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“Oh Lord. Guilty,” I admitted, shrinking down with a cringe. “I heard she’s really harassing him about it, too.” Immediately spinning toward Damien, I begged, “You can get her to stop, though, right?”
He snickered and shook his head. “I don’t stop her from shit. I just sit back and enjoy the view.”
Ugh. He was one ofthoseboyfriends. The kind who pampered and adored and spoiled his girl like crazy, never telling her no and always doing his damndest to get her whatever she wanted. God. Now I was even more jealous of Oaklynn than I’d already been. The lucky bitch.
“Aw, let Oaklynn have her fun,” Hudson suggested with a dismissive wave of his hand. “She’ll wear Fos down in no time. Besides, I say he needssomething just like you in his life.”
I paused momentarily because I liked the last part of his message—it was a total honor to hear that someone like Foster might need little ol’me. But the first part made me cringe because wearing a guy down definitely could not be the ideal way to attract him.
“Right,” I said slowly, “because having him resent me is exactly how I want to start our acquaintance. That soundssuperfun.”
I took another drink to console myself while the guys laughed at my joke.
“I see your point,” Hudson admitted with a nod as he scratched his chin. “We’re just going to have to rig this so it looks as if you two met organically, then. Like tonight…” Straightening, he glanced around the kitchen. “Where is the asshole of honor, anyway?”
“He’s still at Witt’s party,” Oaklynn grumbled as she joined us, immediately going to Damien and tucking herself under his arm. “It’s starting to piss me off, too. We threw this in honor ofhim. He should be here.”
“Want me to call him?” Damien offered, dipping his face to run his nose through her hair, even as he pulled his phone from his pocket.
She patted his chest gratefully, but said, “No. He said he’d come, so he’ll come.”
“Here,” Hudson told her, lifting another cup ofHeavenfrom the counter in offering. “Let’s drink while we wait.”
“Good idea.” Oaklynn took the cup and began to guzzle. Halfway through, her eyebrows shot up and she met my gaze.
“Amazing, isn’t it?” I said.
“Mmm.” She finally paused to wipe her mouth and send Hudson a dismayed glance. “Holy shit, Ivey. I thought you were only a master at cooking.”
He sniffed in insult. “Darlin’, I’m the master ofall.”
Oaklynn laughed. Then, she and I drank together and threw ourselves into a conversation about the upcoming semester that would be starting in justfourdays.
Hudson’s girlfriend, Faith, showed up not long after that, bummed because someone named Alec had beaten her at beer pong.
Oaklynn introduced us, and when I learned where Faith worked as a waitress, I had to rave about the food.
“Oh my God, the onion petals at Calamity’s are to die for.”
“Girl, you ain’t capping,” Faith agreed with a lift of her eyebrows. “Their free leftovers are the main reason I still work there.”
I laughed as Jaylani and her girlfriend, Scarlett, wandered up to get some alcohol. And from there, the five of us gossiped together until I drank enough of Hudson’s mix that I was really feeling it—in my headandmy bladder.
“Bathroom?” I asked, turning toward who I thought was Oaklynn but ended up being Faith.
“That way,” she answered, pointing. “Out the kitchen, up the steps, and first door on the right.”
“Right,” I repeated, pointing. “Thank you.”
“Sure thing.” When I took my first step and wobbled, however, she caught my arm. “You need some help?”
“Nope,” I waved my hand, determined to walk by myself. “All good. I got this.”
“Okay. But holler if you need anything.”
“Thanks.” I sent her a thumbs-up, and somehow I wound my way out of the kitchen.
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