Scattered Colors (35 page)

“Just make sure to drag his butt down here next time. We’ll make sure it’s epic.”

Standing in front of my bathroom mirror, mascara wand in hand, I took slow, measured strokes, making sure to give my lashes a long, full look without making them clumpy. I felt the ridiculous need to look perfect, knowing Parker was more than likely going to be attending the party seeing as he lived with Caleb. My eyes were smoky, my lips a deep shade of burgundy, my hair in perfectly styled, glossy curls that rested at the tops of my shoulders. I wore my makeup and hair like war paint, knowing I needed it against Parker—even though I’d spent two hours earlier that day trying to convince myself that none of it was for him.

Who was I kidding?

I’d squeezed myself into a pair of skin-tight leggings designed to look like leather. My off-the-shoulder top was decorated with thick black and white stripes, each stripe covered with sequins of the same color. Needless to say, I’d gone all out. And as I leaned over to fluff my hair, giving it some much needed volume, the butterflies in my belly began to riot at the thought of seeing
him.
The fact that Parker was still my biggest weakness was positively infuriating. If I hadn’t been afraid of twisting an ankle in my four-inch high-heeled booties, I’d have tried to kick my own ass for being so stupid.

“Freya!” Piper yelled from down the hall. “We’re out of chips!”

“In the pantry,” I called back to her.

“I looked there already. I couldn’t find…oh, sweet Lord in Heaven, babe, you look hot!”

“Let me see! Let me see!” My cheeks burned red as Stella came pushing up to stand next to Piper in the bathroom doorway. All of a sudden, the room felt three times too small and stifling.

Stella blew out a long whistle as she looked me up and down. “Damn, sweetie, she’s not kidding. You look great.”

“You’re both looking pretty good yourselves,” I deflected, even though I meant it. They looked fantastic. They each wore matching knowing expressions; they knew why I put so much effort into my appearance, but thankfully, they were such amazing friends they’d let it slide. I screwed my mascara closed and tossed it on the counter before stepping out of the room and heading to the kitchen. I opened the pantry door and, sure enough, there were three extra bags of chips sitting right there on the shelf. Turning around with one of the bags in my hands, I curled my lip and shot Piper a look.

“What?” She shrugged innocently. “I’m short. You’re tall. I couldn’t see them.”

“Mmhmm,” I mumbled as I went about pouring chips into bowls and setting out dips. Our apartment was on chip and finger food duty. The apartment two doors down had two guys rooming together who’d be grilling up hotdogs on the little hibachi they kept on their patio. Each apartment did their part in providing food and drinks. The night was set to be epic and I couldn’t wait for it to start.

“You about ready, man? It’s starting any minute,” Caleb called from the living room. I wouldn’t admit it out loud, but I was anxious as hell at the thought of seeing Freya. I hadn’t seen or spoken to her since that evening on the balcony. I had no clue what she thought of the present I’d left on her doorstep or if she’d even gotten it. With every passing day, I started questioning my decision to give it to her. What if she hated it? What if she didn’t want the reminder of what we used to share? Christ, I was second-guessing every damn thing and couldn’t make myself stop.

As I walked down the hall, I spotted Caleb in the kitchen, hunched over an ice chest as he loaded it full of ice and beer.

“Want one?” he asked, holding up one of the chilled bottles of Bud.

“Yeah, thanks.” I took it from his hand and twisted the top off, flicking the cap in the trashcan next to me. I sucked down half in just a few gulps, needing the alcohol to take effect and calm my frayed nerves.

“You cool?” I lowered the bottle to see Caleb looking at me, one brow cocked. “You look a little on edge.”

“Yeah, I’m good,” I lied. He’d already offered his help in getting me back into Freya’s good graces, but I was a little unsure of just where the line was drawn between him helping and being put in the middle. I liked the guy. I didn’t want to make him uncomfortable around either of us.

“So this party’s kind of a big deal, huh?”

Caleb chuckled good-naturedly. “Give a bunch of college co-eds a reason to drink free booze and eat free food and it’s bound to be a hit. But I have to hand it to the girls, dude. How they set these things up is pure genius.”

“I’d say.” I laughed. “They got two whole levels involved. That takes serious talent.”

