“Excited?”
“I’m the laughingstock of the football team, Peyton, and I’m here to apologize. I’d hardly call what I’m feeling excited.” My steps slow. “I know you come to these things all the time, but I don’t know, maybe it’s not the right place for me to apologize. The guys are probably all drunk by now.”
She grabs my arm. “You need to get it done and over with tonight. The longer you wait, the worse it will be. Trust me, and I promise, if you’re not comfortable, we leave. Girl code. I promise. Also, you’ll need a safe word.”
I stiffen. “A safe word.” I falter. “Why the hell would I need a safe word?”
“It’s what friends do, that’s all. If you’re going to go off with a guy—”
I hold my hand up. “Not going to happen.”
“Let’s just say the planets all align or something and you find yourself with a guy. Technically the upstairs bedrooms are off limits, but that’s never stopped anyone before. So if you go to a bedroom with someone, and I can’t find you, I’ll worry. Just shoot me one word to let me know you’re okay.”
“What word?”
She frowns and glances around, then a slow grin spreads across her face. “Hmm, how about torpedo.”
“You’re not very funny.”
“Torpedo it is, and if you’re uncomfortable and need to leave, send another word.”
I fold my arms. “Can’t wait to hear this one.” Just then some jock with spiky red hair sticking out from a ball cap comes stumbling out of the door, and stops on the steps and stares at me. “Okay, I think I’ve had too much. I’m seeing double.” He leans over the railing and proceeds to throw up into the bushes.
“Lovely.”
“That’s Jonny, star catcher on Kingston’s baseball team. His nickname is Red, obviously from his hair. Just ignore him. How about…” She taps her chin, like some guy isn’t puking right beside us. For two girls who are best friends, we sure see the world differently. Then again, this is her scene, not mine. “What is something you say a lot, so no guy would notice?”
“None of these guys know me as it is.”
She crinkles her nose, and I’m not even sure she heard me. “You’re a film student, so if you said action, it might just go right over their heads.”
“Or they could take it that I’m looking for action.”
“Well, that’s true. All right, what do you suggest?”
“I don’t know.” I consider it for a moment. “My God, is it always this hard?”
“That’s what she said,” Peyton blurts out and starts laughing hysterically.
My lip quivers at the corner and as much as I don’t want to laugh, I do. “You’re your own biggest fan, aren’t you?” I shake my head. “Okay fine, if we’re going to be immature about this let’s make it V-Card. That way if I say it, you’ll know I’m protecting mine.”
“Deal. V-Card it is.”
“Who has a V-Card?” Jonny asks as he wipes his mouth and turns our way.
Ignoring him, Peyton grabs my hand and hauls me inside, and within minutes, red Solo cups are being thrust into our hands. I grip mine and search the room, my gaze scanning over the scantily dressed girls, the couples with their tongues down each other’s throats, and the boys doing keg stands. The second my eyes land on Landon, my heart jumps into my throat, and while I might not know a lot about these kinds of parties there is one thing I know for sure.
This was a big freaking mistake.
4
Landon
I can’t stay mad at her. Hell, I want to, but seeing her standing there, a little lost, a whole lot vulnerable, fucks me over in the weirdest ways. The air seems to be stuck in my lungs, heavy in my chest as I take her in, admire her in that clinging dress that hugs her curvy body. She might be Ivy’s sister, might be dressed the same as her tonight, but it’s easy to tell they’re polar opposites.
I can’t fight the smile pulling at my mouth, despite the fact that the guys have been busting my balls ever since the team meeting. While I can take their bullshit, I don’t want any of them messing with Ella, or calling her out for saying we’re all stupid—or for watching porn. There isn’t a guy in this room who doesn’t watch it, and I don’t want her to think there is anything wrong with it.
I take note of the Solo cup in her hand, and while I know my teammates are good guys, there are plenty of guys here I don’t trust. Mainly that asshole Cameron Reid, star pitcher for the baseball team, and wouldn’t you know it, that fucker is headed straight her way. Fresh meat. That’s totally his style. I heard he still plays that ridiculous freshman initiation game of baiting and nailing the virgin.
Ella’s eyes go wide as he steps up to her, and Peyton leans into her, whispers something in her ear. Ella nods, and Peyton waits a second longer, like she wants to make sure Ella is sure about something, and I’m glad she has a good friend with her. Ella nods again, and Peyton crosses the room, giving Caleb, who is staring at her, a wide berth as she sidles up to my buddy Liam.
Someone bumps me from behind, and my beer spills all over my shirt. “Jesus.” I turn to find Jared stomping around, and slurring his words. “Slow it down, bud. You won’t make it another hour.”
He holds his cup up, and I take it from him and set it on the table. He shrugs, gives me the finger, and heads to the kitchen for a refill. I look back to where Ella was standing, but she’s gone. Panic wells up inside me. Where the fuck did she go so fast? Maybe she bolted. Cameron is nowhere to be found either. She better not have gone anywhere with him. I tamp down the anger rising up in me, shocked at the speed it appeared. The truth is, Ella can be with any guy she wants. I have no say, but if she’s going to mess around with Cameron, she should know what kind of guy she’s getting involved with. Then again, who am I to talk. We’re ballers, and around campus we’re the known man whores—guys who have a different girl every weekend.
“Need a tampon?” Brady asks as he comes up to me and slaps me on the back to pull me from my stupor.
“What the fuck, dude.”
“You’re standing here staring off into space.” He pokes my forehead. “You got a cramp or something?”
“Fuck off,” I say and he leans forward as I fake punch him in the gut. He hands me a Solo cup and I take a drink of his beer and hand it back.
“Ivy is looking hot tonight, don’t you think? Or maybe you’ve got a thing for her sister.”
I shouldn’t want to bring sweet Ella into our world where fucking is nothing but a pastime, but dammit, selfish bastard that I am, I do. I really wasn’t prepared to see her in a tight dress, her hair and makeup done.
“What do you know about her, anyway?” I ask.
“Just that she really doesn’t like you.” His grin is cocky when he adds, “And does not want your cock anywhere near her lips.”
The sudden image of Ella on her knees before me, her big blue eyes wide as she opens her mouth to take me in fills my brain and thickens my damn dick. Fuck, what is it about her innocence that gets to me? She’s like a goddamn angel sent from heaven. Innocent and untouched. But she can’t be a virgin, right? She’s a fourth-year college student, for Christ’s sake. Then again, Cameron wouldn’t be chasing her if she wasn’t. Although how he would know for certain is beyond me.