“It’s true. She has. You should have seen her last night when she went out on her date. Liri was bitching in her black dress.”
“You didn’t tell me you had a date,” Mom accuses, and I groan. “Is he a friend of Hayley’s mechanic?”
“God no.” I shake my head and laugh. Mom gives me a sharp look. “Hayley knows what I meant, Mom. I had a date with Hunter.”
“That name sounds familiar.” She taps her chin. “He’s not Esther and Julian Croneil’s son, is he?”
“He is why?”
“Oh hmm. I didn’t think he’d be your type. I was always attracted to bad boys when I was your age. Guys like James.” She laughs and winks at Hayley.
Twelve shopping bags later Mom drops us back at the dorm and makes us promise to meet up with her for brunch tomorrow. She’s meeting up for dinner with some friends.
“Where are we going to put all this?” I wave my hand over all the crap in the front room of our dorm.
“You could always throw out all your leggings.” She sticks her tongue out at me.
“Ah ha. So funny. Are you still going out with Liam tonight?”
“Duh. Are you seeing Hunter again?”
“No, he had a swim thing. He left right after our date last night.”
“Are you going to sit here and doodle in your sketchbook all night or are you going to be wearing something hot to the party tonight and make all the boys eat their hearts out?” She giggles and nods her head trying to convince me.
The frat house is the last place I need to go, but I would like to ask Killian for my necklace back. “I don’t know. I keep telling myself no more parties.”
“You know you want to go.”
“What should I wear?”
Hayley claps.
“Hmm. Let me think.” I take a seat on the couch as she starts going through the bags. “This is perfect! It matches your eyes.” She holds up a blue top that is made similar to her black slinky top I love. Only this one is shorter and will show my midriff.
“I can’t wear that.”
“Yes, you can. You are going to be hot. Woodrow is gonna be wishing he had put the moves on you before Hunter slid in and stole you.”
“Stop it. Woodrow is a friend.”
“No guy wants to be just friends, Liri.”
“You have guy friends.”
“Yeah and probably ninety-nine percent of them would fuck me tomorrow if I broke up with Liam.”
I can’t help but think that Killian is the one percent who wouldn’t. I saw his reaction to kissing her during spin the bottle unless that was an act. I don’t mention him though.
There aren’t as many cars here tonight as there were the last weekend I was here. Liam is waiting at the door for Hayley and me with two drinks. “Don’t say no. It’s Porter’s birthday, and he will be offended if you don’t drink in his honor.”
I roll my eyes but take the drink knowing it is a bad idea. I follow them through the house and down to the basement. My mind immediately goes to Killian and the moment he almost kissed me. I can’t help but wonder what would have happened had he been kissing me when Hunter walked down those stairs. Would things have gone differently?
I shake my head. I can’t think like that. I can’t focus on what ifs.
Porter, Misty, Jackie, and Ben are sitting on the couch together smoking a joint. I don’t see Woodrow or Killian anywhere. Hayley and Liam plop down on the loveseat, and I grab the metal chair Liam sat in last time. Its uncomfortable but there is now way I am going to ask to scooch in the with Hayley and Liam or sit on the arm of the couch while Porter feels Jackie up. He has his hand on her boob and she seems oblivious as her and Misty giggle about something then look at Ben.
“Happy birthday, Porter.”