by Sherry Soule
I threw up a little in my mouth. “You’re living proof that evolution can go in reverse.”
“Hey! Don’t get your panties in a bunch,” stocky dude said.
Ignoring him, I turned away, wiping both of my sweaty palms on my jeans. “Excuse me, Luke? I’m Serena. Can we talk outside for a second, please?”
Three guys snickered, and Luke stopped typing. He lifted his head and met my eyes. He was actually really cute. I could see why Brooklyn was into him. His eyes were a deep gray and his longish brown hair brushed wide shoulders.
“What do you want?” Luke asked, his brows knitted in a rather sober frown.
My stomach hit rock bottom. No way I could dump this poor guy in front of his frat brothers.
“Can we please talk in private?”
Luke slammed down the lid of the laptop, scooted back his chair, and walked toward the doors without looking back. I followed him, darting a glance at the Zeta Beta table. They were all watching.
Outside, we stood under the awing. Luke leaned against the wall with his arms folded and I squinted up at him, the sun shining in my eyes. I so didn’t want to do this.
I licked my lips. “Brooklyn can’t see you anymore outside of school. Okay?”
Luke’s jaw clenched. “That bitch Jade sent you to break up with me, didn’t she? Classic Zeta Beta move.”
I took a deep breath and said, “I’m sorry.”
Luke shoved away from the wall and stormed toward the doors.
“Wait, what are you doing?”
“What do you think I’m doing?” he said through his teeth. “If she wants to end things, then she can say it to my face.”
I clutched his forearm. “Bad idea!” I said firmly, the muscles in his arm contracting beneath my grasp. “Don’t embarrass her or yourself by making a scene right now.”
“Who the hell are you?” Luke ran his hand over his hair. “Their newest evil minion?”
Yeah, I deserved that. And yeah, as a potential, I guess I was an evil minion.
“Look, I get it. But I’m not the bad guy here,” I said.
Luke scoffed.
“Okay, maybe I am.” I glanced over my shoulder through the window at the Zeta Beta table, then leaned toward him. “And you’re only going to humiliate both of you if you going storming in there. You guys need to find a way to talk privately. Just not now.”
Luke’s hands fisted as if he was ready to punch something, namely me. Then his shoulders slumped. “Can you tell her...I’m sorry?” he asked quietly. “But don’t say it when those other sorority skanks are around, okay?”
“Sure,” I said.
Luke skulked down the corridor. I went back inside the cafeteria and slowly walked toward the Zeta Beta table.
But the closer I got, the more I just wanted to haul ass out the nearest exit. Maybe it was time to consider joining a different sorority. One that didn’t take away someone else’s pride by stepping on people and grinding their hearts into a pulp. I understood how that felt and it sucked.
“It’s done,” I said to Jade without stopping. I marched past them and out the double doors.
THE CHALLENGE
“Think it’ll all be worth it?” Cole pushed away from the cafeteria wall and directly into my path. “All that sorority drama?”
I jerked to a halt, my gaze captivated by the guy moving steadily toward me with a swaggering strut.
“What the hell?” My hand flew up to cover my thudding heart. “Where did you come from?”
Cole stopped and leaned toward me. Even with all the churning emotions like massive guilt over having to breakup with someone else’s secret boyfriend, my body had the audacity to respond to his nearness. He stood so close, breathing became difficult. Clad in a gray T-shirt that barely contained his bulging biceps, he was punching more than a few of my hot buttons.
Damn him and his unnerving effect on my libido.
Why couldn’t I build up some type of immunity to his hotness? Instead of acting like a dumbstruck fangirl at a boy band concert every time I saw him.
Cole took a step closer, invading my personal space. Being struck by all that sexual masculinity, I could only stare at his face. My attraction for the darkly rebellious Hollywood heir became more explosive and intense every time I was around him. He was the total opposite of the quiet all-American boy who’d broken my heart back in SoCal.
But it would be a different story if I hooked up with Cole.
