by Parker, Ali
I glanced over to see that Lizzy was laughing, and Will walked up to Britany and handed her a drink. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, and Britany glanced over and met my eyes.
I smiled despite the unwanted attention, and when my drink was ready, I took it and thanked Ben, even though he really needed a swift kick in the teeth. Maybe he’d get one.
“So,” said Ben, giving me a sly smile. “You play rugby, huh?”
“Yeah, it got me into college.”
He nodded as if hanging on every word. “Nice, and so you like being rough, huh? I’ve seen you girls play. It gets pretty brutal out there at times.”
He was leading up to me liking girls, but I was ready for him. “Yeah, it’s a full-contact sport,” I said in a sultry tone. I bet he had fantasized about two girls at once on multiple occasions, but he’d be lucky to get one girl to want him.
“I love full contact. I bet you and your friend are close.” He gestured to Abi. “She’s sexy too. Just like you.”
“She’s my best friend.” I shrugged. “I’ve known her for a long time.” It was half true, but it didn’t matter. I was just killing time, and it was fun being out of the house.
“Oh? Do you do full contact with her too?” The grin on his face was half as dopey as the way he wagged his brows.
I sized him up and laughed, knowing I could take him if I had to. He’d do more than serve his purpose until then. “No, sorry. I’m only into guys, so if it’s a threesome you’re hoping for, you’re not in luck.”
“Hey, that’s okay too. I wouldn’t mind having you one on one. That is if you and your friend aren’t into experimenting. Surely, you’ve had some curiosity?”
“Not even a little.”
“That’s cool too.” He put his hand on the wall behind me and moved in closer. “Let me know if you need a refill.”
“Oh? Are you going to fill me up?” I rolled my eyes and waited for his response.
“Fill or feel, anything you want, baby. I’m your guy.” He wagged his brows again, and it was all I could do to keep from laughing.
This guy was unbelievable. Just knowing Seth had stupid friends like this was enough to show me it was better it was over between us.
About that time, Abi pushed through the crowd. “I think I’m going to be traumatized for life,” she said, making a gesture as if her skin was crawling.
“What’s the matter?” I asked, stepping away from Ben who served another beer.
“My brother is upstairs and apparently playing strip poker.”
“That’s not so bad, is it?”
She nodded. “It’s Omega House rules. The first person to lose everything has to streak through the party, and his buddy warned me my brother sucks at poker.” She hid her face, but I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Well, if I see him coming, I’ll warn you.”
“Oh, look away,” she warned. “As if my chicken legs were the worst family trait.” She looked at the beer in my cup and made a face, glancing over at Ben who was still waiting for me to pay him some attention.
She leaned in to whisper in my ear. “So, what’s going on with Ben? Isn’t he the jerk who said all of that crap about you?”
“Exactly,” I whispered back. “Can you think of a better person to use to see just how possessive Seth is going to be about me moving on?”
“Don’t let that backfire. What if Seth doesn’t care? It’s a dangerous game.”
“Two can play it. Don’t worry. I’ll ditch him. He deserves it. But I can’t let some innocent guy get his face pounded, and this way, I know where I stand. It’s not like he’s getting anywhere.”
“Good. Because you can do so much better.” She tapped the side of my red cup. “Do you really think that’s a good idea? Aren’t you still on medication?”
“It’s fine. I took the last dose of meds earlier, and I barely have any beer. It’s mostly just for show. I’m taking it easy. I promise.”
She stepped back, and her shoulders slumped. “I think I’ll go see if I can find some better booze in the kitchen. If my brother loses that game, I’m going to need a stiff drink.” Before I could tell her to stay away from the Jell-O shots, she disappeared in the crowd.
“So, where were we?” Ben asked. He moved closer and put his arm around me.
“Do you have to do this all night?” He was guarding the keg as if it was his duty.
“Yeah, actually, I do for a while. But don’t worry. I’ll serve you as much as you want. And when I’m done, we can serve each other all night. You know what I mean?” He wagged his brows.
“Well, I tend to take it slow.”
“I like some things nice and slow too.” He was still making everything a suggestion, and he was just the kind of guy who would probably be into anything I offered.
I wished that Seth would hurry up and show. It was going to be a long night.
Chapter 28
Seth
I wasn’t sure how I got roped into a game of strip poker, but at least I still had all of my clothes on. All I had done was walk upstairs to find Micah and warn him that Britany might start a fight when I was called into the room by Thomas and Geoff and a crowd of Omegas who I couldn’t exactly say no to after beating Will’s ass.
The longer the game went on and as the girls took off their clothes, I came to my senses and realized I had left this former me behind when I met Avery. Now it just seemed so absurd. And a little like cheating. I had to bail while everyone was still decent.
“Look, I’d like to stay, but I am needed downstairs.” There was a crowd of others standing around watching, some fighting to take my place.
“Oh, boo,” said Stephanie Landry, who was just about to take off her bra. “Stick around for the fun. I was hoping to show off my latest piercing.” She licked her lips, her tongue ring sparkling. That wasn’t the newest one, though. Everyone knew about it.
