“Some guys bet gas or ass,” I tell her.
“Oh. I see. Well Ben is crazy if he thinks I will screw someone he loses a bet too.” I like her sass.
“I don’t think you need to worry about that. I think Ben really likes you.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. He can’t take his eyes off you. Don’t look but he is looking at you now, and I bet he is wondering if you are telling me if you like him or not.”
“We’ve been talking for about a month through text and phone calls. I don’t normally go for jocks but he’s nice. I’ve never been to a frat party. What’s it like?”
“Mostly drunken idiots making fools of themselves. You aren’t missing anything.”
We both laugh.
“What’s so funny?” Killian asks as he approaches us.
“Nothing. It’s girl talk.” I loop my arm though his and we move to get a better view of Ben’s race.
Ben lines up next to a Dodge Charger. Both cars are revving their engines. Excitement filters through me. There is something sexy and erotic about hot guys and fast cars. The same redhead who was here when I was Killian’s racing buddy steps up in front of the cars and shimmies her hips. Cassidy rolls her eyes and I giggle.
The girl drops her white shirt and Ben shoots off. Cassidy grips my hand, digging little crescent shapes from her nails into my skin.
“He’s got this,” I tell her.
“How do you know?”
“Because Ben’s car is faster,” Killian answers.
Like he says Ben is faster and he reaches the clearing about a minute and a half faster than the other guy. Money is exchanged and I look away when Cassidy gives Ben his victory kiss.
We all get back in the car and head to the last place I want to be—the frat house.
Cars are lined up and down the block. More than I have ever saw before. My stomach lurches. I don’t want to be here.
“You okay?” Killian stops me and Ben and Cassidy go on without us.
“I hate these things. I don’t want to deal with Jackie or Hayley.”
“You’ll be fine. Nothing they say or do will change what we have.” I want to believe him but every single time we get to a good place someone or something comes along to mess it all up. “If we see them, we will just hang out somewhere else.”
“Okay,” I agree, but this bad feeling keeps creeping up and taking up way too much space in my head.
“C’mere.” His arms go around me, and his lips meet mine. “I love you so much, Liri. I love you so much that it hurts.”
“Killian…”
He kiss me again and takes my hand.
We walk into the party. People are standing elbow to elbow. It’s hot and smells of liquor and sweat. Ben and Cassidy are in the kitchen getting drinks and Killian tells them we will meet them in the basement where it is less crowded. It is less crowded, but it also happens to be where everyone I don’t want to be around is hanging out. Liam shoots Killian a dirty look but I don’t think he even notices him glaring at us from the other side of the room.
Jackie is seated between Porter and Woodrow and Hayley is on the other side of him.
I sit in Killian’s lap on the loveseat and Ben and Cassidy sit next to us.
The mood is tense and quiet.
“Let’s play truth or dare,” Jackie says and one by one the group agrees except for Killian and me. I’m not playing any of their dumb games.