Page 122 of The Friend Zone

She takes my hand, squeezing it. “You should stay, Bay. You came here to get a pledge invitation, these are your people.”

I really want to stay, but my loyalty is to Lakyn. “Yeah, but the Zeta president already told me the invitation is mine. This is our first weekend at our new school, I don’t want you to be alone.”

“I’m not going to be alone.” Lakyn reassures me. “My roommate Tash is really nice. She has dance team tryouts on Monday, so she’s getting up early to train all weekend. She invited me to watch movies with her and I’d rather do that.”

I’m glad Lakyn gets along with her roommate and is making friends. That’s why we decided not to room together; we wanted to make sure that we would meet new people. “Ok then,” I relent. “But let me come with you, so I’m sure you made it back to the dorms. I can come back later, the party just started.”

Lakyn is the quieter twin, but she’s fiercely independent. “That doesn’t make sense. I can book a ride back to the dorms. I got the app, it won’t take a minute.”

I feel a little guilty, but I don’t really want to leave. “Are you sure?”

“Positive. Go, have fun. If you hook up with anyone, just make sure he’s eye candy.”

The blond hockey player just comes to mind and I smile. “Ok. There’s a super hot guy I saw earlier. I wouldn’t mind getting to know him.”

With Lakyn gone, I scan the room for the tall, blond guy.

I notice a flash of blond hair in the kitchen, by the island where all the booze is lined up and I make my way there through the adjacent living room.

Luck isn’t on my side, however. By the time I make it into the kitchen, there’s no sign of the blond hottie.

“Hey,” a deep voice calls from behind me.

I turn around, hoping to get to look into the blue eyes of my hot stranger. It’s that other guy though, the one Rachelle was talking about earlier.

“My name’s Topher. What’s your name? I noticed you earlier, and I had to come to say hello. You’re the hottest girl at this party.”

That’s very direct, but I guess there’s nothing wrong with that. “Bay Woods, nice to meet you.” I smile. “Are you pledging Gamma?”

Topher nods. “I sure am. One day I’ll be Gamma president and captain of the hockey team, if I can have my way.”

Topher sounds very ambitious, and that’s something I admire.

We begin talking about our studies and our families.

“Bay, would you like a drink?” Topher points to a tray of solo cups. “One of the Zeta girls made that right before you got here.”

I think about it. “I don’t know. I had a glass of Champagne earlier. I’m here to make a good impression, I don’t want to overdo it.”

Topher smiles. “Just one drink. We can split one and add some lemonade and ice, so it doesn’t go to your head. I can fix it.”

I watch as Topher grabs an empty cup and pours half of one margarita into it.

“Oh hey,” I turn around when I hear Rachelle’s voice. “I see you two already met. I wanted to make sure you did.” The Zeta president smiles.

Topher greets her with a hug, after offering me one of the two solo cups in his hands. “Hey Rach, long time no see. How are your parents?”

“Toph and I went to the same prep school,” Rachelle explains, as I take a sip of my drink. “I was a senior when hewas a freshman. I guess history repeats itself here. Anyway kids. I just wanted to check on my two favorite pledges. Have fun and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

“That should leave us a ton of options,” Topher chuckles. “Rachelle was wild back in the day.”

I get the distinctive feeling that he’s staring at the Zeta president’s ass as she walks away. “Oh. Did you two ever…?”

“What? No.” He laughs. “Not that I didn’t think she was pretty enough. But she’s almost four years older than me and in high school that seemed like a lot. Hanging out with a freshman would cramp her style.”

Topher isn’t wrong. “Hmm, that’s true. I had this hopeless crush on a senior freshman year. Peter Fisher. He didn’t even know I existed.”

His fingers skim the inside of my wrists. The touch is gentle and fleeting. “I don’t believe it. He must have been blind not to notice you.”

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