“Have fun,” I said to Thomas Hammond, who was sitting in his boxers and socks beside me. He was so drunk he didn’t care, and by the girl on his arm, he was sure to get lucky, even if he lost.
“Come on, Seth. You have to play. You’re the best we’ve got, and I need help getting these girls naked.” Geoff was so drunk that he could barely hold his cards.
“Dude, if you need my help getting chicks naked, you’ve got worse problems than me leaving the game.”
His friends ribbed him as I made my escape. They were a fun bunch, and that was always why I had loved to party with them. I was one of the guys to them, someone to chip in on beer, and a magnet for hot girls attending their party. It wasn’t like I could score with all of them. I’d even been told that having a man-whore around had its perks.
But I was tired of being their prop.
I pushed my way through the crowd and made it to the hallway. That was where Will found me. “I talked to Britany, and she promised she wouldn’t start anything. I told her the repercussions if she did, but she does have her entire squad egging her on, and there’s always Lizzy in her ear.”
“Do you think they’ll fuck with her?”
“If they’re smart, they won’t. Avery could mop the floor with any one of them.”
“I just don’t want her to be ganged up on. Especially over all of this bullshit.”
“I hear you. I can talk to her if you want. I don’t mind explaining everything.”
“She needs to hear it from Britany. She’ll think I forced you.” And I didn’t want him getting too close to my girl.
“Well, I tried. But there’s something else.”
“Is Avery here?” I hoped I hadn’t missed her come and go. I had to make things right before they got worse, and if Omega parties had taught me anything, it could get a whole lot worse.
He looked away, rocking on his heels. “Yeah, about that. She’s with someone.”
My expression faded as my head seemed to grow hotter. “Like she came in with someone?”
“No, but she’s been pretty into him since she arrived. I think you s
hould go see for yourself.”
Without another word, I turned and hit the stairs, pushing my way through the few people who crowded in the middle to chat. When I got downstairs, I was immediately greeted by some of my friends, mostly girls, who were eager for my attention.
“Hey, Seth. I didn’t know if you were here or not. I’ve missed you!” Betsy Patterson threw her arms around my neck. “If you’re up to it, I’ve got some toys back at my place. You can do that thing you love to do to me.”
“No, I’m sorry, Betsy, I’m looking for someone.” I pushed her away.
Betsy crossed her arms. “I thought you and that girl broke up. She’s been hitting on Ben all night, so she apparently moved on.” She gestured across the room, and before I could get a good look, a little blonde head appeared in front of me.
“Hi, stranger! I brought you a shot.” I tried hard to remember her name as she handed me a drink, but everything was a blur.
I shook my head and gave it back to her. “You take it. I’m taking it easy tonight.”
She huffed as I walked away from her, but I kept going, pushing through the room and trying to listen over the noise for Avery.
I found her friend in the crowd, and that was a good sign. If Abi was still around, maybe she was too.
I spotted Britany, and she immediately turned her head and looked back at me with a big grin. I glanced over to see what she found so amusing and found Avery leaning against the wall, and Ben was right up on her. He had that stupid look on his face like he thought he was getting lucky, and while Avery looked less enthused, she wasn’t telling him to back off.
Was this some kind of game to her? She had told me how Ben upset her and that I should have taken up for her when he said those stupid things. But now she was willing to forgive and forget. I guessed I wasn’t the only one who she was willing to give a second chance to. But I wasn’t going to just sit back and watch her make a big mistake.
The crowd seemed to clear as if my anger was making me glow or something. It sure felt like it.
Avery’s eyes narrowed as I approached. She had a beer in her hand, and I immediately thought of her condition as I snatched it away.
“Hey!” she said. I braced for her to slap me again, knowing how bad it hurt before. But she dropped her hand instead. “You have no right.”
Ben backed up. “Hey, Seth. What’s going on, man?” He reached to shake my hand, but I looked down at it as if it were a pile of shit. I couldn’t stop thinking how that was the hand that he’d had on Avery.
“What’s going on here?” I looked at the keg and knew he had minded it earlier, which meant it was probably his night for keg duty. “You served her beer? She just got out of the hospital, dick!”
His eyes widened. “Oh, shit. I wasn’t thinking, man. I’m sorry. She’s been nursing it all night actually.” He held his hands up. “You know I’d never try anything with your girl, right? I was just looking out for her.” He turned and gave Avery a pleading look. “Right, Avery?”
“I don’t know. I thought you were kind of cute.” She put her arm around him. “I’m just having a little fun with my new friend.” She placed her other hand on his chest and stared me right in the eyes. She was teaching me a lesson I’d never forget. This was what I’d done to Layla, and now I knew how it felt.
“No, no, we’re just talking,” said Ben. “You know she’s not even my type. I mean, not that she’s not sexy. A lovely girl. What am I saying? You know she is, but all I’m saying is, I would never try to poach anyone from you, man.” He was so nervous if the music was lower, we might hear his knees knocking together.
I looked down my nose at him and puffed out my chest. “That’s not what I heard.” I just wanted to intimidate him.
“Well, you know how untrue rumors can be, right?”
“Yeah, I do.” I looked at Avery.
