Page 17 of The Sound of Us

“No…” I grabbed the phone, but not fast enough. Before I could end the call, Dante answered.

“What’s up, buttercup?”

“I didn’t mean to call,” I stammered. “It was a mistake. I thought you were someone else.”

I shot a pleading look at Haley and Isla and mouthed “help,” but they were too busy laughing to intervene.

“Who did you think I was?” Dante asked.

“Why does it matter?”

“I need to know how much competition I’m facing for the lemon squares at the coffee shop. Do I need to show up first thing in the morning to make sure I get one? Are there dudes wandering around with boxes of lemon squares seducing all the single ladies on campus? These are important things to know.”

“Very funny. It was a mistake. Just pretend it never happened. Goodbye.”

“Skye. Wait.”

I heaved a sigh. “What do you want now?”

“Is this something you do all the time?” he asked, his voice amused. “Calling up dudes to let them know they missed out?”

I didn’t know whether to laugh or throw up. “You’re the first. I’ve never been this drunk before. I’ve never been to a frat party. I’ve never eaten so many carbs and so much sugar at once.” I was leaving next week, so why not go out with a bang.

His tone changed from warm and teasing to something wary and sharp. “What frat party? Where are you?”

I told him the name and he sucked in a sharp breath. “They aren’t good guys, Skye. Don’t you know their reputation?”

“Haley was hot for a rugby player on the men’s team, so she forced us to come.”

“Don’t tell him that,” Haley called out. “I was hot for him but definitely not after he stuck his whole head in that bathtub of Purple Jesus.”

Dante groaned. “Tell me you didn’t drink from the bathtub.”

“I didn’t drink from the bathtub. I’d have to be unconscious to get over my disgust. We were drinking shots, but then Isla stole a bottle of vodka—”

“I didn’t steal it,” she mumbled. “It was just sitting there unattended.”

The deep bass of AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long” pounded through the speakers, making the entire house tremble. Until I’d mentioned it to Dante, I’d almost forgotten this might be my last night to party. “It’s dance time,” I told him. “I have to go.”

“Be careful.”

“I’m always careful,” I said. “That’s why I’ve never had any fun.”

CHAPTER EIGHT“Don’t Stop the Music” by RihannaSKYE

Haley and Isla were more than happy to dance with me, and we rocked the dance floor for the next half an hour. Who could leave when the DJ was killing it with his sick beats? Aaron found me again and offered us shots of something sickly sweet, then did his best to dance by wrapping his arms around me and swaying to Shakira’s “The One.”

“Let me go.” I tried to push him away, but he squeezed me tighter. My pulse kicked up a notch and I looked around for Isla or Haley. “Aaron. I can’t br—”

“I’m cutting in,” a familiar voice said from behind Aaron’s massive bulk.

I peeked around Aaron’s shoulder and my breath caught in my throat at the sight of Dante’s glowering face. For a moment I couldn’t speak. I was shocked, surprised, embarrassed, humiliated, mortified, and thrilled all at once. I closed my eyes and prayed that when I opened them, I wouldn’t be in Kansas.

“The hell you are.” Aaron had to physically turn us so he could look Dante in the eye because his neck didn’t twist that far. I took the opportunity to pull away so I could see Dante in the flesh. Aaron slung a possessive arm over my shoulder, and my back bowed slightly from the extra weight.

“It’s okay,” I said. “I know him.”

“You know me,” Aaron said, tightening his grip. “We’re spending the night together.”

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