Which meant, I couldn’t fall for him. I’d lose myself and get burned again. I was going to Paris at the end of the year, so I couldn’t afford to make any mistakes.
“Don’t get in over your head, Serena.”
His husky voice flowed over my body in a seductive cadence that sent my pulse racing. Even if everything about Cole Prescott screamed trouble, I felt a deep pull toward him and a sense of connection that was intensely powerful considering we barely knew each other.
This had to stay in the friend zone. I was a seriously unstable basketcase with a crap-ton of emotional baggage. What guy in his right mind would want to date me?
I frowned. “What’re you talking about?”
“All the lame-ass sorority bullshit. And don’t play dumb, you’re better than that. I saw you with the Zeta Betas in the caf and things looked insanely intense.” Cole slowly looked me up and down. My body heated under his scrutiny. The greediness lingering in his gaze both flattered and unnerved me. “Now you look like you could use a drink.”
“It’s only two o’clock. A little early to get my drink on.”
“A couple of beers aren’t going to get you drunk, Serena.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Drinks in the afternoon? Spoken like a true frat boy.”
He smirked. “My classes are done for the day and I’m at your disposal.”
Aw, too friggin’ cute. I mean really. He had the most adorable dimple ever peeking out his cheek when he grinned. That smile of his probably got him laid. A lot.
“Actually, I’m not much of a drinker, but…it has been a shitty day.”
“Then how about some coffee? You can go wild and even throw in a shot of expresso.”
“Okay, but just as friends because I’m not looking for anything beyond that.”
There. That sounded convincing even to my own ears.
“Whatever you say, beautiful. Friends it is.”
“Great. Then lead the way.”
Cole took my hand, clasping it with his long fingers and jerked me closer. A current ran through me at his touch, and my pulse accelerated. I stumbled forward and practically smacked right into him.
I slipped my hand free of his. “What’re you doing?”
“Friends hold hands.”
“Are we in the third grade? No hand holding.”
“Fine. I’ll play nice.” He took one small step back and narrowed his eyes at me. “Sure about just being friends?”
“Most definitely.”
“Liar,” he said. “Did you miss me?”
“I’m afraid so. Next time I’ll try to aim more carefully.”
When I peeked up at Cole through my lashes, he had a hint of a smile on his lips. I smothered the ridiculous grin that threatened to split my own face.
“You just don’t give up, do you?” I asked.
“Not when it’s something I really want.”
“And you always get your way?”
“Of course. I’m Cole Prescott.”
“Well, that explains it all,” I said with a laugh.
He winked. “You’re learning.”
We strolled across the quad and down the street past sorority row. I glanced over my shoulder several times, worried that someone from the Zeta Beta house might spot me leaving campus with Cole.
It was a crisp autumn day and the trees had turned a brilliant red, orange, and gold, raining down leaves that made a crunchy carpet under our shoes. We walked the three blocks to the Espresso Express, where Cole opened the door so I could step inside. The d
imly lit and quiet interior held the fragrance of cocoa and fresh coffee. An older man sat alone reading a newspaper and sipping a cup of Joe, and five older college students were huddled in the back, studying and drinking shots of expresso.
“What would you like?” he asked.
“I’ll have a tall mocha, please.”
“Anything to eat?”
“No thanks.”
“Find us a seat and I’ll go order,” he said.
Crossing the room, I slid into a booth near an old-fashioned jukebox. Cole strode up to the counter and ordered two large mochas. I surreptitiously gazed at his cute butt while he waited for our drinks. Cole was fascinating to watch. His long fingers combed through his messy hair, but the strands just fell forward and swept across his forehead. He crossed his arms, which flaunted cut biceps and the promise of flat, six-pack abs. I stared at him and thought of raw, primal, tear-your-clothes-off type of making out that heated my face and quickened my breath.
Stop it! Stop, stop, stop!
My brain was distracted by his face and his body and other naughty thoughts about him. Yeah, I needed a cold shower. Like now instead of a hot drink.