I noticed the crowd had quieted their chatter, and everyone was staring at me to see what would happen next.
Normally, I’d put someone’s fucking head through a window, but I had to behave, and I couldn’t let my temper get the best of me.
I put the beer down on the windowsill beside me and grabbed her hand. “Come on,” I said. “We need to go somewhere and talk.”
Avery pulled away. “I’m fine thanks. I’d rather not.”
“Dammit, Avery. Don’t do this.”
“Don’t do what? What you do?”
“We need to go somewhere and talk before we both make things worse.”
“Are you kidding me? As if it could get worse than this? You have no idea how mad I am at you.” She took off toward the kitchen.
I looked around the room at everyone who was getting an eyeful and saw Britany going in after her.
“Fuck,” I said. She was only going to make it worse.
I glared a Lizzy, who was on her friend’s heels and giving me a big shit-eating grin.
I hurried, catching up to her, stopping her before she could get in their way. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Me? I thought I’d go into the kitchen and get some popcorn for the show. Your little girlfriend has been all over that dork for the past hour, and I can’t tell you how amusing it is to watch Ben try so hard. Not to mention, it’s highly entertaining to see her fall, making a fool of herself just to piss you off, and, of course, the grand finale—when you fall for it.”
“Right. I’m glad my grief amuses you. You used to be a nice girl too. I guess I know where Britany gets her bitchiness.”
“Come on. Me and you used to have a lot of fun. We’re old friends. You know all about my influence.”
“Yeah, which is why you’re no longer my type. Come to think of it, when was the last time anyone actually wanted to date you?” I didn’t care if it hurt her feelings or not. I was pretty sure she didn’t have any.
She laughed, proving my point. “Aww, nice try. I’m still having fun. But I’m curious. Tell me. What do you want with her? Marriage? A family?”
“All of the above,” I said. “What’s the big deal? Maybe I think it’s time to grow up and settle down.”
“You’re not the type. And you’re wasting the best years of your life trying to be something you’re not. Let her go. Come back to the dark side with Britany and me. We have a few tricks left to teach you.” She turned up her drink and gulped it down. She gave me that devilish grin and held her hand on the door as if I’d have to go through her to go in.
Not a problem.
“Move.” I pushed her aside. I had to get to the kitchen.
They were going to tell her God knows what about me before I could set the record straight. I pushed the door open just to make sure Avery was okay, and when I did, Britany had her cornered on the other side of the room.
Avery looked up, and in her eyes, the pain was so great, I knew she’d never forgive me for whatever the girl had said. She’d never believe me, no matter how much I said I was sorry and no matter who told her it wasn’t true.
It was over. I could see it in her eyes as she shook her head.
I couldn’t deal with it anymore. The lies. The rumors. They had controlled and owned me for long enough. Now they had taken the only girl I ever truly loved. I turned and walked out. It was more than I could take. I had to get away from there. Lizzy was right. I was trying to be something I wasn’t. But I also couldn’t go back to who I used to be. I was better off being somewhere else—and someone else.
I left the house and went down to my Jeep, which was parked on the street. As I climbed in and I looked for someone who might be coming to stop me, there wasn’t anyone. Avery was truly done, and things were an even bigger mess. I couldn’t think of a better reason to get away from there. I sped off into the night, knowing there was only one place I wanted to go.
Chapter 29
Avery
The next morning, I sat in my apartment, staring at the phone. I had tried to call Seth a million times, but he never answered, and that damned voice mailbo
x of his was still full. That let me know he wasn’t too worried about hearing from me. He had offered me a chance to talk, and that chance had passed.
I got up and went to the kitchen, hoping a cup of strong coffee would keep me awake. I had dozed off for a short time after returning home but had been up most of the morning. I kept waiting to hear from him, but as the hours stretched on, I was starting to lose hope.
I was in the middle of setting up my Keurig when the phone rang, and I popped in the cup and hurried to catch it just in case it was Seth.
Abi’s name flashed on the screen with a glowing photo of her bright smile. “Hey, Abi. What’s up?”
“I’m just checking on you. You had me worried last night.” I had insisted she go back to the party, and she only did after much hesitation.
“Oh, I did. And the first thing I saw was my stupid brother running down the stairs naked as a mole rat.”
“Oh, no, I’m sorry,” I said, feeling the first smile of the day coming on. “I didn’t mean to send you away, but I just wasn’t good company. And it was something I had to do alone.”
“Did you find him?” she asked. I could hear the sound of water running on the other end of the phone.
“Not yet. I still keep hoping he’ll call me.”
“He will. He’s going to blow off some steam, and he’ll realize he’s wasting his time sulking when he could be with the most beautiful girl ever. He’s going to pick his sorry ass up and come crawling to you, begging you to take him back.”
“Well, that last part might not happen, but as long as I get him back, I don’t care how it goes down. I just miss him.”
“I know,” she said. “And about the apartment situation, I’m not sure if it’s going to be permanent. My parents are buttheads, but if you let me stay until I at least figure things out, I’d appreciate it. God knows this dorm is done with me.”
“Yeah, well, you stay as long as you need to. I’m sure it will be fun while it lasts.” That seemed to be the way of things.