“What question?” Shifting in my seat, I looked to see where Hannah had gone. She should’ve been back by now.

“What are your plans tonight?”

“We haven’t discussed it. Why?”

“Because we’re going to Club T again if you want to come.”

“The club you ditched me so both of you could have sex with people? That one?”

With her straw in her mouth, she grinned around it. “That’s the one. Wanna come?”

I sighed, “Sure.” Jesse could pick me up if he wanted, but I’d been telling the truth. We hadn’t discussed it and I refused to let myself sit at home, twiddling my thumbs in case he called. I’d never been that girl before, but I felt like it at times. When he said jump; I asked how high? I wasn’t going back to that. I couldn’t. I’d be destroyed if I did.

However, after we ate and went to the dorm to dress, my phone started buzzing in the car. I ignored it. Not the most mature move, but I knew if it was him, I’d read whatever he sent and I’d go to him. The last month had been like a slow drug. I was becoming more addicted to him the more time we spent together.

It was when we had gotten inside, my phone kept flashing through my purse and Hannah had enough. She snapped, “Just answer it already. Whoever’s calling isn’t going to stop. It’s annoying.”

Taking a deep breath, readying myself, I was prepared to keep my hormones in check.

I didn’t need it. It wasn’t from Jesse. It was from Cord.

Call me back. Entire damn paper is gone. Come to the house, we have to work on it tonight.

Fuck me. My night was over.

“Who was it?” Hannah asked, throwing her elbow back as someone bumped into her. “This place is crazy packed tonight. What band is playing?”

Beth had been staring me down. She ignored her cousin. “What’d he say?”

Interest sparked with Hannah. She forgot about the crowd. “Wait, what? You have a boyfriend? You have a boyfriend and you haven’t said a word about him?”

Glaring at Beth, I replied, “No boyfriend and it was Cord. Something happened to the paper. He wants me to go to their house to work on it tonight.”

“It’s a Friday night.”

“I’m aware.”

“You don’t do homework on a Friday night.”

Beth started snickering.

Hannah had a point. I texted Cord:

Why tonight?

He responded:

Have something going on. Need to get it done tonight, proof it Saturday and do other homework Sunday night.

I shared the text with the girls.

Hannah’s face scrunched up. “That sucks.”

“Wait, doesn’t Cord live with Jesse Hunt?”

My foot ached to make contact with Beth’s butt. I settled for glaring instead.

Hannah threw her cousin a confused look. “Yeah. So?” A light bulb clicked on. “He’s way out of our league, Beth. Although I like the way you think.”

Now it was her cousin’s turn to grow wary. “What are you talking about?”

“We have homework to do, right? Let’s go with her. Besides, I don’t want Jamie to talk to her like that again.”

“No, wait. That wasn’t what I meant—”

It didn’t matter. Hannah was starting to gain speed. Her eyes lit up. “Yeah and Cord will be there. Obviously. So when you guys need a break, I can be there ready to give him a massage. He won’t turn that down. And I bet Chandra won’t be there, not if Cord’s doing homework. She hates it when he studies. I think she gets a rash and goes crazy. She itches all over. We should go.”

Beth’s mouth joined mine on the floor.

This night had gone a different direction than I anticipated.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“Surprise!” Hannah flung her arms in the air when the door opened. All three of us stood on the front doorstep, but Beth and I wore sheepish grins while Hannah was poised for a magazine shoot. She was the only one who hadn’t changed out of our club apparel. Beth and I changed to jeans and T-shirts while she still wore ripped black leather pants with a black corset top. The top was frayed at the ends as well, with holes that exposed her black bra. Ruby red lipstick, heavy eye shadow—Hannah could’ve been the lead singer for a metal band.

“Uh…”

The guy stared at her for a moment. His lips were pursed together and moved in a fish movement, confused, as he scratched at his head. Jesse hadn’t opened the door; Cord either. Not even Jamie. It was the fourth roommate. He was dressed in blue scrub pants and a white shirt. He looked ready for bed. His dark hair was messed and sticking up, as if he’d just come from bed. I was racking my brain trying to remember why he looked familiar. Then we heard someone ask from inside, “Who is it, Derek?”

Beth and I shared a glance. This was the roommate who was the boyfriend of our RA. No drinking for us tonight.

A wide grin stretched over Hannah’s face and she pushed her way in. We followed, giving Derek an uneasy look. He waited, holding the door open and nodded to us, being polite. Beth gestured to me. “She’s here for a group project with Cord and Jamie. We came to keep her company.”

He nodded and didn’t say a word. This could’ve been a normal thing from how he was reacting. Gesturing around the corner, where Hannah had disappeared, he led the way after he closed the door. I couldn’t help but grin as he made sure to lock the door before he moved around us.