Page 86 of Burnout
Thirty minutes later Quinn and I have piled everything we’re considering into a heap on my bed. Flannel pants, tank tops, slippers, sleep masks, bralettes, items that are more lingerie than pajamas, and even some face masks we vetoed immediately.
Quinn opts for a tank top and cotton shorts, and then pulls a fluffy robe on over it in case she’s cold. I decide to wear a pair of black silk pants and a light pink, lacy bralette. I’ve definitely never slept in this outfit, but it’s cute. Quinn accessorizes withthe slippers, and I pull the eye mask on and wear it like a headband.
We take a dozen photos before we leave, posing and smiling at the camera to show off our outfits. I post one of me and Quinn to my Instagram before we leave and as we’re walking out to my Bronco, I get a notification that Knox has liked it.
He’s coming back late tonight and part of me is dying to see him, and the other part (the one trying to keep my heart from being sliced in two) thinks I shouldn’t jump at every opportunity to hang out with him.
“Repeat after me. C-a-s-u-a-l,” I mutter slowly to myself.
“What’s that?” Quinn asks getting settled in the passenger seat.
“Nothing.” I set my phone in the middle console. “Have you talked to Colter?”
“Yeah. We texted earlier. They were rain delayed the last I heard.”
“Oh. So I guess it’ll be later when they get back.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they stay overnight and drive back in the morning instead. Especially if it’s still raining. The freeway is always a mess when it rains here.”
A feeling a lot like disappointment makes my stomach twist, but that’s silly because I have plans tonight anyway.
When we arrive at the party, the off-campus two-story house is already packed.
“I have died and gone to heaven,” Quinn mutters as we walk through the upstairs. Some people are playing card games and others are standing around in the kitchen area taking shots.
Guys are in boxers and socks. A few have on sweatpants hung super low on their hips. Most are shirtless. And the girls are all wearing similar outfits to us, except one brave girl who is wearing a nude color, barely-there bikini. I overhear her telling someone she sleeps naked so this is as close as she could get. Clever.
Music from downstairs filters up here, but it isn’t until we both have a drink in hand and start down the narrow stairway that it gets loud. I welcome it and find myself feeling like dancing and drinking more than I thought I would.
I’m with my best friend, her boyfriend and my—whatever he is—are both away for the weekend, and I just want to have fun. We sit on a couple of folding chairs set up on the opposite side of the DJ booth and dance floor where we can sort of hear each other when we talk.
I drink my first one fast, then a freshman offers me a White Claw, and I take that and drink it quick too.
“Whoa there,” Quinn says.
My body feels light and I’m buzzing with happiness.
“Let’s dance.” I pull her in front of the DJ booth where the speakers make my insides vibrate. Nothing matters right now. Not having my routine skill level downgraded, not being left off some stupid best-of list, and not the fact Knox might be off hooking up with someone else tonight.
The thought hits me unexpectedly. Is that really what I think? He said he wasn’t hooking up with other people, but this is Knox Holland we’re talking about. I don’t have any reason not to trust him, but…well, I don’t trust as easily as I did before Nolan.
We don’t leave the dance floor until Quinn complains her scalp is getting sweaty and she doesn’t want to ruin her hair.
We go back upstairs where it’s cooler and quieter. Tristan is standing in the kitchen with Corey, another guy on the team. Tristan sees us before I can figure out how to avoid him.
“Hey, Ollie, Quinn.” He nods to each of us as he takes a drink from his cup. He’s wearing American flag briefs and I can’t help but smile. It’s so him. So ridiculous.
“Did you bring your gold medals too?” I ask him, avoiding giving him the satisfaction of checking him out. His body is muscular and cut, and I’m sure other girls find him attractive. I’m just not one of them anymore. His personality ruins it for me.
“No. You’ll have to come back to my place for that.” His gaze dips down my body.
Quinn snorts. “Smooth, Tristan.”
She pulls me away and I waggle my fingers at him in a wave.
“Guess what?” she says after a fit of giggles.
“What?”
