Page 11 of Freshmeet
I squeezed her fingers, and her eyes cut back to me. Sitting up straighter, she pulled my hands with hers. “Sorry. I was off in my own little world for a minute.” Blowing a raspberry, she shook her arms out, which in turn shook mine. We laughed, and she tried to let go, but I wouldn’t let her.
I was about to say something when the doors slammed open, and Sarah’s pink-haired friend, Kat, and some meathead came storming out.
“Duncan, let go!” Kat ripped her arm from his hold.
“Why are you acting like this?” He ran a hand through his hair, the other on his hip—the picture of a dude who knew he fucked up.
Kat crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t know Duncan. Maybe it’s because I woke up in your bed yesterday, but you had Mal over last night?”
Duncan’s face turned beet red, and he shouted, “We aren’t together!”
“And this is why!” Kat threw her arms out.
Sarah shifted in her seat. One hand pressed to the arm of the chair, and the other stayed locked in mine. Indecision was written all over her face. From the little I’d seen, these girls rolled as a pack. Fuck with one of them, you fuck with all of them.
“No. We aren’t together because you care more about what other people think about our relationship than actually being in one with me. It doesn’t matter how much I change, because I fucked up, and you’ll never let it go. Becausethey’llnever let it go.” His voice was sad, resigned.
“Clearly, that’s not true if I’m still fucking you and everyone knows it. Why else do you think that asshole messaged me that cute little pic of breakfast in bed?” The scary thing was that Kat wasn’t crying. She didn’t even sound upset, just matter-of-fact.
Duncan stayed silent, which only wound Kat up even more.
“This is why we’re never officially together, because you can’t even respect me the night after fucking me. We’re not together, but you could’ve shown a little loyalty. Hell, if you love me as much as you say you do, why are you fucking other people? Huh? And me being the fool I am, thought this time was different. I thought you were different.”
He shook his head, his mouth hanging open. I didn’t know these people, but this shit seemed final. Everyone outside watched the imploding couple, and I swear they turned the music down inside to hear better.
“I even told the girls about us.” She looked around and let out a humorless laugh. “And everyone here knows. So, thank you for yet again making me look like a fucking clown. Please go back to Mal and leave me the fuck alone.” She turned toward the nosy onlookers, including us, and smiled. “Just so everyone’s clear, I swear to never fuck Duncan again.” Holding up three fingers, she said, “Scout’s honor.”
There were a few laughs, but mostly silence. Kat walked back into the party, jerking her chin up at Sarah on her way. Duncan stood there watching, his jaw tight. Slowly nodding, he ran his fingers through his shaggy blond hair and went in the opposite direction, down the hill, and away from the party.
Sarah looked at me and blew out a breath. “So, you met Kat.”
“Yeah, but I had no idea how well I’d get to know her when I asked her where you went.” I pulled my eyes from Duncan’s back and looked at Sarah. “Does that kind of thing happen a lot at these parties?”
She shrugged. “Yes, and no. Yes, there’s always drama, but no, it’s not usually that intense.”
“Are you ever part of it?”
“Me?” She held her free hand to her chest and laughed. “Never. I rarely date other Greeks. Too small of a community.You’re bound to hook up with one of your sorority sisters’ exes or flings. No one’s got time for that mess.”
“Makes sense. Then who do you usually date?”
I wasn’t totally sure why I asked. I didn’t want a girlfriend—didn’t have the bandwidth to be a boyfriend. This year was supposed to be about me, and doing whatever the hell I wanted, but there was something about Sarah that had me interested.
“I usually go for handsome guys who get concussed just to meet me.”
I scoffed. “I don’t have a concussion.”
She pressed a finger to my lips. “Shh. Don’t ruin the fantasy.”
We smiled at each other, that easy silence settling back over us. It felt right sitting there with her, holding her hand.
“Can I ask you something personal?”
I nodded, and her expression grew serious.
“Are you sure? It’s the most intimate question a college student can ask.” She rubbed her thumb over my knuckles, and I cocked my head to the side, unsure what the hell she wanted to know that was so serious.
“What’s your major?”
