Greek (Palm South University)

“I think I screamed loud enough for the whole city to hear.”

“Good. Let them hear,” he says, twisting until he’s facing me. “Let the whole damn world know you’re mine.”

My heart flutters.

“And you’re mine?”

He shakes his head, one corner of his mouth lifting as if it’s the most obvious answer in the world.

“Haven’t I always been?”

And then he kisses me, his hand roaming down to trail the sensitive skin on my hip, and we slip easily into round two.

“WHAT ABOUT THIS?” I ask the girls, holding up a shiny, silver vest. “I could wear it over a lime green tube top!”

“Ooooh, yes!” Jess says with glee, grabbing the vest from me and holding it up over my chest. “If you button this top one, it’ll push your titties up all nice and pretty.”

I snort as Skyler adds, “We have to put LED lights on your cowboy hat.”

“Duh,” I say with a flip of my hair. “And star earrings. Every space cowboy has star earrings.”

I grab the vest from Jess and toss it in our cart, and then we move along.

“I love thrift shopping,” Erin says, dragging her fingertips along the rack of clothes as we walk. “Especially when it comes to planning for Halloween.”

“What are you going to be again?” I ask.

“We’re going to be a doctor and a nurse,” she says with her cheeks shading red.

“We,” Jess repeats with a cock of her eyebrow. “As in, you and Bear?”

Erin nods.

“God, I’m obsessed with you two,” Jess says with a shake of her head. “I think I ship you more than any celebrity relationship I’ve ever followed.”

“I think Bear just wants to see me in a little nurse uniform,” Erin says.

“Obviously,” I chime in. “But hey, that’s half the fun of Halloween — get all dressed up just to have someone else strip it all off.”

The girls laugh at that, but mine is cut short when I remember I won’t have that part of the night this year.

This will be the first Halloween I haven’t spent with Adam since… well, since coming to college.

Of course, half of those Halloweens, I was with another guy. The first time, Adam was with Skyler and I was with Clay. Then, there was Grayson. Truthfully, we’ve only really had one together.

And this year, we’ll be on opposite sides of the country.

“What about you over there, mopey pants?” Jess asks Ashlei — who has been quiet all day long. She’s just dragged along behind us, eyes dull, hands not even bothering to reach for a single article of clothing.

“A mummy,” she deadpans, making a dramatic gesture to her slung-up arm.

Skyler chuckles, looping her arm through Ashlei’s healthy one. “You know, we could probably make that hot. Just wrap a thin layer of gauze around your titties, a tiny skirt around your waist… show of that lean tummy of yours.”

“It won’t be lean for long with all this sitting around I’m doing.”

The joke falls flat when Ashlei delivers it, because it doesn’t have bite or any semblance of sarcasm. It’s just… sad. Pitiful. The way she has been ever since the accident.

“I’m sorry, Lei,” I say softly, reaching out to squeeze her wrist. “I hate this for you. Do you have any update when you start PT?”

“Not until I’m cleared from wearing this thing,” she says, again gesturing to the sling. “And that won’t be for another six weeks or so.”

“It could be less,” Skyler tries.

“I don’t want to get my hopes up,” Ashlei responds. “I can’t afford to.”

The girls and I share glances, knowing our friend is in a rough patch and there’s not much we can do but just be there for her.

Sometimes, things are so dark and bleary, the last thing you need is someone telling you it’ll be alright or to look on the bright side. Sometimes, you just need someone to lie down in the darkness with you and remind you you’re not alone.

Jess wraps her up in a careful hug. “We’ll make you the hottest mummy yet. And if you want to call off Halloween altogether and watch scary movies on the couch with some junk food and wine? I got you.”

“Me, too,” Skyler says. “Honestly, I don’t have any plans other than make sure our new pledges don’t get into too much trouble.”

“I told Tera I’d take her to Ralph’s, but I can totally cancel,” I say.

“No, you can’t,” Skyler throws at me. “Big-Little Reveal is soon, and you’re not the only one with eyes on Tera.”

“Besides, every KKB sister has to experience Halloween at Ralph’s,” Jess chimes in.

I sigh. “I know, and I’m excited to take her and show her the ropes. Really, I am. It’s just…”

“It’s just that Adam won’t be there,” Ashlei finishes for me, and when our eyes meet, a soft nod is all I can give as a response.