Page 40 of Surviving Lies

Right then, a thick set of muscular arms wrapped themselves around Lanie’s bare middle, pulling her against an even more muscular body. “Nah, I’m not the jealous type.” He addressed the crowd but spoke the words into Lanie’s neck. A wide grin spread across her face. “Lanie is free to dress how she wants, be who she wants, in any way she wants.” She twisted around to face Xander, who now had her ass in his hands. “Every night she comes home with me, I count my blessings.”

A hush had come over our tiny group as his declaration settled in their minds. And then there was a collective“Aww!”

“I’m stealing her for a bit, girls. Not for long, but I need her for a minute.” And the two of them wandered off, as they usually did, to find some dark corner.

But now I didn’t have my rock with me. Lanie always knew how to keep me from losing my shit when things got too crazy. And that was bound to happen today.

But then I turned and looked at my other roommates, realizing I had two good friends in them as well. We’d been getting closer, especially Ava and me.

“You guys ready?” I asked.

They nodded with enthusiastic smiles.

We were ready to mingle, drinks in hand. Most people who didn’t attend BRU had no comprehension of what the tailgating event was truly like. Imagine around twenty run-down fraternity shacks (because these were not the actual frat houses, but annex buildings solely used for game days), ten on either side of a grassy lot that was their shared backyards. Each house had sectioned off “their property” or party area, because you had to be allowed into the party. As girls, we were lucky; we were let into any party. The guys, not so much. That was why pledging happened so quickly for the guys here at BRU. If you weren’t in a frat, it restricted your social life to a sports team or an academic group.

In my attempt to avoid drama, I dragged the girls to a different frat party, leaving Ty and Gage behind. I knew a couple people at the one we were at from freshman year, and so did Ava and Macie. We were doing OK, dancing and drinking. That was until I looked across the grassy field and found his eyes trained on me.

He looked sad. A little like he wanted to come across the way and drag me back to his side, but mostly sad.

“Who are you having the staring contest with? He’s a hottie. Christ, Becca, do you have all the hot ones claimed already?” Macie asked, sidling up next to me.

I turned to look at her, the comment taking me off guard. Macie was gorgeous, and I had no idea why she always came across so insecure. Her eyes remained glued across the way, a lofty look in them. I wanted to ask her, find out what was going on in her head to make her say such a thing.

But I didn’t. Because at that moment, the nostalgia of mine and Ty’s relationship hit me hard. It was in that exact house, last year, that he took care of me when I drank too much. He took me upstairs and found me a bed to rest in. He checked on me every half hour instead of partying with our friends. He cuddled with me when I drunkenly demanded he get in bed with me. And then, when I refused to stay in said bed any longer because I had hot guys waiting for me outside, he helped me outside. And stayed by my side, making sure I remained upright and safe.

And no, a boyfriend taking care of my drunk ass at a party was not the most romantic gesture. But it was who he was: always there for me, no matter what.

And I missed him.

“That’s Ty,” I replied to Macie. “He’s my ex-boyfriend. Though he wants to change that status.” I stared back at Ty.

Macie jabbed my side. “Ya know who he looks like, don’t you?” she asked.

Her beauty struck me when I turned to look at her. The sun was hitting her eyes at an angle that made them sparkle. Her darker skin with the bluish-green eyes was a knockout combination. “Who?” I asked.

“A young, hot Jensen Ackles.”

I turned to look back at Ty, who hadn’t moved. And I saw it; she was right. Throw some golden eyes on Jensen and voila, you have Tyler Brennan.

“May I ask why he’s your ex? I mean–” She faltered, her words stopping.

I looked at her again. “We went out all last year, but we hit a roadblock. He needs to figure out a way around that roadblock.”

Macie nodded. “Well, it looks like he’s more than willing to keep trying. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone look at another person like that. Well, maybe Xander at Lanie, but, yeah. You’re it for him, that’s for sure.” She shrugged her shoulders and walked back into the mass of people behind us. Turning my head back across the yard, I saw Ty was still there. He raised his red cup to me and took a chug of what I was sure was warm frat keg beer. His smile was wide, even from across the way. But though he had been standing there, watching, I felt no pressure from him. It was as if he was still just watching over me, making sure I was safe.

Always making sure I was safe.

I zigzagged around body after body, being pushed back and forth, looking for Macie and Ava in the crowd. Where had they gone? The sudden urge to head back to our party, to him, overcame me.

Finally, I found Ava doing a keg stand with Macie cheering her on. Making my way over to them, I got near Macie’s ear. “You guys OK if I head back over there?”

Macie grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the larger crowd. “You heading over to see Ty?” she asked, concern in her voice.

I avoided making eye contact with her, looking into the crowd instead.

“Becca, listen, I’ve made my share of mistakes with guys. Don’t be like me, learn from your mistakes.” Then she snorted, I presumed laughing at herself.

I looked at her, seeing a different side of Macie for the first time. She looked ...vulnerable.

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