I was getting way ahead of myself. We weren’t even dating again. I was just his assistant. His assistant that would be working very closely with him during the next few months.
“Have you seen Old Boy?” he asked, breaking me from my daydream. “It’s a South Korean thriller.”
“I don’t think I have.”
“Oh, you would remember if you had seen it before. I can’t believe you haven’t watched that one. We should get together sometime and watch it. My roommate is almost always gone on the weekends. We’ll find a time that works in our schedules to hang out.”
“That would be nice.” I giggled.
“Well,” he said, getting up from the table, “that’s all I have to discuss for today. We’ll meet up soon with the others to split up tasks and get started.”
“Sounds good,” I said, grabbing my backpack from the floor.
“I almost forgot to mention that there’s a guest lecturer coming on Thursday night. He speaks at seven o’clock. I think you’d enjoy it.”
I was about to agree to it, but then I remembered that I’d just agreed to a date with Shawn. It would probably just be some frat party or dinner at the taco stand, but I told him yes.
“I don’t know if I can make it,” I said vaguely, not wanting Chris to know that it was a date that I had lined up.
He smiled suspiciously. “I think it will be worth your while to go. There might be a surprise for you.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t say any more,” he said, walking out the door. “Just make sure you’re there. It will benefit your future at this school. I’ll see you on Thursday night.”
I couldn’t handle all the secrets and surprises. It made it hard to know what to agree to. I weighed the pros and cons on the margins of my notebook.
I did agree to hang out with Shawn first, and I wasn’t someone who went back on my promises. He was a lot of fun to hang out with, and I liked being near him.
However, I had a feeling that whatever he had planned could be rescheduled. There would always be another frat party or night at the restaurant. I could tell that he wasn’t really the cultured type of guy who would take me to a play or a concert. Whatever he had planned could easily be rescheduled.
I could have immediately said no to Chris and told him that I had plans, but I didn’t want him to know I was seeing someone else. I didn’t want him to push me away just when we were reconnecting.
The lecture was also something that would only come around once. As Chris’s assistant, I needed to be there to show my dedication to our project. He also made it clear that there was another important reason for me to go. Maybe he was going to introduce me to other experts in the field. It would be really nice to be introduced to everyone Chris knew in the department.
It was a really tough decision and I didn’t want to let either of them down. But, there was a clear distinction of where my time would be better spent. I felt extremely guilty, but I typed out a message for Shawn and hit the Send button.
Hey Shawn, I just found out that I have an exam on Thursday night. I wish I could hang out with you instead. We’ll talk later to reschedule our plans. I’m really sorry. I’m super bummed out about this.
My stomach hurt. I hoped that my excuse was good enough. I just wanted Thursday to be over with so I didn’t feel so slimy anymore.
That sucks. I understand, though. I’ll definitely miss you on Thursday. Hope you’re having a good night. Talk to you soon.
On Thursday night, I got to the lecture hall about ten minutes before the talk was scheduled to start. The seats were already filling up quickly, so I jumped in line to get a seat in the middle of the hall.
“Alice,” Chris called out to me from the front row. “I saved you a seat.”
I quickly walked down the steps, where Chris was grinning. “This is going to be really good.”
“What about the surprise you promised me?” I asked coyly.
“That’s after the lecture.”
In the remaining minutes, he spoke excitedly about the support his project was getting from other professors. He was hoping that our short study could turn into a larger study that might even have a chance of getting published. He said that if he got to present at conferences across the country, I’d be able to go with him and help.
We paused our discussion for the time being as the speaker took to the podium. I didn’t really have a lot of interest in the topic he was speaking on, but it was cool to be going to academic seminars. I felt so sophisticated and mature for my age. While other students were out getting drunk, I was here, learning more and helping out my future career.
Sitting next to Chris, I finally felt like I’d made the right choice to ditch Shawn for the night. He was probably off having a good time with his friends, not even thinking about me.
After the question and answer session, the head of the psych department got up to speak. She made a few announcements about upcoming events and other goings on in the college. Then, much to my surprise, she introduced Chris and invited him to make a brief speech.
“Hello,” Chris said, looking so cool and collected while talking to the massive crowd. “My name is Chris Lane, and I am one of the recipients of the Canfield Grant for Undergraduate Research. The project I am working on has to do with dating and the hookup culture on campus, something that many of you are familiar with.”
The crowd laughed at his joke. He smiled confidently and continued.
“I am still in the early stages of putting this project into action, so if you are interested in helping with the research, please give me your name and contact information at the end of the evening. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce my assistant, Miss Alice Harper.”
I blinked. Did he just announce my name to the whole crowd? He gestured toward the podium. I shook my head slightly. I was not going to make a speech.
He leaned toward me and whispered, “Don’t worry, you just have to stand and wave.”
