Page 1 of Scrimmage

Prologue

Ashland, Sophomore Year

Going to the Weekender at the lake sounded like fun when Cole invited us. There’s a massive bonfire on the beach while kegs sit in a half circle further down the shore next to two beer pong tables. Some people have smaller boats docked, and there are even kayaks and canoes out on the water. People are everywhere. The students of Cassium University love a good party; me included.

I spot Cole and wave. He grins as we walk up. “You came."

We met Cole last year at a party. He was a sophomore who had the hookup for alcohol before we were able to worm our way around to get it ourselves. He always ended up hanging around, following us on our adventures. I didn’t really care for him at first and figured he had eyes for my best friend, Penny. Then he started bringing us coffee and food and won a spot among us. Since he’s a junior now, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but he stuck around.

While it turns out that he’s into me, the feeling isn't mutual. We’ve kissed when I was drunk a few times, but that’s it. Is it leading him on? Absolutely, but I’ve never claimed I’m a saint.

“I figured we could grace you with our presence.” I flip my hair.

“Gah damn.” Penny stares at a group of guys who look like they’re straight out of a Magic Mike’s Vegas show. I eye them, giving them the once over.

I shake my head and lick my lips. “No joke."

Cole rolls his eyes and shoves a drink in my hand. “Here. Jungle Juice.”

“Oh, hell yes.” Penny grabs it from me and downs it.

Cole shoves his hands in the pockets of his swim trunks and smirks. He’s cute. He always has been. Even though he’s wearing glasses, I can see the glint in his light brown eyes. They almost glow in the firelight. Penny was right about why he invited us here; he wants to fuck.

“We’re gonna go take a look around,” I lie, dragging Penny away. “See you?”

Cole bites his lip and stares directly at my tits in my black bikini top. “Definitely.”

As I drag Penny away she snickers. “Told you.”

“Yeah, yeah, you win. Alright?”

She loops her arm through mine after we quickly grab drinks and retreat to the edge of the party to survey the commotion. “This is a hell of a party.”

“No joke. I feel out of my element.”

“Spare me, Ash. You literally are the party.”

“I think you mean the Cunts are the party.”

Penny tosses her copper hair. “You’re right.”

“To the Cunts of the Century?” I hold out my solo cup, and she clicks hers against mine.

She laughs. “To the Cunts of the Century!”

I run to the beer pong table. Penny already knows the drill. Since we’re females, we get to be next in line. Two massive guys, who look like they belong to a rich frat, eye us as if they’re going against mice. They’re both lean and muscular with delicious tans. One of them has a goofy grin that disarms you. He isn’t threatening, but sneaky. His hazel eyes and honey brown hair are a trap. That’s the kind of guy who keeps extra toiletries in his bathroom for his one night stands to use before he gets them to leave. A ‘nice guy’ with loads of charisma.

He leans onto the table, sinking it further into the sand, and gives us an elusive smile. Everything about him is sly like a fox. His eyes roll over us. “Welcome, ladies.”

The other guy stands there looking like the statue of an arrogant asshole. He has hard angry charcoal eyes that hide some sort of color underneath, but I can’t see it because there's rage that seems to simmer under the pupils. He wears a Cassium University hat, backwards, and sandy blonde hair glowing gold in the firelight peeks out of the sides in a way that makes me irritatingly attracted to him. Assholes tend to be my heroin. He’s tall and muscular in a school spirit shirt. With narrowed eyes, he looks at me like I’m a meal, and not the sexy kind. It’s like a shark looking at a seal. They put off the energy that they’re superior, but what they don’t realize is that Penny and I are skilled at beer pong. We’ve never lost a game that wasn’t on purpose.

Women are flocked around them, hanging off of their arms. These assholes are used to girls using pong as an excuse to get naked, and they are sorely mistaken if they think that’s what we're here for. We’re actual competitors. Destroying them will be a fucking pleasure.

“Hi there. We just wanted to try our hand at pong,” Penny says in her sugary sweet voice. She is so good at playing innocent. Underneath that shy smile is a panther with her claws ready to slice the competition. We both play a role, and we’re fucking great at it.

“Best of three?” Fox raises an eyebrow in challenge.

I give him a sorority smile. “Perfect."

---