“You know much about this frat?” I ask Josh while we head up the few stairs that lead into the house.
“I know enough, like how they throw the best parties on campus.” Josh chuckles, placing his hand on the gold handle. He pushes it forward and opens the door, walking right in. For some reason, I expected someone to be standing guard at the front, not letting certain people inside . . . but we are at one of the most prestigious colleges in the nation. Everyone here belongs, and so they must not really care.
I see quite a series of guys packed in the foyer and living area. A few of them have gold necklaces on with some sort of symbol that I can’t make out. “Those are the guys who belong to the frat.”
“Ah, okay.”
“You haven’t told me what you’re here for, major wise or whatever,” Josh speaks up, and I realize he’s right. I haven’t said a word.
“Agricultural Engineering.”
“Cool, didn’t take you for that type, but I dig it.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I inquire, furrowing my brows.
Josh opens his mouth but then shuts it before running the palm of his hand across his mouth. “I mean, I figured you were the business type or in graphic design.”
I chuckle. “The only technology I can successfully operate is a cell phone and my video game console. Otherwise, it takes me a good minute. Both of your guesses are hysterical.”
“Josh, is that you?” I hear a woman’s voice ask from the living area. The light-skinned girl with blue dreads immediately comes walking over.
“Hey, Delaney, how’re things going?” Josh smiles widely at the girl, immediately making me think he has a crush. Shit, I didn’t think she was his type. He’s so proper, and she’s more my style. Hell, she’s fuckin’ gorgeous. Josh and I might be roomies, but I might have to shoot my shot.
“Good. The jitters are finally subsiding. You?” Delaney smiles.
“Yeah, same here. Though, I’m sure the liquor will only help some of the few that remain.”
Delaney laughs and while she does, I introduce myself. “Hey, I’m Dex.”
I extend a hand, and she meets it. “Delaney, but of course, you know that.”
I nod. “Yeah. When did you two meet?”
“We arrived at Stonewall on the same day. Bumped into each other at the student center,” Josh fills me in.
“Delaney, get back here!” A woman’s voice calls for her friend, and Delaney looks to Josh and me.
“Sorry, I’d better get back. It was really nice to meet you, Dex. Hopefully, we all run into each other again soon.”
As she walks off, I can’t help but stare at her ass, and while I am, another girl runs straight into Josh, wrapping her arms around him. “Hey, cutie.”
Jesus. Is this dude a chick magnet? I mean . . . does the nerdy aesthetic really work? If anyone should be attracting women like bees to honey, it should be me. “Cara, hey. This is my roomie, Dex.”
“Cool. Nice to meet you. This is my roomie, Ember.” She turns a bit and as she does, another woman comes into view. They’re about the same height and almost have the same color hair. Cara’s is more platinum mixed with a honey blonde throughout, and Ember’s is an ash blonde.
“It’s an absolute pleasure, Ember.” Josh smirks, taking her hand. I figured he’s going to shake it, but once he presses his lips to the top of her hand, I cock a brow.
“Are you trying to flirt with my friend here, Josh?” Cara asks, cocking a hip with a red Solo cup in her hand.
“Never! I’m simply showing that gentlemen are around these parts.”
“Did you really just say that?” Now I’m the one with attitude. He’s a dude from the city, trying to sound like he just rolled out of central Wyoming.
Josh looks at both ladies. “Girls, we’ll be right back. I think it’s about time Dex and I get a beer.”
“Sure thing.” Cara giggles, and I walk alongside Josh as we head over to the line by the keg.
While we’re standing in line, he strikes up some conversation. “Alright. I need you to be my wingman and vice versa. Okay?”
“Which one are you eyeing up?” I question, making sure we’re not heading after the same girl.
“Cara. I plan to sneak her back into a bedroom tonight. You feel me?”
“Yep.” Little does he know I’m glad he’s going after Cara. ‘Cause from the look of Ember in those dark denim jeans and tight sapphire blue top . . . she’s my type.
3
Ember
How did I let Cara talk me into coming out to some frat party with her? Oh yeah, that’s right, she used the whole ‘we have to watch out for each other’ speech. Not wanting her to go alone and risk something happening to her, I merely sighed and changed out of my Nirvana tee shirt, putting on a blue top that my cousin Bethany bought for me.
There’s one thing for sure about spending time with Bethany, she knows how to pick clothes to compliment one’s figure. This shirt is one of my favorites.
Grabbing my cup I’d been drinking out of, I follow Cara out of our room.
“Why are you bringing a cup with you? They have those there.” I’ve been dreading the moment someone would ask me that.
“Yeah, they do but not with lids on them.” I shrug.
“So?” Cara angles her head to face me as we walk.
“So, I don’t go to parties without taking my own. You don’t know who will try something. It’s a lesson I learned a while ago when I caught my friend’s boyfriend trying to roofie my beer. Let’s just say that didn’t work out for him too well. One, he lost his girlfriend and ended up soaked in cheap beer that night. Second, he got a visit from Micah, one of the member’s little brother at my uncle’s club, due to the guy being underage. After that, I never went to another party without a cup with a closed lid on it.” I probably should be embarrassed by this, but in all honesty, I’m not. I prefer to stay safe rather than be one of those women who find themselves drugged and taken into human trafficking.
Okay, so I kept that part out of my little spiel to Cara. The guy who attempted this was targeting girls for a group that dealt in the sex trade.
“Wow. I can understand that. Now let’s have some fun,” she murmurs.
Smiling, I follow her up the stairs into the huge white house. Windows light up and music blares through the open front door. Stepping inside, dread washes over my body. This isn’t really my type of party. Then again, this is supposed to be my new beginning. Be someone other than the MC princess to the Satan’s Keepers.
Shortly after getting to the party, Cara drags me through the room to talk to some guy as she calls out, “Hey, cutie.”
With a brief exchange, the guy and his roommate head off to grab a beer.
“What the hell, Cara?” I ask, feeling somewhat uncomfortable with this all.
“What? It was just Josh and Dex. They’re harmless. Well, Josh is, that’s for sure. I met him on the first day here and he’s a hottie. One I intend to party with tonight.” Cara giggles.
Oh God, kill me now.