The Hazards of a One Night Stand (15 page)

I turned to him. “We need to talk.”

“Here?”

“Let’s go for a walk.” I wrapped up my mostly uneaten sandwich and slipped it into my bag. Only eating part of my lunch was becoming a bad habit. Hopefully, I’d have the appetite to finish it later.

“Sounds good.” He stood up. “See you around, girls.”

“Bye.” Both Juliet and Cara gave me their best game faces. I hoped he didn’t notice. I didn’t want him to think we’d been plotting this the whole time. I guess it didn’t matter anyway.

“I wanted to talk to you too.” He held open the door, and I walked out.

“What did you want to talk about?” Maybe he sensed the same thing I did. That things weren’t working.

“Jana.”

“What about her?” Was he going to admit he still had feelings for her?

“I don’t want you to let her ruin what we have going here.”

“Excuse me?”

“I didn’t want to say anything about it the other night, but this morning I could tell something’s different. You’ve already assured me you’re not into Colt, so it’s got to be Jana.”

“I don’t want to hurt my sister.” That much was true. She was really sweet and aside from her drunken bitterness had always been nice to me. Using Jana as an excuse could be an easy way out without having to confess about Colt.

Tanner stopped at a bench and gestured for me to sit down. “You don’t have to hurt her. We broke up ages ago.”

I sat, placing my bag next to me on the bench. “Still, I can’t do that to her.”

“So that’s it? You want to break things off because I dated one of your sorority sisters before you even met me?” Instead of sitting on the other side of my bag like I expected, he moved it, and sat down beside me.

“I haven’t even talked to Jana about it.”

“Then talk to her and get back to me. This is pointless.”

“Okay. Fine.” I needed to stop playing games. It would only lead to someone getting hurt. “I don’t think it’s going to work with us.”

“Don’t go into acting, hon. You suck at it.”

“I’m not acting.”

“You’re worried about Jana. I get that.”

“It’s more than that. I don’t want to keep seeing you.”

He smiled. Was he crazy? “Dinner next weekend? Or better yet, let’s spend next weekend at the beach together.”

“What part of ‘I don’t think it’s going to work’ don’t you get? I don’t want to go out with you anymore.”

“You are not breaking up with me.” His voice rose and his eyes widened.

“We were never in a relationship so technically this isn’t a break up. It’s more of a ‘thanks, but no thanks.’”

He laughed. “All right. Let’s take a break. Talk to Jana, clear your conscious. I’ll call you in a few weeks.” Without another word, he stood up and walked away.

Had that just happened?

“Why aren’t you ready to go?” Cara walked back from the bathroom wrapped in a plush purple towel.

I set aside the sociology text I was skimming through. “To the Kappa party? I’m not going.”

“Why not?” She slipped into the pink dress she had lying out on the bed.

“Because I already have plans.” I didn’t have plans, but there was no way I was going to the Kappa house that night. Seeing Colt and Tanner outside the house was bad enough, seeing them on their turf, so to speak, sounded even less appealing. The passing days did little to make me more comfortable with the situation.

“Plans? The only other party I’ve heard about is at the Iota house. Don’t even pretend you’re going there.”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Cara had just given me the perfect excuse. No one I knew would be at that party, but at least there wouldn’t be any Kappas. “Those guys are nice.”

Cara looked at me like I had two heads. “Yeah, they’re nice guys, but there’s no way you’d get caught dead at their house.” Her face scrunched up.

“Says who?” Admittedly, I didn’t usually hang out with those guys, but maybe I should change that. They weren’t complete geeks or anything. Just not our usual crowd.

“Says you.”

“I’ve expressed my distaste for the Iota’s verbally?” I bit back a smile.

“Maybe not in so many words, but there isn’t a chance you are showing up there.”

“You want to bet?”

“Yes. I do want to bet.” Cara grinned. “There’s no way.”

“Isn’t this their angels and devils party?” I vaguely remembered seeing the signs posted around.

“Yes.” Cara smiled. “What? Are you going to wear your devil costume from last Halloween?”

“I was actually hoping to borrow your angel one. Do you still have it?”

“Yes, and you can definitely borrow it.” She dug the costume out from the back of her closet.

I held up the pile of white. As Cara mentioned, I already had a devil costume, but I was feeling angelic that night. “Thanks.”

