Page 1 of Rookie Mistake

chapter one

Zara

“Yeah” — Usher

“Oh my god, Zara, that guy up there is eye-fucking the shit out of you right now,” my best friend Harper mumbles over the rim of her red Solo cup, her golden gaze trained on the dim, makeshift stage in front of us. “Biiiiitch, if you don’t bid on him,Iam.”

It’s not even midnight yet, and the house is already packed. Admittedly, the Kappa house is not my favorite place to party with the number of douchey frat guys and the stench of BO and stale beer, but there was no way in hell I was missing tonight.

Their annualDate the Playerauction.

A night that even I, a new freshman at OU, have heard countless stories about.

I follow Harper’s gaze out to the darkened stage in search of the guy she’s referencing. There are no less than twenty up there, but I immediately spot him.

Holy shit… this guyishot.

Like,really, really fucking hot.

And he’s staring directly at me.

His pillowy lips are curved into a cocky grin, and when he catches my gaze, his thick, dark brow arches, something unspoken passing between us.

I lift a brow, mirroring the motion as my tongue darts out, wetting my lips and tasting the cinnamony remnants of the night’s earlier Fireball shot.

Mystery guy’s wearing a white long-sleeve that’s rolled to his elbows, showing off thick, veiny forearms. The wrinkled fabric hangs open, unbuttoned, and even in the dim light, I can make out the washboard abs and a happy trail that peeks out.

He’s got dark, unruly hair that kisses the top of his shoulders and what could possibly be the sharpest jawline I’ve quite literally ever seen.

As if his chiseled face was carved from the sharpest, most luxurious stone.

There’s no doubt that this guy looks like trouble, and coincidentally, there isnothingI love more than trouble.

Hmm.

Now, this could befun.

Smirking, I lift my cup and bring it to my lips as I take a long, unhurried sip, never breaking our intense gaze.

“My god. I canfeelthe sexual tension from here. Or maybe I’m just horny. Either way… holy fucking shit,” Harper nearlyyells in my ear over the loud thrum of music surrounding us, her elbow digging into my side and forcing my attention back to her.

Her eyes are wide as she clutches her pink-painted fingers to her chest dramatically. They’re nearly the same shade as the short minidress she chose for tonight. Unsurprisingly, she’s decked out in all pink like she’s the Gen Z version of Elle Woods.

Her signature color.

“You’re the horniest person I know, so let’s go with that, Harp,” I tease, rolling my lips together before glancing to my right at Lily, the third of our thirsty trio.

Harper and Lily have been my best friends for as long as I can remember, and I’ve never been more thankful in my life that we all ended up at the same university because I don’t know how I would have survived my freshman year without them.

A long-distance friendship with the girls who know me better than anyone sounds like the worst form of torture.

We’re codependent. They’re my girls, and I need them by my side for what I already promised myself will be the best year of my life.

A year of being wild and free, without anyone oranythingholding me back.

“Youbothare the horniest people I know, so that point is invalid,” Lily says, shaking her head, causing the dainty pearl necklace around her neck to jostle with the motion. She’s like the… mom of our trio.

The smart, responsible, dependable one.

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