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“But Flynn . . .” Trey coughs and sputters, laughing so hard he can’t get the words out. “Dude woke up clutching a balled-up tube sock with his boxers around his ankles!”

Across the table from me, Elijah’s eyes flash as he redirects his attention from Trey’s convulsions to something directly over my shoulder. A throat clears, and then Jordan’s low, velvety voice purrs in my ear. “Princess?”

I spin around, surveying him through narrowed eyes. Apparently, he wants to kill me because he’s wearing those damn red leather pants again—this time with a plain black tee. And for the second day in a row, he ditched the faux-hawk.

Good lord, he’s gorgeous.

“Does this mean you’re speaking to me today?”

A lock of dark hair falls across his forehead as he brings his lips to my ear. “I’d do way more than speak if we weren’t in a crowded lunchroom.”

My stomach dips, and I swallow a groan.

Jordan laughs, low and dark, and the sound turns my legs to jelly. “You need me to rescue you from this crowd?”

“Kennedy’s perfectly safe where she is.” Elijah clenches his jaw as he stares up at Jordan’s towering figure.

Jordan’s gaze flicks to Elijah. “I wasn’t asking you.”

“I’m fine.” I assure him, drawing his attention back to me. “I’ll, uh, see you later?”

“Afraid not.” Jordan stuffs his hands into the pockets of his red leather pants. “I need to leave campus and won’t be back until Friday.”

“Oh.” Disappointment rings in my voice.

“Almost sounds like you’ll miss me.”

We’re in awkward territory here. Not quite friends, yet at the same time, something a little more. And still, I’m all too aware of our audience.

My lips curve into a wicked grin. “You wish.”

“Try not to get into any trouble while I’m gone.” And with a wink, he walks off.

Friday can’t get here fast enough.

Thursday morning arrives with a crack of thunder worthy of the mighty Thor. The power flickers several times before going out in the middle of my shower, leaving me no option but to get ready in the dark. Then halfway between the sorority house and the dining hall, my umbrella collapses in a gust of wind, forcing me to make a run for it. No sooner do I reach the building, soaked to the skin and wishing I’d stayed in bed, than Nicole corners me, blocking my path to the ladies’ room.

“I have a brilliant idea!” Nicole harkens back to the words that got me into this whole mess in the first place.

“Absolutely not.” I shake my head, sending water droplets in every direction.

She bounces on her toes like a five-year-old with a crisp new dollar bill. “You haven’t even heard it yet.”

“You said brilliant and idea in the same sentence. That basically guarantees I won’t like it.” I leave out the fifty-fifty chance of losing an eye or a toe or two.

“Oh, come on!” Nicole stops bouncing. “My ideas aren’t that bad.”

“Says the girl who talked me into making a list of all the hot guys on campus.”

Her lips twist. “Not one of my best moments.”

“And wasn’t it your idea to get a keg for my group date?” I raise my eyebrows.

“Technically that wasn’t my idea, but I’ll admit I didn’t protest loudly enough. But this time . . .” She beams. “Guaranteed to be brilliant.”

With a huff, I drag her to the restroom. We both know she won’t let it drop until I listen to her idea. “What’s your plan?”

“My brilliant plan.”