Hazed (Palm South University)

“You okay, babe?” she asks when she catches me staring at her.

“I love you, Cassie McBee.”

She smiles, leaning over the pile of study papers long enough to press a kiss on my lips. “Love you more, Adam Brooks.”

Then she’s laughing again, and I’m staring at the completed Field Executive application on my laptop, mouse hovering over the send button.

“WAIT, REALLY?!”

There’s a chuckle on the other end of the line, and even though I can’t see him, I can imagine Kade’s sexy-as-hell grin and it makes me want to jump through the phone and right into his pants.

“Really, really.”

“Kade Brewer. President of Alpha Sigma.” I smirk. “I like the sound of that.”

“Well, don’t become too fond of it just yet. I have to run for the position first. And then I have to win.”

“Which you will.”

“You sound like Adam.”

“You know, I used to think that kid was pretty dumb, but turns out, he’s a genius. They couldn’t pick anyone better to step into his shoes once he graduates.”

“Wow. J-Love being sweet. This is new.”

“Come over and I’ll show you just how sweet I can be.”

I bite my lip, because there are many, many ways I could show him, and just thinking of a few makes me squeeze my thighs together against the pussy tingles. I haven’t seen Kade since Valentine’s Day, which might be a new record for us. But he’s had his hands full with classes and fraternity events, and I know all too well how hard that can be to balance on its own.

Let alone adding in a girlfriend who lives thirty minutes away from campus.

“I wish I could,” he says with a longing sigh that lets me know he means it. “Adam actually wants me to help with tonight’s pledge event. Since we’re swearing these guys in soon, that’s twenty-nine more votes I’ll need to win over.”

“Already hot on the campaign trail,” I muse, hopping up from where I’d been reclined on the couch. I head to the kitchen, pulling down a wine glass and a bottle of pinot grigio. The sun is already beginning to set, casting the bay in a watercolor swirl of pinks and yellows.

“Well, that’s why I wanted to talk to you… before I decided.” He pauses. “If I do this, I’m going to be busy. Busier than I already am. And you know that means less time for… us.”

“Hey, stop it right now. I’m the last thing that should be worrying you. I mean, I’m a college graduate. I’m busier now than I ever have been.”

As I say it, I wrinkle my nose at the job application abandoned on my laptop across the room. So what, I didn’t have a job offer yet? So what, I’m still living off my dad’s money and pretending like I could afford this insane condo on my own?

Kade doesn’t need to know that.

“I just don’t want you to feel like I’m not prioritizing you.”

“Tell you what,” I say, pouring the wine into my glass. As I do, Erin bursts through the front door, and by the crazy bird’s nest of hair tied on top of her head and the bags under her eyes, I can tell I’m not the only one who needs wine.

I pull down another glass, nodding to her to sit on the couch.

“Next time I see you, you can show me just how much of a priority I am to you.”

“Mmm, I like the sound of that.” Somewhere in the background, I hear a deep voice call his name. “I need to run. I’m sorry I can’t talk longer.”

“Stop apologizing and go win a presidency. I can’t wait to be your First Lady.”

He chuckles. “You going to wear a pearl necklace?”

“Only if you give it to me… while I’m on my knees.”

Kade groans at the same time Erin gives me an eww grimace from the living room.

I laugh.

“Don’t give me a boner before a fraternity event,” Kade says.

“Too late, huh?”

“Devil woman.”

“Byeee, sweetie.” I make some kissy noises and then end the call, leaving my cell phone on the counter as I grab both freshly filled wine glasses and carry them into the living room.

Erin takes the one with the heaviest pour, and in three gulps, half of it is gone.

My eyes widen as I take the seat next to her. “Bad day?”

Her brown eyes look almost black when they find me in a deadpan expression.

“What happened?” I ask with a chuckle.

She shakes her head, settling into the plush couch with her feet tucked under her and balancing her wine glass on her knee. “Just a long day at school.”

“Mm-hmm,” I say, taking a sip from my own glass. “What else?”

“That obvious, huh?”

“I’m sure law school is a total drag, but the greasy heap of hair on your head tells me this is guy related.”

Erin had let her head fall back against the cushion, but at my assessment, her neck snaps up, her eyes wild when she looks at me. “How the hell could you possibly know that?”