Page 35 of Sincerely, Your Enemy

I let out a sigh. “He doesn’t. It’s just…”

Do I tell them everything? They only know I’m tutoring him. They have no clue I’m only doing it because of our arrangement.

I blow out a breath. “TJ and I have a deal. I help him with school, and in exchange, he helps me find a man.”

Neither of them makes a sound for a few seconds.

Until Aveena says, “Good. I’m glad you’re trying to put yourself out there. If TJ’s the way to do it, then I support it.”

Dia nods. “Me, too. You deserve true love in your life. And if not true love, then you deserve crazy animal sex. We’ll do anything to help.”

I laugh, shaking my head at my friends. “And how do you plan on doing that?”

Dia and Aveena exchange glances, sharing thoughts I can’t decode.

“What is it?”

Dia flashes a cunning smile and reaches for my phone sitting next to me on the couch.

“What are you doing?” I try to stop her, but she flings it out of my reach. Of course, she knows my passcode and easily gets into my phone.

She starts scrolling through my contacts. “Finding you a babysitter.”

Then she says the one thing I was afraid of.

“We’re going out tonight.”

It’s as thoughmy shoes are made of concrete when the Uber drops us off in front of Theo and Chance’s house.

My first mistake was telling the girls about my deal with TJ. My second was letting them call my babysitter to come watchmy siblings. But none of them compares to my third and biggest mistake of the night.

I let them doll me up and take me to a party. Theo’s party, to be exact. Remember the black dress TJ said I would look hot in? Well, the girls agreed.

I can’t remember the last time I wore something this tight or showed this much cleavage. The dress fits me like a second skin, and the makeup they put on me is… intense, to say the least. I haven’t worn this much eyeliner in a hot minute.

I argued and argued, but then I figured…

I’ve been meaning to partake in the college experience. Maybe this is my chance.

Theo and his roommates throw crazy parties every Friday and Saturday night. Most people call Theo’s parties legendary, mostly because they never end but also because the house has this insane swimming pool.

Aveena went home a bit before the Uber got to my place. She was exhausted, and her feet and back hurt, so she called Xavier to come pick her up. She said she knew I was in good hands with Dia and to tell her everything the next day.

“Come on.” Dia links our arms together as we walk to the front door, the music’s bass thumping through the walls and echoing down the street.

We’re blinded by bright flashes from the moment we step inside. Dia and I stick our hands in front of our faces, blocking out the lights of the projectors casting patterns all over the walls.

Heat envelops us immediately, but it doesn’t bother me as much as the overpowering smell of sweat and strong liquor filling the air.

The place is packed, people gathering in front of a makeshift DJ booth in the corner of the living room. Theo and Chance are behind it, holding their phones and bickering about something. Probably the next song.

Dia’s hand wraps around mine, and before I know it, we’re facing the current of drunk students, edging our way toward the kitchen.

We pass the dining room, where a game of beer pong is being played, and my gaze lands on Aaron. He’s playing against Finn, Dia’s fiancé.

Aaron notices me at the same time I see him, and he flashes a weird smile—I say weird because it lands somewhere between a genuine and uncomfortable smile.

“Where are we going?” I ask when Dia parks herself in front of the fridge.

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