Page 5 of Chase Lovett Wants Me

I pull my hood up. Maybe this time it isn’t just pizza burning.I huddle close to the wall and get swept up in the sea of bodies. I rush down the stairs and out into the cool fall night.

Groups of students congregate outside the residence building, some still dressed, having just returned from a night out. Others, like me, are wearing wrinkled clothes pulled over pajamas. A few unfortunate girls are in sleep shorts and tanks, and a handful of guys are shirtless. A few weeks ago, it was warm enough for shorts, but fall has crept in, and the nights around here are cool.

It takes me less than two seconds to find Chase in the gaggle of groggy students. The star hockey player (and hero of my hormone-fueled dreams) is standing beside Brody and another guy whose name I don’t know but whose face is familiar. I head for the closest empty bench, which also happens to be near Chase and his hockey buddies. I need to check my laptop for water damage, obviously.

One of the girls who clearly went out tonight based on her outfit, bounces over. “Chase! I thought you were coming to the keg party!”

I pause as I pull my laptop out from under my hoodie, jealous of how easy it is for her to talk to him. How casually she puts her hand on his bare arm. How brazenly her eyes rake over his bare chest on an appreciative sweep.

“That was tonight? We ended up playing a game of pickup.” He tips his chin toward the building. “You know what the deal is?”

She shrugs. “Dunno. But we might go back to the party if it’s gonna be a while. You can still come.”

Chase frowns, attention shifting to Gage as he joins the group. “Why are you soaked?”

“The fucking sprinklers went off.”

“What? When?” Chase asks.

Lightning zigzags across the sky as I inspect the state of my laptop. I need to be quick before it starts raining.

This newfound knowledge triggers panic from the keg party girl, and that panic spreads like a bad rumor as the fire truck pulls up. I’m more worried about being able to check my fanfic updates than I am the state of my clothes. Wet things dry. Unless they’re electronic. I heave a sigh of relief when my laptop screen comes to life. I quickly close it, slide it into its protective sleeve, and put it in my backpack. I check a few of my fanfics on my phone, none of which have updated in the past two hours. I huddle into my damp hoodie and wish I’d thought to bring my pillow. Then at least I could curl up on this bench.

We’ve been out here for a freaking hour in the drizzling rain when I notice Colby, the RA, talking to one of the firefighters and a few other older adults. They’re all frowning. Eventually one of them takes the megaphone, but their grim expression is not reassuring. “Attention, everyone! I need your attention!” He shouts three times before everyone finally shuts up.

I just want to go back to bed. I don’t even care if it’s wet.

“As I’m sure you know, there was a fire in the common area on the third floor that triggered the sprinkler system. Unfortunately, there was a technical issue with the sprinklers.” He clears his throat. “And uh…it looks like it will be a couple of days before we’re able to get everyone from the first three floors back into your rooms.”

Angry chatter bursts from the crowd.

The guy with the megaphone has to ask for silence five times.

“I understand this is inconvenient, however, we’ve made arrangements with the hotel down the street to accommodate all of you.”

That incites more questions about getting things out of rooms. A girl breaks down in tears. Some guy makes a joke about needing his condoms. I sigh and really wish I’d brought my pillow, because hotel ones are way too poofy and they give me a neck crick.

Megaphone man moves to the front of the pack and weshamble as a herd down the street to the hotel, which is located at the edge of campus. We’re halfway there when another bolt of lightning streaks across the sky. A sonic boom of thunder follows, and then the sky opens up. Within seconds, I’m completely drenched. And really freaking glad I put my laptop in its protective, water-resistant case.

CHAPTER 4

CHASE

“Dry clothes have been provided for you and are already in the room. They tried to make sure the sizes were accurate.” Colby tips his head back and pushes his glasses up his nose. “Steele, you’re in room 606 with Stiles.”

Brody and Gage high-five.

Colby points at them and gives them his disapproving dad face. It would be a lot more convincing if he were less like a character from the set ofThe Big Bang Theory. He’s a good guy, though, and he’s just trying to maintain some order when there isn’t any. “If I get so much as one noise complaint from your room, I’ll tell your coach.”

“We’ll be on our best behavior. Scout’s honor.” Brody holds up two fingers.

Colby rolls his eyes and scans his clipboard. “Lovett, you’re with…Lovelock in room 420.”

“Who?”

“Cameron Lovelock.”

I look to the guys. Brody is focused on his phone. Gage just shrugs.

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