“No problem, but now you’re making me want to go.”

“Then come.”

“Yeah, because Aaron would just love that.”

“He’s your boyfriend, not your dad. He can’t tell you what to do.”

“But if the shoe was on the other foot, I’d kill him for going to another sorority’s party.”

I nodded. “All right, fair enough.”

“So you’re really going to do this?” She looked at me skeptically.

“Yes.” I didn’t want to, but once I committed myself to it, there was no way I was backing down. I couldn’t just sit home. Kappa wasn’t the only frat, and it wasn’t the only social option I had.

I decided not to go with the whole angel costume. I wore the white mini dress, and stuffed the halo in my bag. I didn’t bother with the feather accessories. Those were way too much unless it was Halloween. I wasn’t sure how seriously people would take the party theme. This way I could play it off as a hot dress if no one else dressed up.

After saying goodbye to Cara and dodging some questions from a few girls at the house, I headed over to the Iota party. I’d only been in the house once, freshman year, so I had no real idea of what to expect.

The front door was pulled open, and I walked in with a few other girls. “Welcome to the Iota house.”

“Hi.” I smiled at the greeter. I was supposed to want to be at this party, I might as well act it.

“An angel. We haven’t seen too many of those tonight.” He ignored the other girls, all dressed as devils, who slipped past me into the room.

The guy had longish black hair and looked vaguely familiar. Maybe I knew him from class or something.

“Yeah. I have my halo packed.” I tapped my bag.

“Nice. Glad to see you at the Iota house, Mallory.”

So he did know me. “Thanks.”

“You don’t remember my name, do you?” His brown eyes stared into mine.

Pretending wouldn’t help. I smiled. “I’m sorry. I’m really bad with names.”

He laughed. “By the way you’re looking at me, you’re really bad with faces too.”

“Oh.” Could the awkwardness get any worse? I had no clue who the guy was. I was close to turning around and jetting out the door when I spotted a beacon of hope across the room. Jade, who was still my favorite pledge, was standing with a girl I didn’t recognize.

“Could you excuse me?” I said as politely as possible.

“Wait I—”

I didn’t give him a chance to finish. I walked right over to Jade. “Hey.”

“Hey, Mallory!” Jade sounded excited yet surprised. I couldn’t really blame her. This wasn’t the usual scene for girls in our house. “Diane, this is Mallory. She’s a sophomore in my sorority.”

“Hey, Diane. Nice to meet you.” I held out my hand.

She smiled shyly and accepted the handshake. “Nice to meet you too.”

“So, uh, what brings you to the Iota house?” Jade had a twinkle in her eyes. She was searching for the story.

“Looking to change things up I guess.”

“Yeah. I bet.” Jade grinned.

I shrugged. “What are you guys doing here?”

Jade looked at Diane, and Diane nodded. “Diane has a thing for one of the pledges here.”

“Oh.” I smiled. “Is he around?”

“He’s over there.” Diane pointed to a guy back behind the bar.

“Have you talked to him yet?” My love life may have been a mess, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t help someone else out.

She shook her head. “No. He doesn’t even know who I am.”

“Let’s get drinks.” I nodded toward the bar.

Diane looked down. “I can’t.”

“Listen, you’ve already done the hardest part. You’re here. Now let’s get drinks.” I started toward the bar, hoping they’d follow.

I checked behind me, and they were right on my heels. When Diane didn’t say anything to the pledge manning the bar, I took over. “Three cups of the vat.”

“Coming right up.” The guy filled the cups and set them down. If I didn’t do something, the opportunity would be ruined for Diane.

“Hey, what’s your name?”

A small smile spread across his face. He thought I was flirting. “Chris. What’s yours?”

“It’s not important. I just wanted to know so I could tell your brothers how good of a job you’re doing.” I turned to Diane. “Isn’t he doing a great job, Diane.”

She laughed nervously. “Very.”

“Well, thanks. It’s always fun to serve pretty girls.”

I smiled before pulling Jade’s arm. This was Diane’s chance.

I glanced over my shoulder. She was smiling and talking to him. Success.

“Wow. Can you do that for me sometime?” Jade sipped her drink.

“I bet you could do it yourself, but sure. You’ll just have to tell me who you like.” I nudged her shoulder.

