Page 70 of Rinkmates

I shake my head. “There’s no chemistry. Guys like Riley…they have girls throwing themselves at them constantly. He’d never go for someone like me. Besides, with my past, a relationship is the last thing I need right now.”

Instead of answering, I drink a big gulp of the cocktail and notice it’s way too strong. I wince. “Woah. Who made this?”

“Der,” she says, and I arch an eyebrow.

“It’s ‘Der’ now?”

“What.” She shrugs. “He’s nice.”

“He’s not. Priya, why do you always fall for the wrong guys?”

“I don’tfall.” She averts her gaze in a way that tells me she has to tell me something.

“What happened?”

She widens her eyes. “Why do you think something happened?”

“During rehearsal you’ve been looking at me strange, and now too.”

She sighs and wobbles on her feet. “Fine. Mason kissed me.”

I let out a shriek and stifle it with my free hand. “Shit. Priya. When did this happen?”

“Yesterday after practice,” Priya replies, her voice tinged with regret, and I hope it is only because she didn’t tell me ASAP. “I didn’t mean for it to happen. It just…did.”

I reach out to grasp her hand in reassurance. “You deserve someone who respects you. Mason is nothing but trouble. I bet you’re not the only one he’s fooling around with.”

She nods. “I know…”

We both take another gulp and my head already feels dizzy. Well. It’s a strong one and I don’t really drink. Shit. “Be careful, okay?”

She nods. “I try.”

“I just don’t want anyone breaking your heart.”

“He can be so sweet though, and all the time we spend together. It’s just easy to mix it all up. Isn’t it intense between you and Aiden?”

Well, it’s not like he’s interested in me, or women at all, but it’s not my place to tell, so I just say, “No, we’re not each other’s type.”

“Because you’re falling for your roommate.” She grins and wiggles her eyebrows again. She really likes to do this.

“No way. Guys like Riley…they have girls throwing themselves at them constantly. Besides, a relationship is the last thing I need right now.”

Priya’s expression softens, understanding in her eyes. “I know it’s complicated, but that doesn’t mean it can’t work. Just give it a chance.”

I sigh. “I can’t.”

Priya hugs me. “It will be fine. Just do what your heart wants. Everyone will understand.”

What my heart wants? I finish the cocktail and I regret it already. Because right now, my heart tells me I should forego underwear entirely and flirt the shit out of Riley. It tells me to kiss him. It tells me to pull him into my bed.

“Let’s join the party again,” I say, but before we leave, I let my hair loose, and since it’s been in a bun all night, it waves down in big curls now. I even put on my red lipstick.

Twenty-one

RILEY

Everyone’s cheeks are red by now as the alcohol finally kicks in.

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