Prologue
4 Years Ago
I walk into the frat house with my friend and teammate, Jill, at my side. My heart is beating so fast I can barely stand it. I don't know why I'm so nervous. I've been to a college party before, just not when I was actually in college. I look around unable to take the smile off my face.
"I'm going to the bathroom. Meet me in the kitchen?" Jill says.
"Sure." I start walking in the direction where I assume the kitchen is and come to a full stop just before I get there.
There are a lot of guys in there. A lot. Like too many for me to just waltz in and be all cool without also being insanely awkward. One simply cannot be both and it is a choice we make. Like right now, if I decide that I am cooler than I am, no one will think to question it. I know this because I've studied the art of cool from effortlessly cool people. Still, as I stand there, palms sweaty, I feel like I may need ten more minutes to give myself this pep talk. One of the guys laughs loudly, throwing his head back with it. He's blond and has a summer vacation tan, his cheeks and the back of his neck all pink. He's hot. Like really hot. In front of him, with his back facing me is a guy with impeccable crisped golden skin. He's wearing a black t-shirt, jeans, and a blacked-out Yankees ball cap that faces my direction, strands of his longish hair tucked beneath it. Blondie may be hot as hell, but he has nothing on this guy. I haven't even seen his face and I already know it. Then, he turns around, as if feeling my eyes on him. He's mid-sentence, his straight white teeth showing as he speaks, and then he completely stops talking and my heart completely stops beating when those toffee-colored eyes hit mine.
"Josephine?" He frowns, then smiles. "Josephine! Holy shit."
Jagger Cruz.
Holy shit.
Jagger Cruz, who's cool in an effortless, I own-my-shit kind of way. He's always been hot, but now that he's grown into his skin he's . . . beyond.
"I didn't know you were here," I say, stupidly. "I mean, mom mentioned you were coming to UNC like Mitch but I didn't know you were here already."
"Yeah. I went by the house the other day but you weren't there." He's grinning, eyeing me up and down, openly checking me out. My skin prickles. This is entirely too nerve-racking for me.
"I live on campus," I say. "With a roommate."
"Ah, I thought you'd stay at home since you're so close."
"I want the college experience." I smile.
"I hear that." He glances around, says bye to some of the guys he was just talking to as they pass by and fist bump him.
"You're not going to introduce me to your friend?" Blondie looks at me, then at Jagger, whose perfect jaw twitches just a bit, but manages to smile at his friend.
"Sure. Josephine, this is Lawrence. Lawrence, this is Josephine."
"Hi." I smile, feeling my cheeks turn pinker than they already are. He looks like an Abercrombie model. They both do.
"Josephine. I like that." Lawrence winks. "I hope to see you around."
"Uh, yeah. Sure. Me too." I wave as he walks away and looks back at Jagger. "College parties, am I right?"
"Right." He's quiet for a moment, his eyes assessing me. "You want a drink?"
"Sure." I shrug a shoulder and follow him.
"What's your poison?" He glances over at me when we make it to a foldable table with a lot of bottles on it.
"I think I'll go with the tequila."
"Tequila." He raises an eyebrow. "Ballsy."
"It's the only thing that doesn't give me a massive hangover."
"Said no one ever," he says with a chuckle that hits me right in the chest.
He starts pouring it for me the way I tell him I want it – on the rocks, with a wedge of lime. Fancy shit for a college party, but this is only my second college party, so I haven't gotten the memo on what to drink. Also, I barely drink, so I'm just having what my dad normally has. Lame. So lame, but I can't exactly act like I don't know what I'm doing in front of Jagger Cruz, who always seems to know what he's doing.
"Hey, Jagger," a girl says, smiling as she walks over with two friends in tow.
"Hey," he says, grinning at her as he finishes pouring our drinks and hands mine over to me.
I thank him and fish out my phone to check on Jill while he talks to the group of girls. They're cheerleaders and since he's on the football team, they have a lot to talk about.
Me: where are you?
Jill: in the living room. Talking to Reid. Where are you? I saw you with a hot guy and didn't want to cock block
Me: I just got a drink
Jill: With the hot guy?
Me: he's a family friend and yes
Jill: *fire emoji*
Me: LOL
Jill: I'm going to hang out with Reid unless you want company
Me: I'm good
Jill: Check in with you in an hour?
Me: Ok
I put my phone away and look up as I sip my tequila. I would join the conversation, but honestly, I don't want to and the girls haven't so much as glanced at me.
"Text me," the original one says, winking at Jagger as she walks away.
Jagger doesn't say anything. He just turns back to me.
"Such a ladies' man," I say.
"A gift and a curse." He sips his drink. "How's your drink?"
"Strong."
"Well, you did request tequila on the rocks."
"It's good though. Refreshing."
"Hm."
"What are you drinking?"
"Same thing as you." He shrugs. "I figured I should try it."
"And?"
"It's all right."
"Just all right?" I laugh.
"I'm not much of a drinker, so I feel like this is going to knock me on my ass."
"Same." I take another sip.
"I never thought I'd see the day Josephine Canó would be trying to get drunk at a party."
"I guess . . . I guess I figure it'll help give me a little bit of courage, you know?"
"Courage for what?"
"To talk to guys and stuff."
He chuckles, shaking his head. "Every guy who's walked by has checked you out. I don't think you need any kind of courage."
"They haven't talked to me." I feel myself frown.
"Because you're with me." He winks. "I've been giving off she's mine vibe."
"Oh." My heart slams into my chest. I swallow. "Do you . . . " I pause and lick my lips. "Do you want me to be yours? For the night, I mean."
"Are you offering?"
"Maybe." I take another sip of the tequila.
Jagger grins. It's a slow grin that transforms his already gorgeous face into something even hotter and suddenly I feel like there isn't enough air in this room.
"So, what are you studying?" he asks after a moment.
"Public Health."
"Nice."
"Nice or boring?" I bite my lip and when his eyes drop to my mouth I feel myself blush furiously. "Your mouth is saying nice, but your eyes are saying boring."