“Enough,” I scolded myself under my breath.
“Excuse me?” Cole said, startling me, and taking the seat opposite mine. He placed two mochas and a croissant on the table.
Cute guy + yummy mocha = Feeling A Thousand Percent Better.
I reached for the warm mug and took a sip. “Nothing.”
He dumped a pile of quarters from his pocket onto the sticky table. “Anything special you want to hear from the jukebox?”
“Do you always carry around that much change with you?”
“Only on laundry day. I like to use the laundromat down the street. The guys at the house are always hogging the washing machine.”
“You seriously do your own laundry?”
“We’re not in sixth grade. I’m fully capable of washing my clothes,” he said. “What’ll it be?”
“How about some Green Day or Maroon Five?”
“Ah, I knew you were my type of girl!” Cole slid from his seat with a crooked grin and put two quarters into the slot, then pressed a button on the jukebox.
A Green Day song poured from the speakers and seemed to fit the mood perfectly. I took another sip of my coffee and Cole retook his seat across from me.
“What’s wrong?” he asked. “I saw you with the ZBs earlier, then talking to Luke before you stormed out of the cafeteria. What happened?”
“It was really stupid. I’m almost too embarrassed to tell you, but here goes…” I took a big gulp of my mocha and set the mug on the table so hard that whipped cream leaked over the side of the rim. I dabbed at it with a napkin and continued, “Jade told me to break up with this guy for Brooklyn. One of your frat brothers, Luke…I’m not even sure why I did it, but now I just feel dirty. Like I need a shower.” I shuddered and glanced up.
Saying it out loud made me feel ill. It tasted more bitter than my coffee.
“That’s effed up. Luke’s a good guy.” Cole’s gaze darkened and he licked his lips. “Dammit. I can already tell you’re gonna be trouble.”
A short brittle laugh burst from me. “Me? I think you’ve got that backwards.”
He leaned back, one hand resting on his lap, the other holding his coffee. “But I’m the kind of trouble that’s fun.” Cole’s eyes sparked with amusement. “Are you the new Zeta Beta enforcer? Or just the girl who breaks guy’s hearts and kicks them to the curb?”
A pang of guilt twisted in my gut. I’d done a shitty thing just to join a sorority and I wasn’t proud of it. I’d done the Zeta Betas’s dirty work for them. It hit deeper than I was willing to admit.
I rolled my eyes. “I doubt they were that serious.”
“Did you bother to ask?”
“No. Can we not talk about it, please?”
“Sure. Tell me more about yourself. Where did you grow up?”
“Born and raised in Los Angeles. What about you? Are you a Bay Area native?”
“Yup.” He nodded. “I was born in Castro Valley, but my family moved to San Ramon about ten years ago.” He took a sip of his coffee, then set the mug down on the table with a mysterious smile. “But enough about me, I think it’s get-to-know-Serena-time.”
I shook my head. “Oh, really?”
“Yes. You’re a bit of a puzzle.”
“Yup. That’s me.”
“What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done?” he asked.
I fiddled with a packet of sugar left on the table, and he stared as if fascinated by my every movement. “Starting over in a new place. It’s a huge change for me. You could say I’m a creature of habit and moving here was out of my comfort zone. I lived in the dorms at my old college, but my dad was less than fifteen minutes away. Now I’m halfway across the state. No friends or family. No support system. This is the first time I’ve ever really been on my own. And you?”
“I ran into a burning house once to save my little brother, Sammy. My father was drunk and fell asleep with a lit cigarette.”
“Are you serious? Was anyone hurt?”
“No. My father suffered severe burns, but after a few plastic surgeries, he was as good as new.” His voice became unconvincingly nonchalant. “But half our house burned down and we had to move.”
“That’s horrible.” I tucked hair behind my ear. “Does, um, your dad have a drinking problem?”
“You could call it that. He’s been in and out of rehab for years.” Cole rubbed his chin with his index finger and thumb. “My father likes to self-medicate and whine about his perfect life—so yeah, he goes on these bingers once in a while.”