“Those two are like the party whisperers or something. Half the frat parties can’t even compare to Stella’s little ‘welcome’ parties.”

I was amazed by what I was hearing. The Freya I knew hated attention. She had been quiet and to herself, only allowing a very select few of us into her inner circle. I never would have thought she’d be a part of throwing an epic party so many people were a part of. It went to show just how much she’d changed in the two years she’d been gone. I might have hated the fact that she’d left me, but I couldn’t deny that her move to Florida had really helped her grow. The sorrow I was so used to seeing in her eyes was gone. She seemed genuinely happy. My heart warmed at that thought, but there was still an underlying sadness lingering in my chest because the realization that I had nothing to do with that happiness burned like fire in my blood.

“You knew Stella back in high school, didn’t you?” Caleb asked, pulling my head back into the present.

“Uh, yeah,” I answered, rubbing at the tension sitting at the back of my neck. “We’d been friends but I’m pretty sure she hates me now.”

“Jesus, Park,” Caleb laugh awkwardly. “I don’t mean to sound like I dick, but I definitely don’t envy you, my friend. Between Freya, Piper,
and
Stella, you got your work cut out for you. That’s for damn sure.”

“Tell me about it,” I muttered before downing the rest of my beer.

There was no humor on his face as he regarded me seriously. “Still think she’s worth it?”

“Never been more certain of anything in my life. Besides…” I felt a grin pull at the corner of my mouth. “I’ve always liked a challenge.”

“Well, best of luck, roomie. This is the mother of all challenges.”

Didn’t I know it.

The party was in full swing. People were milling about having fun as they wandered from apartment to apartment or hung out in the breezeway. The Airborne Toxic Event was playing from the speakers of Piper’s iPod dock she’d set up just outside our doorway. As I walked around mingling with classmates and neighbors, I felt Parker’s eyes on me. I spotted him earlier as he and Caleb made their way up to our level, but I made sure to keep my distance and he hadn’t approached. That didn’t mean my eyes weren’t inadvertently scanning in his direction every so often.

He looked amazing as ever, dressed in faded jeans that hugged his body to perfection and the light blue, button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, showing off his muscled forearms. How was it possible for forearms to be so sexy? I had to tamp down my body’s natural reaction to him. My cheeks flushed and my breathing picked up every time our eyes met. I was always the first to look away, nervous about the way my heart sped up each time those dark eyes focused on me.

I stood, leaning over a cooler looking for something non-alcoholic as Piper came bouncing over. “He’s staring again,” she chirped in a singsong voice, garnering an eye roll from me.

“Who’s staring?” Stella asked, coming up to join us.

Piper snatched the Coke from my hand and replaced it with a beer as she answered. “Who do you think?”

I took the Coke back and set the unopened beer down. I needed to keep my wits about me if I was going to be around Parker. That meant staying stone-cold sober. Against my better judgment, I turned to where he stood, talking to a few of the guys who lived on our level. The moment my eyes landed on him, he turned his attention to me. It was as if he could feel every time I looked at him.

“He’s been staring all damn night,” Stella said. “Honestly, I’m surprised he hasn’t come up to talk to you.”

“I think he’s keeping his distance because he’s scared of you,” Piper joked, tugging on one of Stella’s curls.

“He should be. I got ninja moves.”

“You two are ridiculous.” I laughed as I stepped back. “I need to go check on snacks. I’ll be back in a bit.”

Our apartment was surprisingly empty of party-goers as I stepped through the door. As I entered the kitchen, I understood why. The bowls of chips were empty and the dip had been scraped clean from the containers. As I went about replenishing the snacks, I felt a familiar tingling on the back of my neck. Even years after our breakup, my body knew the moment Parker entered a room before I ever even saw him.

“You look beautiful, Freya.” That low, rumbly voice of his sent a chill through me, covering my skin with goose bumps.

“Thank you,” I said quietly, keeping my eyes downcast.

His voice was closer as he spoke and I knew he was standing on the other side of the bar. “This party is awesome. Caleb wasn’t lying when he called you and Piper the party whisperers.”

I let out a small laugh at Caleb’s moniker. “Well, it’s not that hard to keep college kids happy. Put out free food and booze and they come running.”