Page 67 of The Good Girl's Guide to Being Bad

Colton shook his head, looked me dead in the eye. “Not gonna happen, Sadie.”

I patted his arm. “Okay, Coach. Let’s do this.”

It turned out Colton did know the bouncer. He was Eric Greene’s cousin (of course), and he’d let us in with a handshake and a smile. Well that, and I couldn’t be sure, but I thought Colton might’ve slipped him a twenty.

The music was loud. There were a ton of people—college kids liked to party. Who knew? Most of the girls weren’t wearing much, and everyone who wasn’t out there gyrating seemed to have a drink in their hand. I took a sip of my water. Fake ID or not, getting drunk wasn’t on my list. Also, after I’d watched one girl get into a fight with another girl who’d accidentally stepped on her toes, complete with hissing and hairpulling? Yeah, no drinking for me, thanks.

“You having a good time?”

I looked at Colton—he was drinking water, too, I noticed. I didn’t know if it was to make me feel more comfortable, but for some reason it did. “It’s okay, basically what I expected. Not really my scene though.”

“Yeah,” Colton said. “Once you’ve been to one, you’ll feel like you’ve been to them all.”

“Hmm,” I nodded, not really knowing what else to say.

Was this it? Why did people go to places like this? The music wasn’t even that good, and all those strangers dancing in that massive swarm of bodies? I shivered.

“You planning to go out there anytime soon,” Colton said with a knowing grin.

“I’m working myself up to it,” I sniffed.

“Really?” he said. “Because we’ve been here about an hour and you haven’t made a move toward the dance floor.”

“I know,” I said. “I’m just trying to find my happy place in my mind, so when I go out there, I won’t make a fool out of myself.”

“Sadie, look around.” Colton gestured with a hand. “Who’re you afraid of embarrassing yourself in front of? No one’s even looking at you.”

“You are,” I said quietly, but was glad he couldn’t hear over the loud music.

Colton frowned, leaning forward. “What was that?”

“Nothing,” I said. “Maybe we could do something else on the list while I build up my courage.”

“Okay,” he said and looked over the crowd. “Have you seen any guys who strike your fancy?”

“My fancy?” I laughed. “Why Colton, how positively old school of you.”

“Whatever, you know what I mean. Do you see anyone you find attractive?”

I nodded. “I have to admit, there are a lot of hot guys here.”

Colton let out a grunt. “Yeah, like who?”

“Well,” I said, my gaze landing on a blond guy a few booths away. “He’s kinda cute.”

With no discretion whatsoever, Colton swung around to look.

“Thatguy?” Colton said, thrusting his thumb in the guy’s direction as my eyes widened. Could he be any more obvious? Geez. “You think he’s cute? Sadie, he probably spent an hour on his hair and looks about twelve.”

I shrugged. “His face is cute. That’s all I’m saying.”

Colton shook his head. “And he probably kisses ‘cute.’ Is that what you want? A ‘cute’ kisser, someone who’s so hesitant you don’t even know you’ve been kissed? Try again.”

“Okaaay,” I said and lifted my chin. “What about him?”

Colton sighed as his eyes landed on my second choice. “Really, Sadie? He’s carrying a man purse. Next.”

“What about the guy over there? The one leaning against the wall.”

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