Page 68 of Collide
“That is an entire month late.”
“A few weeks, a month, who cares? Are you coming or not?”
“Of course, I’ll bring the party hats and streamers!” I clap.
He’s unamused by my fake enthusiasm. “Seriously, you should come. It’ll be fun.” He tries again when we’re seated. “Besides, I thought you and Aiden were getting along. What happened?”
If I thought about what happened, I won’t get any work done. “Nothing. I just have exams.”
“So does everyone else. Just make an appearance with Amara and Cassidy.” He blushes at the mention of Cassidy, and I try not to laugh. I think someone’s got a crush. My best friends have apparently become a hot commodity with hockey players.
“You seem to have a vested interest in whether I attend.”
“Cause you’re my friend, and I want to hang out with you. Besides, I don’t know who my real friends are these days.”
“What does that mean?” I ask, despite knowing not to.
“Have you ever been betrayed, Summer?”
22 | AIDEN
MY BIRTHDAY PRESENT is wrapped in a tight pink dress that’s short enough that I wouldn’t need to unwrap it.
I can feel the blood rushing to my groin as I watch Summer lean against the snack bar. The party, all credit to Kian, is island themed to ring in my twenty-first birthday. I had no intention of celebrating because I’ve been twenty-one for some time now. But the guys had other plans. There is no way they would let this day pass, even if the party is a month overdue.
When the glimpse of pink moves again, a wave of something hits me and I have the urge to take off my Hawaiian shirt and wrap it around her. The last time I saw this much of her thighs, I had my face buried between them. That memory doesn’t help the growing problem in my pants. Maybe I should have left a few hickeys on her thighs so anyone looking would back the fuck off.
I’m not sure how Kian got her to come since he’s still pissed about the group chat thing, and Summer’s been actively avoiding me since last week. Her assignment doesn’t depend on me anymore, so I have no excuse to show up at her dorm, and one surprise visit was more than enough. Any more, and I’m certain she’d call security on me.
When a guy approaches Summer, I head over. My chest covers her back, and the warmth from her body sends a thrumming sensation through me. She tenses but relaxes almost instantly. I bite back a smile, finding that she’s comfortable enough to let her guard down around me.
“Aren’t you going to wish the birthday boy?” I let my lips brush the shell of her ear.
She spins to face me. Fuck, I thought the back of her dress was hot, but the front is an entirely different story. The thin straps sit against her glowing skin, and from my height and I can see the perfect dip of her neckline that makes me clench my fists.
“Is that what all this is? I just wanted a drink.”
That drags a low chuckle from me. “Didn’t think you would show. A party probably scores pretty low on your fun scale.”
She gives me an unamused look. “Your best friend has highly persuasive qualities.”
“I bet he does.” I had a feeling Kian got her to come to make me feel like a shitty friend. “What did he offer you?”
“He's going to write my notes for a week.” She fixes the white flower in her hair. “He also said something about making you feel bad for betraying him, so of course, I had to come.”
Someone slaps my shoulder drawing my attention away from her. “Happy birthday, Cap.”
More people come up and say the same. Most of them are friends from freshman year and guys from other teams. I’m sure Kian invited everyone he could find, though he has had a strict rule against anyone lower than a junior since the Tabitha debacle. She was a sophomore who easily fooled him with her southern belle charm, and quickly became his personal nightmare. Now, he’s decided the older they are the less likely he is to find a stalker. The logic isn’t clear with that one.
I glance over at Summer to make sure she hasn’t left. I’m hoping she’s being extra nice because it’s my birthday. I’m also hoping her charitable mood will finally make her take me up on my offer.
When she moves away from me to talk to Connor Atwood, I try to end my conversation quickly. Connor wears an earnest expression, but Summer looks thoroughly confused.
Uh-oh.
When Connor sees me approach, he gives me a quick nod and scurries away. “Sorry,” I say to her. “I haven’t seen some of those guys in years.”
She pierces me with a dangerous look. “Care to explain why Connor Atwood just told me I’m a nice girl, but nothing can happen between us?”
