She looked down at herself and beamed at me. “Yeah. This is my inner slut.”
Thank God I already looked shocked because I was sure my eyes just bugged out of my head.
Bev didn’t care. “Three years I’ve waited for an invite to a football party,” she told me eagerly. “And tonight I’m getting to go!” She danced in the spot, her hands clenched against her chest as she giggled with excitement.
“I really hope they let me in,” I muttered as I followed her out of the apartment.
I needn’t have worried; the doors to the building that housed the football and hockey teams were wide open. All we had to do was follow the noise.
The party was in the common room, like before — it was as big as a dance hall. People were everywhere, people I didn’t know, and I could see no one I recognized. I grabbed my roommate’s hand before she could dart off.
“Buddy system, lady!” I called to her, pulling her back. “I am not leaving you here, alone. Trust me.”
“But—”
“Nope. You stay with me.” I let her tug me through the crowd of people. “Bev, don’t make me tell them you shouldn’t be here!”
She stopped tugging, and we made our way to the other side of the room. She was in heaven, and I, well, I was at another function I didn’t want to be at.
The next hour was excruciating. Bev looked amazing and had plenty of interest, and I was her downer roommate who death-glared every guy who spoke to her boobs and not her.
Finally, God took pity on me in the form of tall, dark, tattooed Noah.
“Savvy?” He looked genuinely pleased to see me. I heard Bev whimper beside me as she feasted on Noah.
“Hey.” I gripped Bev’s arm. “This is my roommate, Bev. Bev, this is—”
“You’re gorgeous.”
Noah’s look of surprise was fleeting as he glanced at me quickly. “Thanks.”
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “She’s not even drunk,” I offered lamely. Bev shook her head rapidly from side to side, holding up her can of soda.
“So, what’s the party for?” I asked, hoping to save the conversation.
“Saturday?” Noah shrugged and looked around. “I came down for the vending machine,” he admitted. “They left the doors open, anyone could walk in.”
Bev suddenly screamed, and I jumped a foot in the air.
“That’s a friend of my friend Katy. I have to show her I got in. Can I please go?”
“Please, go.” I said, and she ran off, and I was pretty sure I wouldn’t see Bev again.
“Can I please go?” Noah asked. “What’s that about?”
“She asked me to come with her. When we got here, I wouldn’t let her out of my sight. I might have been a bit overprotective.”
Noah nodded like it made sense. “You know the friend?”
“No, not really, but Bev’s not drinking, so I guess she’ll be fine.”
“Will you?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know why I came.”
“Want to get coffee?”
I looked up at him. “Yeah, that would be—”
