University Park Series Box Set: Books 1-3 (24 page)

“Lexi, please.” Raven took my hand and
urged me to sit. “Calm down.”

My eyes watered and I quickly wiped away
the tears. Didn’t he know I wanted to be with him, not Collin? Pushing all fear
aside, I placed my hand on his cheek. I had to tell him.

“It’s you who makes me happy. It’s you
who makes my heart beat wildly. It’s you who has showed me more affection than
Collin ever had in the four years we were together. You’ve given me more
attention than anyone ever has. Attention that I need and want. Raven, I want
to be with you. Is that such a bad thing?”

“It is when you’re a guy like me.” His
eyes closed for a moment and he inhaled deeply. “I’m sorry, Lexi, but I can’t
see you anymore.” He picked up his helmet. “You’re better off without me.”
Without saying anything else, he stood and stepped off the bleachers. I watched
as he walked through the small gate and onto the field.

I didn’t know what to think about what
had just happened, except that I had to prove that I wasn’t the same Lexi
Thompson he had met that day in the writing lab. I refused to be the innocent
and sweet Lexi. If all the hoes at PHU had a chance, then I sure as hell did.
All I had to do was show him.

∑

“Get up, it’s already eight.” I nudged
Delaney and she moaned.

“I’m tired… go away.” She covered her
head with a pillow and turned in the opposite direction, facing the wall.

“You owe me.” I pulled the pillow away
from her and she tried to stop me, but I yanked it from her limp hands.

She continued mumbling incoherent words
so I flipped on the light. “Lex, turn that damn light off.”

“Not until you get up.” I swirled the
drink in my hand close to her ear. “Can you hear that?”

“Hear what?”

“The sound of paradise calling your
name.”

She
slowly turned her head and blinked a few times, trying to focus on the cup in
my hand. “What are you drinking?”

I took a sip and smiled. “Something
called a Tropical Dream.” I stared at the pale blue drink, determined not to
let what had happened between Raven and me turn my mood sour. “I hope you don’t
mind, I took your Malibu Rum and Blue Curacao.”

“Let me taste it.” Delaney eased up from
the bed and took the cup from my hand. “Damn, that’s good. Where did you get
the recipe?”

“Google.” I winked and took the cup from
her. “You want me to make you one?” Grabbing the remote to her small portable
speaker, I turned it on and hit her ‘favorites’ playlist. A fast beat played
and I started gyrating to the music.

“I hadn’t planned on drinking tonight.
In fact, I was going to pack so I could go home tomorrow.” She picked up her
phone from the bedside table and started scrolling through it.

I lowered the music a little and then
opened her closet door. “You can pack later. Tonight you’re going to a party
with me.”

“A party?” She sounded surprised, as if
parties were new to her. “What party?”

Skimming through her clothes, I pulled
out a short black mini skirt and held it up to my waist. It was shorter than
what I typically wore and I knew it would attract lots of attention. Did I want
that kind of attention? “There’s a big end of the semester party at the Sigma
Chi house and we’re going.” I shoved the micro skirt back into her closet.

“Whoa. Wait a minute. How did you find
out about that party?” She threw off the covers.

“I was snooping around on Facebook and
saw a post,” I said, matter of fact.

“I don’t know, Lexi. Things got pretty
crazy the last time I went to their end of year party in the spring. I don’t
think it’s a good idea if I go.”

I turned around, ignoring her pitiful
excuse. “Since when did that stop you?”

Springing from her bed, she said, “Since
I made a complete ass of myself and since your brother asked me to stop
partying so hard.”

Dying to know what she did, I asked the
obvious. “What the hell did you do?”

“You don’t want to know.” She shouldered
past me. “Your brother will be pissed if I go.”

“Don’t tell him.” I reached in her
closet and pulled an off-the-shoulder blue sweater. “Can I borrow this? It will
look great with my black skinny jeans.”

“Um, yeah. I guess.” She ran her hands
through her long, matted hair. “Wait a minute, you want me to lie to your
brother?”

I shrugged. “I didn’t say lie. I just
said not to tell him.”

She cocked a brow. “What did you do with
my roommate?”

I laughed and did a little dance move.
“Meet the new Lexi Thompson.”

She rolled her eyes at me. “Don’t tell
me you want to go just to get Raven’s attention.”

I had spent the last few days trying to
convince myself to move on and that I’d have one less problem without him. But
no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop thinking about him.

I needed him.

I wanted him in my life.

Everything he told me was one-hundred
percent true. I was better off with Collin. But he wasn’t the one for me. Raven
was the one I wanted. And the one I couldn’t have.

“Come on, Laney. You said we needed to
make the most of this year since we’re seniors.” I crossed my arms and pouted.
“What happened to my roommate?”

She took another drink from my cup. “His
name is Luke Thompson and I’m totally obsessed with him.”

“Okay, whatever.” I sighed. “But this
one time, I need you. I can’t go to that party by myself and I don’t have
anyone to go with me.”

“Call Shelby, I’m sure she’s going with
Josh.”

I shook my head. “Bad idea. I don’t want
Raven to know that I’m going.”

Delaney opened her dresser draw and
rummaged through it, pulling out a thong and bra. “What’s your plan?”

“Plan?”

“Yeah, your trap to get him back?” She
swung her panties around her finger. “Because you’re going to have to work it,
girl.”

“I don’t know.” I pulled half my hair up
and gave her a sexy pose. “Seduce him?”

