Page 19 of Hard to Fake

I shuffle over to my friend.

"Hey, beautiful!" Nova beams. She’s wearing a long blond wig that cascades down her back with a crown on her head.

“Princess Peach,” I decide, and she claps. “Oh my God, tell me Clay is Mario and has a little moustache."

My friend winks. "Come on, let's get drinks."

Chloe's in the kitchen, plus Sierra, the bartender from Mile High, who’s a friend of the team. Music is pumping, and I survey the room with a smile. It's a great vibe.

"I need you to sample these new drinks,” Sierra calls over the music. “You want a slam dunk or a rim runner?”

I arch a brow as I take one from her at random and toss it back. “It’s good.”

Sierra’s long dark hair sways as she moves. Her burgundy lips that match her leather pants.

“This look is fierce,” I say, waving a finger at her outfit.

“Better be. I need to get laid tonight because I can’t get these pants off myself.”

I set the glass on the counter and scan the room. The costumes are strong, and I want to win.

Our bartender friend pours another round of shots for a pair of guys who’ve come up.

“Looking good, Sierra,” one of them comments.

She gives them a once-over. “Come find me at two.”

“Which one of us?” They exchange a surprised look.

“Didn’t hear me specify.”

They walk away giggling like middle school girls, high-fiving as they disappear into the crowd.

“You ever had a threesome?” Sierra asks.

“I don’t think I could fit another guy in my bed besides Clay,” Nova admits.

Sierra fixes another round for someone who flagged her down, her hands flying from one bottle to another. “It’s like Tetris. You’d be surprised how much room there is when you’re not sleeping.”

I snort. “Logistics is the least of your concerns. The fact that Clay would rip the head off any guy who looks at you too long is a bigger problem.”

The song changes, and the music seems to get louder.

My phone buzzes.

It’s Ruby messaging me a photo from the sorority’s account.

Without looking at it, I type back, trying my best to ignore the crack in the screen.

Brooke: Can’t believe you have time to scroll social, Mrs. Doctor.

Ruby: I’ll always be your Big Sis. Did you see who Caroline’s bringing as her date next weekend?

I start to type that I don’t give a damn who the sorority sister who always rubbed me the wrong way is going with, even if she’s decided to be Elise’s new BFF.

Just for the hell of it, I click on the picture.

Half a dozen smiling faces greet me, including Caroline’s and those of a couple sisters I recognize.

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