Page 57 of The Wrong Quarterback

“You mean when he’s not drunk all the time and ditching you every time you make plans.”

I flushed at that comment…because it wasn’tnottrue.

“You’ll see. It will be different,” I finally said, not sure who I was trying to convince. Gray had called and apologized this morning after he’d woken up and I’d been gone. But it seemed like all he’d been doing since I’d gotten to campus was apologizing, didn’t it?

She frowned, but didn’t say anything else, and we finished getting ready for the party in relative silence.

“I’m sorry,” she finally blurted out as we were getting ready to leave the room.

“For what?” I asked, confused.

“For not being supportive about Gray. I’ll—try harder. For your sake,” she added.

I surprised myself by giving her a quick hug. “I’ve never really had a good friend, Nat,” I told her honestly. “I’m thinking I finally have one.”

Natalie’s eyes welled up, and her lower lip trembled…like she was going to cry. “I think I got one, too.”

I smiled, and she huffed at me, waving her hand at her eyes. “Now enough of this mushy stuff. We arenotmessing up our makeup. We are going to this party. And we are going to slay!”

“Did you just sayslay?” I asked, raising an eyebrow as she literally pushed me out of our room.

“I did, and feel free to adopt it. It’s what all the cool kids say,” she winked.

As we walked down the street, I realized I was actually feeling…anticipation. Maybe this party wouldn’t be so bad after all.

The music pounded through the house, loud enough to make the walls vibrate and people shout over it just to be heard. The party smelled like spilled beer, sweat, and a hint of someone’s cologne that was way too strong. I leaned against the wall, taking small sips from the red cup Nat had handed me…trying not to look as out of place as I felt.

Beside me, Nat was buzzing with energy, her eyes scanning the room like a hunter looking for her next target. Then, out of nowhere, she elbowed me, her eyes wide and gleaming.

“I want him,” Nat announced, practically bouncing on her toes.

I glanced over to the kitchen where she was staring lustfully, expecting it to be some smooth frat boy like the one she’d hooked up with during orientation…

But it was not.

Instead, my eyes landed on a massive guy, one of the football team’s offensive linemen by the looks of it. The guy was easily over six feet tall and built like a mountain. He had on a ratty cutoff shirt that barely covered his enormous, hairy belly, which peeked out from underneath.

“Him?” I asked, half laughing, half choking on my drink.

Nat nodded, completely serious. “Yes. I want toclimbhim.”

I stared at her, trying to decide if she was joking. But Nat was already smoothing down her skirt and adjusting her bandeau top, eyes locked on her target like she was about to go win a prize.

“Where are you going?” I asked as she started strutting across the room with all the confidence in the world, her sightsset on the human mountain who looked like he could bench press a truck.

“Wish me luck,” she called over her shoulder.

Nat weaved her way through the crowd like she owned the room. The giant offensive lineman was mid-laugh, holding a can of cheap beer. I watched as she sidled up to him, all smiles and hair flips, and he looked down at her, eyebrows shooting up in surprise before breaking into a wide grin.

She said something to him that made his smile falter for a split second before turning into a wide, surprised grin. From where I was standing, I could swear her lips formed the words, “Hey big bear, I want to climb you like a tree.”

My eyes went wide. There was no way she’d said that…

The lineman set his beer down so fast it wobbled on the table, and without missing a beat, he held his massive arms out. Nat didn’t hesitate. She jumped, wrapping her legs around his waist as he caught her effortlessly. The room erupted in laughter, hoots, and cheers as they started making out feverishly. Nat was indeed, literally trying to climb him as he grabbed her ass with both hands.

I choked on my drink, half-laughing, half in shock.

I wondered what it would be like to be that confident in yourself, to see something you wanted, and actually go after it.

---