Addicted

"Yeah, you are," Mary laughed softly.

I made some noise and walked into the kitchen as if oblivious to the three of them being up.

"Oh, hey guys." I grabbed a banana from the counter and fixed myself a mug of coffee as they stood in an awkward silence. "Did I interrupt something?"

"Nope." Carolyn walked to the table and sat down.

"Who was the guy last night? The one with all the tats that you left with?" Kathy moved up beside me at the kitchen counter as a smile spread across her freckled face.

"Tate? Just a guy I met the other day. He's a good guy, from what I can tell. Martin helped him get onto the swim team, so he should be around more at some of our parties." I shrugged, trying hard to keep things casual.

"Good. He's fucking hot." Carolyn's tone was less than pleasant, but what else was new.

"Yeah, he is." I picked up my bag and walked to the door. "See you guys later."

"Wait," Mary called out to me. "Are you and he dating?"

"Nope. Just friends." I waved and walked out into the freezing weather. After taking a deep breath, I moved languidly toward the gym. I couldn't wait for the next year to be over so that I could start looking for an apartment and getting excited about life after college.

Most of the girls in the house were rich bitches, much like Carolyn. Where they all were against the idea of any of us Gammas hurting the other, they were still greedy as hell and self-serving. All of them except Katelyn.

She'd pledged with me just to not leave me alone in the middle of the bullshit when we were freshman. I'd thanked her enough times over the years that she was well aware she was damn-near the only reason I'd survived so long in the Gamma house.

I picked up my walk to a jog and made it to the gym a few minutes later. After putting my stuff up, I walked to the indoor track and smiled as a familiar guy was running on the far side of the track.

Kade waved as he jogged toward me. "You're stalking me, aren't you? Just admit it."

"Yep." I moved up beside him, easily keeping pace. "I figure sleeping with you is going to be the only way I'm going to get an A in my

business law class."

His eyes widened a little, but he was just playing with me. "We should get this tutoring session on the calendar, for sure."

"Naw, I'm going to hook you up with my friend Amy. She seems to think you're something special." I tugged my ponytail tighter as my heart fluttered in my chest. If I could set Amy up with Kade, the girl would be ecstatic. The thought of making my friend’s day, or more like her year, left me wanting to try anything to get it done.

"Oh, yeah? Amy's cute, for sure." He started to run a little harder. "This is my fast round, so pick it up or I'll catch you on the next round."

"You're on." I pushed hard and took off, pulling in front of him easily. We raced around the track three times before stopping near the front door and leaning against it.

"Damn...you're fast." He reached toward me and tugged at a strand of my hair as the door opened from the boys’ locker room.

I swatted his hand away and laughed. "You're just slow. Most quarterbacks are."

"This is true." He lifted his hands to the air and stretched back and forth. "So Amy, huh? You're not interested?"

"Nope. You told me that you were worse than Paul. Give me a break." I glanced over to see Tate walking toward the natatorium. He glanced back at me, and I waved, unable to help myself.

"I was teasing. I'm a great guy. Always on the up and up." Kade followed my line of sight before touching the side of my arm. "Come out with me sometime."

"No, but thanks for the offer. Think about taking Amy out, seriously. She's your girl. I promise." I turned and jogged toward Tate as my eyes moved across the strong muscles of his back. His swim trunks fit him beautifully, and I couldn't help but admire how well his tattoos encircled his arms and decorated his back.

"Hi." I moved up beside him and tried to catch my breath.

The look on his handsome face said that he wasn't too happy. "That your boyfriend?"

"What?" I glanced back to find Kade watching us. "No. He's the TA for my business law class. I don't have a boyfriend."

"Right. I'll see you at the library after while." He gave me a tight smile and walked toward the pool, leaving me standing there.