He grabbed my hand and pulled me up to the front of the room. My face was burning. I gave a small wave, and all the while, he was still holding onto my hand. Chris put his arm around my shoulder and beamed at me. I couldn’t help but smile back. I felt like he was really proud to have me on his team. After what seemed like forever, he released me and said his final words.
This was a surprise. Now, all the leading researchers and professors in this area would know my name. It would make my future classes so much easier if the professors knew who I was.
As I was about to sit down, I saw Shawn’s face rise from the back row and exit the auditorium. He had a look of disgust on his face that I had never seen before. Usually, he was smiling and joking.
Forgetting that I was at the front of the room during the middle of a speech, I immediately walked down the aisle after him. When I got past the doors, I took off running toward him.
My legs could hardly keep up with his long strides.
“Shawn, wait,” I called to him. He ignored me and continued walking.
He must have taken a shortcut through the trees because I lost him. I kept jogging down the sidewalk, hoping I could intercept him by the time he arrived at his house. I could explain everything.
I got to the front door of the massive old house and waited. Five minutes passed, then ten, and there was no sign of him. Eventually, I gave up and walked home. If he didn’t want me to find him, then I wasn’t going to be able to. I sent him a text and waited for a reply all night. It never came.
Shawn, I’m so sorry about what happened tonight. Please call me and I can explain everything. I feel terrible. –Alice
Shawn
Even though I was a little disappointed that Alice couldn’t go with me to the seminar, I thought I’d stop by and listen anyway. I wasn’t great at being punctual, so I sneaked in and sat in the back row about five minutes after it started. The place was absolutely packed, so I figured I might as well stick around the whole time and listen.
I really wished that Alice had been here to see this. Me, of all people, listening and actually learning from a lecture on a Thursday night! She would have been so impressed.
After the speaker finished, I thought about getting up to leave, but there were people on either side of me and I didn’t want to crawl over them. I figured I could stick it out for a few minutes, so I got out my phone and caught up on the messages I missed.
Jack sent me a few texts about a party we were having with one of the sororities. I thought about checking with Alice to see if she wanted to go with me, but I didn’t want to disturb her during her exam.
Then that douche bag, Chris, got up to talk. There was something about him I didn’t like. It wasn’t just that he did a terrible thing to Alice. He seemed so phony to me.
Then I heard her name. For a second, I thought it must be a mistake and that Chris would realize that he was idiot for introducing someone who wasn’t in the room. I chuckled to myself before I saw her stand up next to him.
There they were, looking into each other’s eyes and smiling like two lovebirds. It made me sick to see him put his arm around her.
I’d had enough. I got up, hopped over the seat back, and left. I felt incredibly stupid for thinking that Alice liked me. She flat out lied to get out of our plans, and then she paraded her infatuation with her ex in front of a crowd of students and professors. I was embarrassed.
I heard footsteps following me, but I just walked faster. She called my name and I cut through the trees. I thought about going back to the house to lock myself in my room and seethe, but I didn’t want her to follow me there. The thought of having to look her in the eyes and listen as she made bullshit excuses was more than I could bear.
That’s why I didn’t do relationships. If I wanted to get off with a girl, there were plenty around. I could have my fun and not have to commit myself for the pain and suffering that would inevitably follow. I knew that girls often used football players to get what they wanted, only to ditch them for the next best thing, but I really didn’t think that Alice was like that. I was wrong about her.
I took a shortcut through some trees to the Alpha Delta sorority house. From now on, I’d only focus on football and having fun. I would not allow myself to fall into some girl’s trap again.
“Hey, Shawn,” Jack said as he carried a keg up the steps of the party house. “I didn’t think you were coming.”
“Change of plans,” I grunted. “What do we have going on here tonight?”
“Should be a pretty good party. We won’t be able to play our game here because I’m guessing there won’t be very many hard to get girls around.”
“Fine with me,” I said. “I’m done with that game.”
“You hook up with that girl?” Jack asked. “When were you going to tell me?”
“Actually, I didn’t. I’ve just come to my senses. I’m done playing games.”
Jack released a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness. I’ve been itching for this one girl in my sociology class. I think she’s a good candidate for tonight’s festivities.”
“Where are the cups? I’ve had a shitty day and I want some beer.”
“We haven’t even tapped the keg yet. Besides, it’s warm. We have some vodka in the trunk, though.”
I opened the trunk of the SUV and searched through plastic bags until I found a particularly cheap bottle of vodka. I cracked the seal, took a few gulps, and shuddered. It tasted like poison, but it would help ease the embarrassment I felt.
“All right!” Jack cheered. “Someone came to party!”
I gave him a hand with the refreshments and piled a hodgepodge of bottles on their table. A few girls came down to help up set up, but the majority of them were in their rooms getting ready. Oh, how I wish that guys were allowed to stay the night in the sorority house.
The president of Alpha Delta came downstairs to greet us.
“Remember,” she said, gathering all the breakable objects in the living room and hiding them in cupboards, “our house mother will be back around midnight. We need to clear out well before then.”
