“You have no character.”
“That hurt me deeply.”
The game started, and any possibility of an actual project conversation immediately died. Every time Cade and I tried to speak, something interrupted us. Briggs yelling. Somebody demanding shots. Ryan arguing with freshmen. A guy screaming about poker in the kitchen. Three girls dragging Charm into a selfie. Someone turning the music louder.
“Hot tub!” the upstairs voice screamed again.
“This house feels haunted,” I muttered.
Cade’s mouth twitched beside me. “You get used to it.”
“I genuinely don’t think I would.”
“You would,” he said.
The way he said it settled strangely low in my chest. Like he already pictured me here.
So much more dangerous than the bear.
I sank another cup, and Briggs lost his mind beside me like we’d just won the Stanley Cup instead of a preseason beer pong game.
“Bennett!” he shouted. “This girl is my good luck charm!”
“I was your lab partner, not your emotional support cheerleader,” I yelled back.
“Same thing!”
“I hate that for her,” Aura called from the couch.
Easton sat beside her now. Close enough their knees touched.
Oh, tomorrow was going to be brutal for her after Charm and I roasted her for the flirting.
I pointed immediately. “I saw that.”
Aura looked confused. “Saw what?”
“The flirting.”
“There’s no flirting.”
Easton glanced at her. “Oh, there is definitely flirting.”
Charm nearly collapsed laughing and Aura looked personally betrayed by all of us.
“Get yours, girl!” Briggs yelled toward them.
Aura covered her face with both hands.
“This is why I hate athletes,” I informed Cade.
“Fair.”
“No loyalty. No shame. No indoor voices.”
“That sounds more like Briggs specifically.”
“Same ecosystem.”