Neglected and unloved by our self-centered parents, Cole and I had a lot in common.
“I can relate…my stepmonster’s not an alcoholic, but she does pop anti-depressants by the handful, and then goes on these excessive shopping sprees on Rodeo Drive.”
We listened to another song and sipped our drinks. The guys in the back had settled down and were quizzing each other.
Cole raised an eyebrow. “I have a confession to make…I actually tried to Google you and I couldn’t find a damn thing. Not even a Facebook profile.” He swirled his coffee in the cup and peered up at me through the sexiest lashes on the planet. “You’re such a mystery. Is that Witness Protection story, true?”
“You doubt me? I’m just not that into social media.” I shrugged. “And every girl has her secrets.”
“Maybe you’ll share them some day.”
“Maybe I will.”
“What are your plans after you graduate?”
“I want to move to Paris and study art. Rent a studio somewhere and try to make a living as an artist.”
“Sounds ambitious.”
I shrugged. “What can I say? Art is my life.”
Cole leaned back in the booth, placing both arms across the back of his seat. His gaze held mine. “Tell me, what does a guy like me need to do to woo a woman like you?”
I giggled. “Did you just use the term woo?”
“I did.” Cole nodded slightly and glanced down at his croissant. He popped a small piece into his mouth and chewed it slowly, never taking his eyes off me. “Please answer the question, and no I can’t join a different fraternity.”
Actually, that would’ve made things so much simpler.
“Hypothetically? I guess, somebody like you would have a very difficult time wooing somebody like me, who isn’t afraid of commitment and who doesn’t believe in one-night stands.”
His lips quirked up in a half-smile. “It’s true that I’m not really into the whole girlfriend-boyfriend thing. So you won’t have to break up with anyone for me. But you are quite the challenge.”
My heart panged. Not that I wanted a boyfriend, but it still sucked to hear that the possibility of a relationship wasn’t an option. Ever. We were only friends. And I was totally cool with that. Wasn’t I?
“Give it up, Presco
tt. Better men have tried to win me over. You’re out of your league.”
“You really think I don’t have what it takes to win your heart?”
“I know it.” I turned my head, trying to hide my smile. I enjoyed the verbal sparring with him each time we hung out.
“Sounds like a challenge to me.”
My head lifted, and we locked gazes. “A challenge?”
“Yes. A tempting one, too.”
“Just stop! And get those kinds of crazy thoughts out of your head.”
“Ah, come on, Serena, what are you afraid of? Think I might tarnish your precious Zeta Beta image?” His posture straightened. “Or are you worried that I might actually prove you wrong and crack that ice-cold heart of yours?”
“Why can’t you just get it through that thick head of yours that I’m not interested? Damn, you’re narcissistic.”
“You know me so well already. But all I’m asking for is one date to see if there’s anything real between us.”
I narrowed my eyes. “We’ve already been on a semi-real date.”
“Yes, and you fled the restaurant like your ass was on fire. I feel the need to redeem myself.”
“Is your honor at stake?”
He nodded. “Something like that…”
I took a sip of my coffee and said evenly, “Fine. One date.”
“Only one?”
My fingers played nervously with the hem of my blouse. “You can have one date with me so I can prove my point—that we’re just friends.”
Cole watched me silently, then leaned forward, letting his elbows rest on the table. “I’m not sure if you are capable of being impartial. You might never admit that you were wrong and I was right. That you’re as attracted to me as I am to you.”
I nodded, my eyes cast down. “I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve been known to be…”
“Deceptive?”
“I don’t know if I’d say that.” I sighed. “And if I agree to this, you’ll play fair?”
“Scouts honor.”
“Then you have a deal,” I said, holding out my hand for him to shake. “When would you like to have our one date?”
He shook my hand and said, “Are you free next week?”
“Sure. Will that give you amble time to prepare to sweep me off my feet?”