesn’t make her different. She’s just as fake as the rest of them. Plastic smiles. Vicious tongues. They’re all the same.
I exhale slowly, the bitterness catching in my throat as I curl into Argy. I bury my face in his warm fur to hide the sting, but one tear escapes, carving a hot line down my cheek. I swipe it away quickly before anyone can see.
I know I shouldn’t care what Rebecca thinks. Or Amber. Or any of them. But the truth is, it’s not just about them. It’s everything.
No matter what I do, nothing ever seems to change. It’s like I’m forever stuck in place—unwanted, unchosen, invisible.
I never should’ve come here tonight.
“You look like you could use a drink.”
Dylan’s hand lands on my shoulder as he stands over me, clutching two beers in one hand and a lit joint in the other. He’s wearing a halo—unironically, I’m pretty sure—and his white Prada fleece is freckled with beer stains.
“Thanks,” I say, taking one of the beers. “Actually, I really could.”
I raise it in a mock toast, then down the entire thing fast enough to make his eyes widen. I burp softly, and he laughs.
“Nice. How about some shots?”
I consider it for a second. Hayes is nowhere to be found, and I’ve just been humiliated by my sister and her stupid friends—again. My night’s a complete disaster. So, yeah, shots sound like a solid plan.
“You’re on.”
Three shots and two beers later, I’ve got a warm, buzzing haze going. Dylan and I are the only ones stilllingering outside. The rest of the party has migrated indoors to escape the cold. Argyros is stretched out near the fire pit, eyes half-lidded, ears giving the occasional lazy flick. Dylan hands me another shot, and the dog’s ears suddenly perk. A beat later, he’s on his feet, trotting toward the patio doors.
“Argy!”
The dog doesn’t even glance back.
“Probably smells food,” Dylan says with a lazy grin.
I shrug, watching as Argy disappears inside, then I throw back the vodka. It goes down almost too easily, like water.
The stars begin to blur above me. Everything spins.
I chase another shot with beer and look at Dylan through double vision, thinking about how cute both of him are. I don’t even mind that he’s a little puffy from alcohol, or the beer dribbling down his chin. He’s still quite handsome. Nice, too. He’s laughed at everything I’ve said tonight like I’m genuinely funny.
Maybe I am.
I don’t plan to kiss him. It just happens.