“We’ll make sure to pass the word on,” Jack said solemnly.
When she left, Jack winked at me. No way would their house be back in perfect working order by then.
Eventually, people started showing up to the party. By the time my fraternity brothers had arrived, I’d drunk a good portion of the booze I was supposed to be setting out for guests.
“Save some for the girls,” Jack said, nudging me in the ribs. In response, I filled my cup even higher.
A skinny blonde was eyeing me from across the room. She was doing that thing that she saw in too many romantic comedies where she tries to express her attraction to me through her eyes. In no way was she being discreet. I took the bait.
“What’s your name?” I asked.
“Jessica. What’s yours?”
“I’m Shawn. Do you live here?” I was already bored with this conversation, but the girl was a dime.
“Yeah, I’m a sophomore.”
“Me too. Can I get you another drink?”
She giggled. “Such a gentleman. Sure, I’ll have another vodka water.”
I poured a healthy portion of vodka into the cup and added a splash of water.
“Having a good time?” I asked, handing the cup back to her.
“Honestly, this is kind of boring as far as parties go. This is why you can’t have a party in a sorority house. You can’t make a mess, you have to be done early, and you can’t take anyone in your room. It’s completely unfair.”
“You’re right,” I slurred. “I’ve never had that problem at our house. Should we ditch this place and go over there now?”
She giggled and looked around like I was telling her some juicy secret. “Okay,” she said. “Let me tell my friend that I’m going.”
She giggled a few words to her friend and then looped her arm through the crook of my elbow. “Let’s go,” she said.
I had never seen the fraternity house empty like this. Usually, if everyone was gone for a party, I was there too. I went into the kitchen and poured myself a glass of water.
“So,” she said, “what’s it like being on the football team?”
“Oh, you know,” I said. If only I had a dollar for every time I heard this question. “We practice a lot and it’s hard work. It’s fun though.”
“No,” she said, leaning into me. “Don’t you have any crazy stories?”
“Do you?” I asked. I wasn’t here to spill the beans on my teammates if I wasn’t getting something in return.
“Sure. You first.”
“Fine. Do you know Troy Parker? He was a Defensive End—he graduated a couple of years ago.”
“Yeah, he plays professionally now, doesn’t he?”
“Well, I was on an official visit to the university, and they pull out all the stops for the new recruits. I wasn’t much of a drinker back then, but I wanted to impress the guys, so I ended up getting pretty drunk. Anyway, Troy was trying to be a wing man for me and found a girl for me to talk to. Things were going well, and eventually, we decided to look for an empty bedroom to fool around in.”
“That’s hardly scandalous,” she interrupts.
“Let me finish. I opened the door to find Troy on one side of the bed, our kicker on the other side, and a girl sandwiched between them, all completely nude. And instead of yelling at me to leave them alone, he waves me in, like it’s no big deal if we join them in their orgy.”
The girl burst out laughing. “Did you?”
“Of course not!” I said. “I was an innocent high school kid looking for a little over the pants action. I wasn’t ready to enter
my first five-some.
“That’s incredible. I don’t think my story could top that.”
“Let’s hear it. We made a deal.”
“I shouldn’t say anything because our sorority has such a high reputation for being classy and well-behaved, but we were having our initiation party this year—”
“Hazing,” I corrected.
“No, we don’t call it that. It’s mostly harmless fun. Well, we had the pledges strip down in the middle of the woods, and we took their clothes and made them find their way back to our campsite. Everyone was having a good time, but one girl got a little lost and was found by a hiker. The cops came and arrested her for indecent exposure when she tried to cover and say that she got lost on a nudist retreat. If she hadn’t, we would have been in huge trouble and the sorority would have been shut down. Luckily, our members have parents with connections, so everything was swept under the rug.”
“That’s pretty good,” I said, “but I think my story wins. What’s my prize?”
“You get to show me to your room,” she said.
I picked her up and threw her over my shoulder, her thin body hanging like a rag doll across me.
“When was the last time you cleaned your room?” she teased.
“Take your clothes off,” I ordered. She obliged, smirking at me.
She rolled on top of me, and I yanked the covers up over our shoulders. She started touching me, and I rested my hands behind my head and closed my eyes. The room was spinning slightly.
“I hear your parents have a lake house,” she said. “I love the beach. Maybe I can see it sometime,”
“Probably not,” I said.
“What?” she asked, like she didn’t hear me the first time.
I didn’t want this. Not because it was too easy, but because it wasn’t right. This girl was nice enough, but I wasn’t really attracted to her. Not like I was to Alice. I didn’t want a one-night stand. I wanted to have Alice with me, in my arms. Not some stranger who would go back to her friends and brag about this.
“Actually,” I said, pulling the sheets around my body, “I changed my mind. You should leave.”
Lethal Seduction: A CIA Romantic Suspense (CIA Agents Book 1) Page 30