Page 50 of Devilry

Aiden: Remember our agreement?

Me: I don’t think coercion was part of the deal.

Aiden: Kidding. I knew you weren’t up for it, but what about a party?

Me: I guess I could come.

Aiden: I’ll be home in an hour and we can head out together.

Me: Callie?

Aiden: She’s meeting us there.

Plating my meal for one, I scoff down my food in record time, thinking of excuses to get out of tonight. Another message pops up on my screen before I even have a chance of formulating a good idea.

Aiden: Don’t even think about bailing on me tonight.

Fucking know-it-all.

* * *

Aidenand I arrive and the party is in full swing. Just like in the movies, the huge Greek letters sit proudly on the gable of the historic looking building. Students spill out of the door and music blares through the large windows. It looks exactly like I would expect it to.

“Don’t you have to be part of a frat to come to these parties?” I ask Aiden.

“Most of the time. But like with anything if you know a guy who knows a guy you can pretty much do anything you want.”

I look over to him and offer a bemused smile. “Of course, you’re the guy that knows a guy, right?”

He offers me an arrogant smirk, paired with a wink. We’ve settled back into a routine with one another, our friendship even better than it was before the kiss. I’ve yet to see Callie since the day at the café, but I’ve made the decision not to get lost down their thorny road. We’re all friends, and if either of them need a pair of ears or a shoulder to cry on, I’m happy to be their guy. But for now, I’ve got enough of my own problems to try and work through.

Reaching the entryway, Aiden and I cross the threshold and shuffle to an empty corner, out of the walkway. Pulling his phone out of his pocket, he begins to furiously tap away at the screen. “If you see Callie, can you let me know? She’s supposed to meet us here.”

“She’s here.” I lean closer to him, inconspicuously trying to point her out. “She’s in the kitchen. Can you see her?”

Laughing and drinking with another girl, Callie looks like she’s in her element. Carefree and happy. Aiden starts toward her and I follow.

As we get closer, I feel tension beginning to radiate off Aiden; Callie’s face when she notices us confirms this isn’t a friendly visit.

“Hey,” I greet, hoping to break the ice.

“Eli.” Callie takes hold of my shoulder, but stares at Aiden. “This is my friend, Sophie. Can you hang here with her while I kill him?”

Sophie and I both stifle a laugh. “I think that can be arranged.”

We both watch them walk off and huddle in a darkened corner before turning to face one another. “I’m Sophie,” she supplies, sticking her hand out for me to shake. “Nice to meet you.”

Effortlessly beautiful, Sophie would make anybody double take with her long, wavy brown hair and petite frame. Comfortable in her own skin, she’s wearing short, low heeled boots, blue, ripped vintage denim jeans, and a white, off the shoulder top. She’s the gorgeous girl next door.

“You come here often?” I joke, taking her hand.

“Is it that obvious?” she says looking around.

“What?”

“This is my second party. We’re almost two months into school, and that’s all I’ve managed to attend,” she reveals.

I smile knowingly. “It’s my first one.” Shoving both my hands into my back pockets, I sway on my heels. “I don’t think it’s something I could, or want to, get used to.”

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