Page 23 of Pieces

“Promise?” I narrow my eyes suspiciously.

“Promise,” he says with a smirk. Then, before I can reply, he sidesteps me and disappears into the hallway.

Behind me, Seb lets out a low whistle. “Wow, he really played you there. I need to get tips from Jay on managing you.”

Flopping onto the bench, I groan, ignoring the managing me comment. “Now I’ve got to bust my assandwait.”

***

The locker room is pure chaos after the win, with music blaring, guys shouting, and the occasional spray of water from a celebratory water bottle. Benny’s still riding the high of his game-winning touchdown, standing on a bench, one hand on his heart like he’s giving a victory speech.

“To the best teammates a guy could ask for,” he declares, raising his water bottle like a toast.

“Party at Benny’s!” Seb shouts from the corner, and the room explodes in cheers.

“Benny, do your roommates even know their house is about to be wrecked?” I call out, half-joking as I toss my sweaty jersey into the laundry basket and place my cap on my head.

“They’ll figure it out,” Benny shoots back, still grinning. “That’s what they get for living with greatness.”

I roll my eyes and grab a towel, then head for the showers.

Fifteen minutes later, we’re piling into Miles’s truck, crammed together like sardines. Benny lives just off campus in a house he shares with three other guys who play different sports at CLU, which is quickly becoming the unofficial party headquarters this year, since it’s nicer than The Hangout at our dorms, at least.

Miles pulls into the driveway, which is packed with cars already, and the faint thump of music travels outside. “How does this happen so fast?” he asks, glancing at Benny, who’s riding shotgun.

“Efficient networking,” Benny says with a wink, hopping out before the truck even fully stops. “Also, my roommates are legends.”

The second we step inside, it’s obvious the party’s in full swing. Someone’s set up lights that pulse with the music, and the smell of cheap beer and pizza wafts through the air. One of Benny’s roommates, Zach, from the hockey team, is in the kitchen, stacking red cups into pyramids, while another, Rex, from the basketball team, is organizing a beer pong game on their perpetually sticky dining table.

“Benny!” Zach calls out as he raises a can of beer in salute. “Your fan club beat you here.”

“They love me.” Benny throws his arms out like he’s welcoming his kingdom. “And I love them.”

Rex smirks from across the room. “Try not to trash the place too hard this time, yeah?”

Benny grins, but Seb claps him on the shoulder. “No promises,” he says, dragging Benny toward the living room where the music’s loudest.

I grab a drink from the kitchen and weave my way through the crowd, spotting teammates, familiar faces from campus, and more than a few strangers. It’s like the whole student body descended to Benny’s house at once.

A girl approaches me, her eyes sparkling with interest. “Hey,” she says, twirling a strand of hair in her fingers. “Great game tonight, Hudson.”

I look over her. She’s got a great rack, and as she pushes them toward me, I notice, but I don’t feel anything. No tingle of anticipation or anything like I usually would. If anything, I’m looking past her now, searching for anyone else. “Thanks,” I say.

“Can I get you a drink?” she purrs, stepping toward me, and my back presses against the wall behind me to keep some distance.

“I’ve got one, thanks,” I clip, tipping my drink to show her.

She laughs too loud and the sound grates on me. “Oh, silly me.”

Side-stepping her, I scan the room for anything, looking for an out, and when nothing obvious appears, I simply tell her, “I’ll see you around.”

She says something else as I walk across the room, but I can’t hear her. What the hell was that about? Normally, my dick isn’t that picky, but apparently tonight he is. I’m not exactly looking for anyone specific, but I catch myself scanning the room out of habit. I don’t want to fall back into my old ways, but I can’t deny that I’d like to end the high of the night with a hookup. I guess tonight isn’t my night, though.

Then an image pops into my head with perfect clarity of that night with Daphne. The way she was nervous, but so fucking hot. The way she captured my attention and held me there until she left the next morning. I can admit now that stung a little, and I feel bad for doing it to girls in the past now. If only I’d gotten her number.

Two more girls approach as the night drags on. One is bright and bubbly, full of energy as she tries to pull me into a conversation about music. I smile and nod, but her enthusiasm feels like a wall I can’t climb.

The other is quieter, almost shy. She talks about her love for physics, but I can barely focus. She senses it and trails off before moving on.

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