“Don’t worry about it.” I jump to my feet and rub my hands against the front of my jeans. “I need to get going anyways. I have a huge paper, and I haven’t even started it.”
“Oh.” He seems disappointed, but he doesn't do anything to stop me. “I guess I’ll see you in class?”
“Yeah, see you then.”
I feel dizzy as I reach the front door, almost like I drank way too much, even though I haven’t had anything to drink. But I also feel lighter. For the first time in two years, I feel like a weight has been lifted, and it’s because of Declan.
But now I have something bigger to worry about.
Whatever these feelings are for Declan, and how to get rid of them.
fourteen
Declan
Fucking Brooks. He acts like we don’t live together. Like I’d be disappointed if he left with Olivia and didn’t say goodbye. I love the guy, but I wouldn’t have cared. Not even a little bit. Especially if it meant me getting to kiss Ember tonight. Even if it was the last thing I should do, I was ready to risk it. I still am…
But maybe Brooks calling me was the world saying not to risk it. We were both vulnerable; it was just a momentary lapse of judgment. Unfortunately, that lapse of judgment is still burning through my veins. If I saw Ember right now, I’d finish what we started in my room.
I wouldn’t care who was watching.
“There you are.” A hand wraps around my shoulder, but it’s the last person I want to see when I turn around.
“Mollie.” I pause, looking around for Ember… or any excuse to escape. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“Of course, I’m here, silly,” Her hand slides down my arm until it reaches my hand. “Got to support our boys.”
“I didn’t see you at the game, so—”
“So, you were looking for me.” She bats her eyelashes, and it takes everything in me to not roll my eyes.
“Nope. Just said I didn’t see you at the game. You, sorority girls, are hard to miss.”
As the words leave my mouth, I cringe. It sounded flirty, but what I mean is it’s obvious they aren’t there for the game… but the players. They hope to get their attention there, so they’ll receive a different kind of attention later.
“How about we go somewhere a little more private, huh?” She smirks. “I can show you everything you’ve been missing out on.”
“I can’t, Mollie.” More like I don’t want to, but I’m trying to avoid being an asshole.
“Brinley won’t care.” Her hand leaves mine and travels South. “She’s practically told me to go for it.”
I grab her hand just as it reaches the front of my jeans and yank it away. She lets out a small laugh like we’re playing this game.
“Not interested.” I sigh. “I wasn’t last year, and I’m not this year. Enjoy the party.”
I drop her arm and walk through the crowd as people congratulate me on the game. It doesn’t take me long to find Jaxon and Brin hiding in the kitchen.
“There you are.” She smiles, jumping off the counter. Her arm wraps around my neck, and I breathe in the pungent stench of tequila. “Nice game tonight, Goober.”
“Thanks, Brin,” I respond, pulling the cup out of her hand as she releases me. I sniff the cup's contents and almost cough at how strong the smell is. “How many of these have you had?”
“It’s only my second.” She rolls her eyes, jumping back onto the counter.
“I cut her off.” Jaxon pipes in. He’s probably further gone than she is, so if anyone should be cut off, it's him.
“We stop at two, got it?”
Because with the amount of alcohol in that cup, two drinks are about six.
