He winces. “Everyone likes me.”
He’s not wrong, and it’s frustrating that he doesn’t even get it—he’s not the asshole; I am. That’s why he shouldn’t be messing with me.
He stares me down, studying my face, and a rush of adrenaline pumps through me. One thing everyone knows about Dax is how good he is at reading people, and I fear he’ll somehow catch on to more than he should.
He opens his mouth to speak, but I need to get the hell out of there, so I walk away. As I hurry out the studio door, I glance back and see him standing there, mouth hanging open, surely just as confused as when he first approached me.
And if it’ll get him to leave me alone, that’s probably for the best.
4
Dax
I’ve never hadsuch a thing for an asshole before.
Not that I’m into Miles, but Iwouldlike to fuck him. He’s too sexy not to want to fuck, with his straight, light-brown hair that hangs over his forehead in a way that really shouldn’t be so hot but is. The guy’s jawline looks sculpted—I’ve never found myself attracted to someone’s sharp jaw before, but I am with him.
With anyone else, if they spoke or acted the way he does, I’d want nothing to do with them. But there’s something so damn intriguing about him. He’s like a villain most of the time, but every once in a while, he turns into a hero—okay, once; once he turned into a hero, and less a hero and more like a normal fucking person who does something nice, but still. I blame my fascination on him being so damn hot—and maybe also because everyone else feels boring right now. Like I’ve fucked my way through all the nice guys, or hell, all the guys who end up happily in love with someone else, and now my dick craves something different.
Tonight is the first Alpha Theta Mu party of the year. I’m stuck between being bummed that this is the last year I’ll be doing shit like this and feeling over it all. That’s definitely not like me. I’m always down for a good time. I love people and being social, and I still do, but…something’s off. Maybe the fact that so many of the guys I started at Peach State with are gone now has me all up in my feels.
“Got the keg!” Keegan makes his way into the house, with Jaxon helping him. They’re from Sigma Alpha and offered to help. With the fire last year and Sigma Alpha rooming with ATM, we’re closer than ever. I like the bond between the frats, that we can be competitive but still there for each other and all of us just wanting to have a good time.
“This motherfucker almost dropped it, like, ten times,” Jaxon says.
“Maybe if I had some help, I wouldn’t,” Keegan teases back.
“Settle down, boys. There’s alcohol, weed, and this house will be so full of beautiful people tonight, there’s no reason to fight. Speaking of, I wish I was already moved in.” Why did I decide to finish out my apartment lease?
“Says the guy who won rock, paper, scissors for the best room,” Damien teases as he comes in with Teddy, and I laugh. He’s not wrong.
“I swear you’re the luckiest sonofabitch alive,” Teddy adds.
“It’s my specialty.” I follow as they roll the dolly carrying the keg through the house and toward the back door.
“Not your only one.” Jaxon pumps his brows, leaving no doubt what he’s talking about.
“Heard the stories?” I smirk, standing taller. I’m all for hooking up with whoever I want, whenever I want. As long as they’re on the same page, I believe in having as much fun with as many people as you want, and because of that, I’ve gotten quite a name for myself around Peach State—and within our friends group. I’m basically a queer Cupid because I used to watch Colin and Ash hook up before they realized they’re in love, then had a threesome with Brenner and Taylor before they went and fell too.
Huh. Maybe I should offer my services around campus:Fuck me and fall in love…only with someone else.
We talk shit for a while, setting up for the party, and around nine everyone starts to arrive, filling the house and backyard. Andy’s phone is hooked up to the speakers—we lost our DJ when Lance graduated. The place smells like booze, weed, and sweaty bodies all around me as I dance to the upbeat music, a guy in the front of me, another behind me, their hands running up and down my body, a groin rubbing against my ass. I fucking love the feel of it, like every nerve ending in my body is waking up and I’m free. It’s how I feel about sex too. I’m hoping the two of them will want to play tonight. I don’t recognize them, I’m not even sure if they go to Peach State, but they’re hot and, so far, willing.
I give a shimmy between them, and when I look up, my gaze immediately locks on him.
Miles.
I didn’t expect him to be here. He’s not super social, but even less so since everything went down and he got kicked out of his frat last year. Right after the fire, he wasn’t even allowed at parties. This is his first semester being allowed back at the Alpha Theta Mu house.
He’s leaning against the wall, a red Solo cup in hand and watching me in that weirdly intense way that seems to be equal parts want and hate—though again, what the fuck I ever did for the guy to hate me, I have no idea.
I give him a smile and a wink, but all he does is clench his jaw, then look away, as if he wasn’t watching me and it was a coincidence our gazes locked.
I turn around, riding the thigh of the guy who was behind me, wrapping my arms around his shoulders. His partner now grinds against my ass, all this touching and sensual movement making my dick throb behind my fly.
“God, you’re so fucking hot,” the guy behind me says, his hand sliding down and cupping my bulge.
“I’m a sure thing too,” I say, so they know I’m down if they are.