“There’s no one who’s really caught my eye yet, but I’ll let you know.”

I glanced around the room, and that turned out to be a mistake. The guy from the front door noticed me again, smiled, and walked over.

“There you are. That was some brush off earlier.” He crossed his arms.

“Yeah, I saw my friend.”

He looked at her pin. “One of your pledges, huh? We have two Delta Mu’s here. That might be a record.”

I laughed. “That’s a bit of an exaggeration.”

“Is it?” he challenged me, and the sense of familiarity continued.

“Do you finally remember me?”

Something in his words sparked the memory. “Alec. We met at that perspective students event a few years ago.”

“Bingo.”

I sighed with relief. I was starting to wonder if I’d had a drunken hook up I didn’t recall or something the way he was pressing me to remember him.

“I can’t believe you still remember me from that. It was years ago.”

“We also had stats together last year.” He smiled. “But you sat on the other side of the room, and to be fair, I never said a word to you.”

“Oh. Okay.” Was he going for awkward?

“I assumed I’d get beat up by some Kappa boyfriend or something for looking at you the wrong way.”

“Just because I’m a Delta Mu doesn’t mean I have to date Kappa boys.”

“No?”

I put a hand on my hip. “No.”

Jade touched my arm. “I’m going to see if Diane’s okay.”

I followed her gaze. Diane was smiling, but she was alone. “Okay, cool. I’ll probably head out soon, but good seeing you.”

“You too.” Jade hugged me before walking away.

“Then that Kappa who looks like he’s ready to tear my head off isn’t your boyfriend?” I turned around, expecting to see Tanner, but it was Colt. What was he doing there?

I pushed aside my surprise enough to answer. “He’s a pledge, not an active.”

Alec laughed. “Okay. Sorry. I stand corrected.”

“And he isn’t my boyfriend.”

“Oh, baby, did you forget to take your meds again?” Colt’s arm wrapped around my waist.

I pushed him off. “Shut up, Colt.”

“Hey, at least she remembered your name. That’s better than what I got.” Alec laughed. “If you ever want to catch up, Mallory, you know where to find me.” He nodded before wandering off.

“What are you doing here?” I hissed.

“I heard you were here. I thought I’d come see how you were doing.”

“You can’t be here.”

“Why not?”

“You’re a Kappa pledge.”

“So? None of the brothers are threatening my life. No one else cares about those stupid unofficial rules.”

I looked around for Jade. She was with Diane, talking to Chris and some other guys.

“I’m getting out of here anyway.” I tossed my empty cup.

“Looks like I have great timing.”

“Cara told you, huh?”

“I may have asked about your whereabouts.”

“She probably assumed you wouldn’t come.”

“She wanted someone to check on you.” He put a hand on my back and led me out. “Going to a frat party alone isn’t the smartest idea.”

“Yeah, well. I wasn’t drinking much.”

“So you think. Who knows what they put in that vat.”

“It’s the Iotas. They don’t do roofies.” We walked down the front steps.

“How would you know? You don’t know these guys. You’re like a walking target. Especially dressed like that.” He gestured to my short dress.

“Yeah, well. I didn’t want to go to your house.”

“Because you didn’t want to see me or Tanner?”

“Both, but mostly Tanner.” I put a hand over my mouth. I was way too sober to have let something like that slip out.

He smiled. “What do you want to do?”

“What do you mean? I’m going home.”

“Before ten o’clock?”

“Yeah. What’s the problem?”

“The problem is the night is young. We’re young. Let’s live it up.”

I laughed. “How much have you had to drink?”

“Not much.”

“You know what sucks?”

“What?” He stopped walking.

“That despite everything, all I want to do right now is kiss you.” I clasped my hands together. Why was it impossible to keep my thoughts to myself in front of Colt?

“Why would that suck?”

“Because I shouldn’t want to do that.”

“Why not? Why does everything have to be so complicated with you?”

“You’re the one making it complicated.” I wrung my hands at my sides.

“Me? How am I doing that?”

“Please. You are too high and mighty to just have sex with me. Why does it have to be more?” I couldn’t believe I was the one pushing for casual sex. It went so counter to what I usually wanted, but I was scared of what would happen if we made it something different.

“Because you’re worth more, and I want more.” He put his hands on my arms. “But the real question is why don’t you want that?”