The Freshman (College Years 1)

“So you’d be a screaming fangirl over him too if you saw him again?” Caleb’s brows shoot up.

“He’s a decent singer. Even better? He’s a great performer. He made me want to pay attention,” I say.

“I get it,” Tony says with a nod. “He drew you in. He has a way about him. He draws everyone in.”

“He only draws me in because I want to kick his ass in video games,” Caleb says.

Tony rolls his eyes. I laugh. I’m really enjoying spending time with these two tonight. And Gracie. Speaking of…

“Why did you keep giving Gracie shit?” I ask Caleb.

“She’s cute when she’s mad.” He shrugs.

“You made her really, really mad,” I say slowly.

“I know, right? She’s so easy to provoke. Maybe it’s my charm she can’t resist.”

“You’re so full of shit,” Tony practically groans.

“What the fuck ever. Look, she’s taken. It’s easy to flirt with and irritate a girl who’s interested in someone else. She takes the bait I throw out, but it’s not like she wants to be with me,” Caleb further explains, “I’m like that annoying little brother you want to punch in the face.”

I don’t bother saying he doesn’t know Gracie very well. Because he doesn’t. She could lose interest in Robin within the next few days, and move on to someone new almost immediately.

Like Caleb.

“Hey, she’s coming over here right now,” Caleb says, his eyes going wide. “Oh shit, she looks pissed.”

Gracie is, indeed, stomping her way over to us. She grabs hold of my hand and starts walking, the guys falling into step behind us. “We’re leaving,” she declares. “I hope Robin chokes on his precious microphone and dies.”

She drags me out of Strummers, and I am dying to ask her what happened, but maybe she doesn’t want to discuss it in front of Tony and Caleb.

Once we’re outside, Gracie lets me go, wrapping her arms around herself since the air is so shockingly cold. “I went backstage to congratulate him and there was a girl kneeling before him with her hand around his hard dick! Can you believe it? He’s letting some gross groupie give him head that he doesn’t even know! I came to watch him tonight and everything! God, what an ungrateful prick. He doesn’t even appreciate my support!”

“Wait a minute. Some chick is willingly sucking his dick right now?” Caleb sounds shocked.

“Yes.” Gracie blows out a harsh breath, glaring at the building.

“Did he see you when you walked in on them?” I ask her.

“Of course he did! He chased after me too, his dick flapping in the breeze as he ran down the hall, trying to talk me out of leaving. He swore to me it meant nothing.” Gracie snorts. “I’ve heard that before.”

Caleb laughs and Tony slaps him in the chest, silencing him.

“Did he say anything else?” I ask.

“When I refused to go back into his dressing room with him, he accused me of being on a date with this guy.” She jerks her thumb in Caleb’s direction. “Ridiculous.”

Caleb grins. “I’m honored.”

“You would be,” Gracie mutters. Her eyes still ablaze with anger, but her lower lip is trembling. She’s close to losing it. “He’s such a dick.”

“Yeah, he is,” I agree, rubbing her upper arm. Her skin is like ice. “We should go home.”

I send Tony a pleading look, noticing the disappointment on his face. I was going to suggest I ride home with Tony and Caleb, but I can’t leave Gracie alone now. Not like this. She’s hurting. Thanks to a dude named Robin who’s in a really shitty band.

Gracie sniffs loudly. “Okay. Do we have any liquor in the house? I need to get drunk.”

“I don’t know,” I say, my brain cataloging everything we have in the apartment. Maybe a couple of beers in the fridge? I don’t remember. I’m not a huge drinker, especially at home.