Page 89 of Campus Heat

Before we could finish his sentence, the bus hit a bump. Lucas’s eyes shot open wide, and his mouth moved in slow motion as his cards slipped out of his hands and crashed to the floor. His eyes glistened with disappointment that only deepened when Cam burst out laughing.

“Who’s cheating now?” Cam teased.

Dylan pointed at the floor and yelled, “Justice. At last.”

Lucas leaned down to pick up the cards and glared at every single one of them in the process.

“You are all banned from my future poker nights,” Lucas scoffed.

“Up until today, you didn’t even know how to play poker. Now you’re talking about poker nights?” Ethan asked.

“Yeah, so don’t get your hopes up,” Dylan added.

My attention was drawn away from the guys when someone started clapping in a slow rhythm a few rows behind us. I tried to ignore it at first, but then a voice sang out:

“Country rooooads…”

A collective gasp rippled through the bus, along with a few face slaps and groans.

“Oh no,” Jenna said.

“Not again,” I countered

But the singer continued anyway. “Take me hoooome..”

The guys looked on in awe. Ethan clearly wanted to find a place to hide. Malik wasn’t sure if he should be horrified or delighted. Dylan was stunned into silence. And Cam perked up immediately.

“Oh, we’re totally doing this,” Cam said, squeezing Lucas’ shoulders. He stood halfway into the aisle like he was preparing to lead a concert.

“West Virginia!” he screeched at the top of his lungs.

“Sit your ass down,” Dylan said as he grabbed his hoodie and yanked him back into his seat.

Unfortunately, he was too late, and the damage had already been done. Half the team had joined immediately, and they were going to see this through.

“Blue Ridge Mountains!”

“Shenandoah River!”

The cheer squad burst out laughing as the song grew louder and louder. Someone in the back pounded on their seat like a drum, and Jenna groaned.

“I can’t believe this is our life,” she sighed.

I covered my face with one hand, trying to conceal my laughter.

“This happens every single time we have a road trip,” I said.

Up ahead, Lucas had fully committed. He was standing in the aisle and belting the lyrics like he was auditioning for Idols. Malik shook his head, but he was clearly trying not to laugh. Ethan leaned back in his seat, rubbing a hand over his face while Cam dramatically pointed an imaginary microphone at him.

“Your turn, Ethan!”

“I’m not getting involved in this.”

“You have to!”

Dylan shoved him slightly. “Sing, coward.”

Ethan rolled his eyes but finally gave in and muttered the next line just loud enough for the guys around him to hear.