“You guys take this whole party house thing seriously.”
“Maybe. Sometimes. We try. Anyway, tell me more about yourself.”
“Why?” I asked, staring at him, wanting to know why he cared.
He blinked, nonplussed. “What do you mean?”
“Why do you want to know more about me?”
“Because I think you’re interesting?” he asked. “That was a question, not a statement.” He laughed. “I don’t know, it was a nice way to meet somebody, a dare that led to a kiss. I want to get to know you a bit more.”
“Well, like I said, I’m not really good at this. And I don’t have time for a relationship or getting to know somebody like that. I’m a double major, and I rarely leave the house. I don’t want you to be disappointed when I leave here tonight and the only thing you got was that kiss.”
Dillon stared at me and then shook his head.
“I’m only a single major, but I also work. I’m not good at the whole relationship thing either. And, honestly, I was just asking you a little bit more about yourself.”
My cheeks heated. “Oh.”
“However, I get it. And it’s good to know where I am upfront.”
“I’m not usually such a jerk. I’m just a little flustered, I guess. I didn’t expect Corinne to dare me like that. But I should have been ready.”
“What else did she dare you to do?” he asked point-blank, and I froze.
“What?”
“She dared you to do something else, didn’t she?”
I swallowed hard, mortification sliding over me. “Maybe.”
“And what was it?” he asked softly.
I met his gaze and licked my lips. “To have fun tonight. To lower my inhibitions and do the one thing I’ve never done before.”
Dillon looked at me, tilting his head. “And what is that?”
“I don’t know if I should tell you,” I said quickly.
“You really can’t leave me hanging.” He looked around the empty kitchen. “People are heading out, and nobody can hear you but me. What did she dare you to do?”
I met his gaze and swallowed hard. “She dared me, that if the occasion arose, to do the one thing I’ve never done before. As I said.” I paused. “To have a one-night stand.”
Dillon blinked, and I bit my lip.
“Oh,” he whispered. “Is that something you want?”
“I don’t know,” I said quickly. “I’m not against it,” I said, lowering my head. Then I raised my chin again until I met his gaze.
I saw that his eyes had darkened, and his mouth had parted ever so slightly. “Well then, I think it’s time to see exactly what kind of dare we’re dealing with. A one-night stand, you say?” he asked, and I nodded, my cheeks flushing.
“Is that something you would be interested in?” he asked, his voice very careful.
I bit my lip, studied his face, and knew I needed to tell the truth.
“Yes.”
I only hoped to hell there was a path through the crowd later so I could run as quickly as I could.
Chapter 3
Dillon
“I didn’t think you’d say yes,” I said, blinking down at Elise. Her eyes widened, and she blushed again, that pale, pretty skin turning pink.
“Well, if you don’t want to... I mean, I guess I could find someone else,” she said quickly, and I growled. Actually growled.
“No, you don’t get to find someone else.”
“You got a little possessive and growly right then. I think I kind of liked it. What was in that beer?” Elise asked, looking down at her cup.
“You had four sips. And you watched me pour it. There’s nothing in that beer. And we can pretend we didn’t just say any of that, if you want.”
“Um, that’s not what I’m saying,” she said softly, leaning forward.
“Okay, what were you saying?” I asked, my voice low.
“I’m saying it would be nice to act like a normal college student for once. At least, for the evening.”
“And you think normal college students have one-night stands?” I asked incredulously.
“Maybe? I told you I’m not good at this.”
Though nobody was around, I still looked over my shoulder, making sure.
“You’re not a virgin, are you?” I asked, even if it was invasive. Then again, these were the kinds of questions I needed answers to.
Her eyes widened, and she laughed. “No. I’m not. I’m not as innocent as you may think, Dillon.”
I wasn’t sure about that, but I still smiled. “Really?” I asked. “Not innocent?”
“Okay, maybe in some things. But I’ve had sex before. And not just once.” Her eyes widened again, and she put her hand over her mouth. “I can’t believe I just said that,” she mumbled between her fingers.
I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “Come on, let’s get out of the kitchen where anybody can eavesdrop.”
She blushed again, then looked around frantically. “Okay, that sounds like a plan.”
I held out my hand, and she looked down at my palm before slowly sliding her fingers into mine. “We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. But you intrigue me, Elise. And you make me laugh. I think I could use that.”
“Oh?” she asked, and I shook my head. “Forget I said that. About the needing. Let’s just see what happens tonight and have fun.”
“Deal. Nothing serious. No deep talks. No promises.”
“I can do that,” I said, wondering what the hell I was doing. This wasn’t necessarily unlike me, but I wasn’t usually so upfront about it. Having a conversation about a one-night stand seemed odd.
And yet, with Elise, it made a weird kind of sense.
She needed to be open and honest, and I couldn’t help but be the same way. There were things I didn’t want to talk about, didn’t want to deal with. So, I wouldn’t.
And maybe, just maybe, I could have fun for the evening. Make a connection, ever so brief. It would be nice not to worry about random shit. Not to focus on the things surrounding me and reaching in, not ever letting me go.
“Come on, then,” I said, clearing my throat.
“Where are we going?”
“The only place I know where nobody can overhear.”
We passed Pacey, who seemed to have found Alexa, but I didn’t see any of my other roommates. The place was slowly emptying out, and Pacey gave me a nod and then raised a brow as I passed.
In that gesture, I knew that he would take care of closing up the house, but that raised brow told me that he would ask what the hell was going on later. And I probably would have to tell him, just as soon as I figured out what this night was. We walked up the stairs, Elise’s hand in mine as she followed me.
A couple of people were still on the stairs, just talking, and they didn’t pay us any mind as we made our way up the steps and down the hallway to my room.
I pulled out my keys and unlocked the door. Elise laughed.
“Is that how you keep people off your bed?” she asked and then turned bright red.