It’s a lie.
I chase those depressing thoughts away by draining my cup.
Alyssa was also accepted at Wesley, so we’ll be rooming together next year.
Guess who else will be on campus?
My gaze cuts to Beck. There are at least three girls hanging on him. It’s been this way ever since seventh grade when he shot up six inches and packed on twenty pounds of muscle.
No matter what I do, I can’t seem to get away from him.
Beck was recruited by almost every college in the Big Ten Conference. I had secretly hoped he would go far away so I could finally get over this stupid infatuation, but he shot that to hell when he committed to Wesley.
The most I can hope for is that we don’t run into each other too often. It’s a big campus with tons of people.
When I realize I’m dwelling on Beck, I lift my glass, surprised to find it’s been topped off.
My head swims, feeling pleasantly fuzzy.
Exactly how many of these have I knocked back?
I try to do a rough mental calculation that seems as complicated as calculus.
Two? Three? Four? All I know is the more I drink, the better this beer tastes.
When one of my favorite songs gets cranked up, I jump to my feet and pull Landon with me. Apparently, it’s everyone else’s favorite song as well because the entire party throws their hands in the air and writhes to the beat. When it’s over, I collapse on my lounger and giggle hysterically.
“Ready for another?” Landon rises, ready to do my bidding. He really is a nice guy. It’s too bad he and Alyssa never got together. They would have been perfect for one another. Instead, she only has eyes for Colton.
Speaking of Colton, guess who else committed to Wesley?
You guessed it…Colton Montgomery.
Alyssa has sworn up and down that her decision has nothing to do with a certain blond-haired Adonis.
I hope that’s the case. It would be really stupid of her to plan a future around a guy who has never bothered to give her the time of day until this party. Not that I want to be a Debbie Downer, but who knows how long his interest will last. A couple hours, at the most.
Alyssa is a talented dancer. Her dream is to get a fine arts degree in dance and open her own studio. She was accepted at several prestigious schools and turned them all down to attend Wesley.
“No,” a gruff voice cuts in before I can wrap my lips around a response, “she’s already had more than enough.”
I glance up, surprised to find Beck towering over my lounger. His hair is damp from his dip in the pool. My mouth turns cottony as I stare at his bare chest.
He needs to put a shirt on so I can think straight.
“Actually,” I slur, taking offense to him making decisions for me, “I will have another.” At least, I hope that’s what comes out.
Beck scowls before shifting his hardened gaze to his teammate. “What the hell, dude? Why did you let her have so much? She’s officially cut off.”
Excuse me?
Exactly who does this guy think he is?
Beck is the king of bad decisions. And he has the audacity to tell me—me, for God’s sake, who hasn’t gotten so much as a tardy in her life—that I can’t have another drink? I’m not even driving home.
He didn’t nickname me good girl and little miss perfect for nothing. I’m eighteen years old. If I want to cut loose for once in my life and have a few drinks, I’m more than capable of making that decision for myself. I don’t need Beck swooping in and telling me what I can and can’t do.
That thought alone is enough to piss me off.
“You’re not the boss of me,” I add belligerently with a slight curl to my lip.
Beck doesn’t spare me a glance. His focus is trained on Landon. “You’ve been relieved of your duties. I’ve got it from here.”
“Chill out, dude. She’s fine. We’re just talking. No need to bust a nut.”
What’s Beck’s problem? Landon is right. We weren’t doing anything wrong. Beck is angry and I don’t understand why. Normally my neighbor and part-time nemesis is laid-back and chill. Nothing riles him up. So this behavior is definitely out of character.
Beck’s lips flatten as the steely look in his eyes intensifies. “Take off, I’ll deal with Mia.”
Deal with Mia?
Since when am I someone who needs to be dealt with?
They glare at each other for a long, tense moment. The muscles in my belly quiver with unease as my gaze darts from one boy to the other.
What’s going on here?
It feels like I’m missing a key piece of information.
The intensity dissipates when Landon takes a step in retreat before turning to me with a forced smile. “It was good talking to you, Mia. I’ll see you around before I leave for Penn.”