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I don’t follow hockey, but everyone across campus knows about the playoffs and the recent loss.
His jaw twitches like he’s grinding his teeth. He slowly reaches out. My spine stiffens, but I resist the urge to shrink away, refusing to back down when he traps a strand of my hair between his finger and thumb. His gaze trails my body, taking in my clothing. I’m wearing a casual shift dress that falls just above my knees and Mary Janes. I am mostly covered, contrasting with the rest of the females at this party. And I’m comfortable in what I’m wearing, but I look far from seductive.
“What’s your name?” he murmurs.
I debate whether to answer for a moment before I finally speak. “Emerson.”
“Emerson …” he drawls.
I hate to admit that my name sounds sexy, coming from his gruff voice. He leans closer until his warm breath is fanning across my cheek. He reeks of liquor and beer.
“Well, let me tell you something, Emerson. I’m guessing you don’t know anything about hockey. And you don’t know shit about our team.”
I step back to create distance between us, forcing him to drop my hair. He’s openly glaring at me now.
“And you don’t know shit about me,” I counter.
“One thing I do know is … between the two of us standing in this hallway … you already knew my name.” He shoulders past me and slams the bathroom door shut.
A beat passes as I stand there before uttering, “Asshole,” beneath my breath.
Sam Anderson just proved every bad thing I’d assumed about him. He is an arrogant jock who thinks the world revolves around him. He’s a lousy drunk. And he does think he’s God’s gift to the world.
As I’m stalking back down the stairs while still incensed from our hallway meeting, I see that the crowd has doubled in size. I didn’t think it was possible to fit this many people inside a home. The air is stifling and hot, smelling of cheap beer, liquor, and vape smoke, and it turns my stomach. I search the room for Eve, but don’t spot her. I make my way into the kitchen, but she’s no longer there. I watch a game of beer pong that has overtaken the ping-pong table where flip cup was played earlier. No sign of my sister.
I bump into Emily. She doesn’t smile at me.
“If you’re looking for Eve”—she sneers her name—“she just disappeared upstairs with Logan Phillips.”
I only nod in response. I’m not surprised that Eve found a willing partner for the night. She typically works fast.
My sister’s former friend doesn’t say another word as she stalks away, but I can feel the disdain radiating off her. I guess I’m guilty by association.
I pull my phone from the purse that I’m wearing across my body, and sure enough, there’s a text from Eve, basically blowing me off for the rest of the night. This isn’t the first time. And I’m sure it won’t be the last. At least she bothered to message me this time.
I glance around at the debauchery and spot Madison and Oakley standing next to the wall. They live in the same dorm as Suki and me.
“Hi,” I say with a smile as I approach them.
“Hey!” Oakley exclaims enthusiastically.
She throws her arms around my neck and squeezes before Mads does the same. We’ve become friends over the past few months, though we run in different social circles.
“Venturing out to a hockey party, huh,” Mads says with a smirk. “We’ve finally lured you over to the dark side.”
I laugh. Mads has invited me out several times in the past few weeks. I always declined.
“My sister dragged me here.”
Both girls glance around.
“Where is she?” Oakley asks.
“God only knows,” I murmur.
Oakley’s face lights up when she spots someone across the room. “Chase is here. I’m going to say hi.”
“Come with us,” Madison invites me as she takes a step to catch up with her best friend, who is already moving away.
