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“Perfect sense.”
“My friend Courtney is one,” I add. “She graduated already, but she used to tell me about all the fabulous things they would do. The parties. The clothes. She’s Connor’s sister. You met him at the house.”
“Ah, yes. Connor.”Dylan’s smirk digs in once more, then he pauses. “Connor and Courtney. Why does that sound familiar?”
“Because they’re Connor and CourtneyMorgan, I’d guess.”
Dylan halts on the sidewalk, his hand coming to rest on his chest. “You’re telling me I was in the presence of Alyssa Morgan’s spawn, and you didn’t tell me?”
I laugh. “My sincerest apologies.”
“How dare.” He lowers his hand, and we continue forward.
“What house do you want to join?” I ask.
“Me? None. I’m a free agent,” he says. “Grant Wilson was a free agent, and that’s good enough for me.”
I smile, his obsession with Grant more than a little adorable. Or creepy, depending on your perspective, but everything I’ve seen of Dylan Sherman so far is absolutely harmless.
We reach the lawn, taking our places in line. A bit of anxiety clenches my chest, but I peek over the shoulders of those ahead of me to prepare for what to expect. One at a time, students present their IDs to the Delta Xis in blue shirts blocking the entrance. After checking the birthdate, they present a stamp and marks the back of their right hands. More often than not. This isa pledge party. Most of us are freshman looking to rush for the first time. But there are plenty of others inside, red plastic cups full and raised up high.
“Delta Xi!”
A battle cry echoes from within. I smile, having heard it my entire life from my father whenever he gets together with Junior and Ty. My brothers’ birthright, as I described before.
I roll my shoulders back as I step forward.
Why not mine, too?
“Next!”
I motion for Dylan to give up his ID first. The tall Delta Xi at the door takes it, pointing a small flashlight at it so he can read. A quick peek and he’s done, handing it back before reaching for the inkblot on a table behind him.
“Right hand, please.”
Dylan holds it out and accepts his stamp. “You know, it’d probably be more efficient to stamp people who aren’t minors,” he jokes.
The guy looks up, his expression unchanged. “Next!”
Dylan walks through the open doors of Delta Xi, leaving me to get stamped, too. I hold out my ID and the guy snatches it, his other hand flicking on his flashlight.
I crane my head to peek over his shoulder. This is it. My first frat party.
Blood pounds in my ears. Hell, my first party.
But I won’t sit alone. I won’t be a wallflower like Alex said.
I am Dana Kirby.
And I?—
“Kirby?” the Delta Xi reads aloud.
I squint, his light shining in my eyes. “Yeah,” I say, holding up a palm to block it.
“Dana Darling Kirby?” He stares at me, wide-eyed and surprised, stating my full legal name for all to hear.“That’s you?”
“Yeah,” I say again, confused, as he gently hands my ID back to me.