Laughing, she shook her head. “You and
every other girl will be doing the same thing. Trust me, I’ve seen it.”

“Okay, then tell me what I need to do.”

With her head hanging down, she shuffled
to the bathroom. “But I don’t want to go.”

“Laney, please,” I begged.

It took several more tries to finally
convince her to go to the party with me. I was determined to do what I had set
out to do. Enjoy my senior year, with or without Raven. My plan would be to
show him that I wasn’t the sweet, innocent Lexi that he knew. I honestly had no
idea if he would even be at this party, but I had to take the chance.

***

We arrived to the party around
nine-thirty and my head felt light as every muscle relaxed. Delaney and I had
already had a few Tropical Dreams and I was ready for a shot or two. I didn’t
want to get stupid drunk like Delaney had the last time we went out, but I
wanted the college experience that was promised to me when I entered my
freshman year. I had been waiting four years to have a good time.

I nearly tripped as I walked up the
stairs but managed to catch myself before face planting.

“Damn, are you already drunk?” Delaney
grabbed my elbow and helped me steady my balance.

“No, it’s these stupid heels you told me
to wear.”

“Shit. I guess I should have given you
lessons first.”

I pulled down my skirt and focused on
placing one foot in front of the other. We walked up the steps and entered into
the loudest and wildest party I’d ever seen. The house reeked of beer, liquor,
and cigarettes. Several people stood in a circle with their mouths wrapped
around a tube attached to a huge funnel, fed by a guy that was pouring pitcher
after picture of beer. They guzzled it down like they were dying from thirst. A
girl motioned for us to join them in the race, but I shook my head no and urged
Delaney forward.

In the living room, there was a DJ with
his computer and disco ball that flashed a rainbow of colors around the room.
The music was loud and people were pressed up against each other, grinding and
humping. Two girls were sprawled on the couch, going at it like they were the
only ones in the room. Sweat, funk, and body fluids floated in the air and it
made me want to puke.

“Okay, this is pretty crazy.”

“Told ya.” Delaney rolled her eyes and I
could see the regret laying within them.

We walked through the kitchen to the
backyard where there was a huge kiddie pool filled with blue Jell-O. Two
topless girls were smearing it all over each other like sun-tanning lotion. A
group of guys cheered them on as one girl rubbed it all over the other girl’s
nipple and sucked it off. As we walked past them, the girl licking and suckling
winked at me and ran her tongue over her lips. I froze. What she trying to hit
on me? Never had I seen anything like this. I was appalled, to say the least.

“Oh my God.” I pulled Delaney back and
whispered in her ear. “Did you see what that chick just did to me?”

“No, what happened?”

“I think she likes me.”

Delaney burst out in laughter. “Everyone
here will like you. Trust me.”

“Let’s go inside. I’m freezing.” I
shuddered and wrapped my arms around myself. “I can’t believe I let you talk me
into wearing this.” I straightened the off-the-shoulder purple dress I had on.
Delaney wouldn’t let me wear the sweater I wanted to borrow from her. She said
that I’d look like a prude in it. Noting all the girls dressed in micro mini
skirts and dresses, she was right. They were dressed for a mid-summer party,
minus the pool.

“Oh shit.” Delaney scurried behind me.
“Hide me.”

“Why?”

“Matt is here. I don’t want him to see
me.”

I put my hands on my hips in an attempt
to block her behind me. She pushed me, moving us through the hordes of people.
“If I fall, it’s totally you’re fault.” My ankles wobbled as I tried to balance
myself on the three-inch platforms. I made a mental note to practice walking in
heels more often.

“Stop griping. They make your legs look
sexy.”

We stopped in the kitchen where a guy
was pouring liquor into the mouths of all those that had lined up. Everyone was
yelling and shouting that they wanted to be next. And so did I.

“Come on, I want what he’s giving out.”
I pulled on Delaney’s arm, making her stand.

“Are you sure?”

I wiped the sweat from my palm and
sucked in a deep breath. “Yes.”

“Are you sure you won’t be regretting it
tomorrow?”

Winking, I eased behind a group of
girls. “No regrets.” With an accidental bump, one of the girls turned around.
“Oh, sorry.”

“Hey, you’re, um…”

“Lexi. And you’re Amber, right?”

“Yep.” She adjusted the tight bun on her
head. “Hey, Delaney, didn’t see you.”

“Hey, Amber. Where’s Shelby.”

“Somebody say my name?” Shelby danced
her way toward us.

“Hey, girl, let’s do a shot.” She flung
her arms around me and breathed her tainted breath all over my face. “Whoa. Are
you sure you need another one?”

 She flashed a lopsided smile. “I’m just
getting started.”

“Where’s Josh?” I looked around. If he
was here, so was Raven.

“He’s over there somewhere.” She
motioned with hand. “Where’s Raven?”

Delaney looked at me and then back at
her. Maybe Raven wasn’t with Josh after all. “Um… I don’t know.”

She pouted. “Don’t tell me he already
dumped you.”

Her comment hit me square in the chest
and I tried to ignore the wrenching pain tugging at my heart. “Well, umm—”

“Who wants one?” A guy sat on the bar,
yelling as he held a bottle in each hand. “Line up girls!” He motioned for
Amber, Shelby, Delaney, and me to sit. I eagerly approached the square bar
chair and sat, pressing my back against the edge.

Another guy handed me a lemon and then
sprinkled a heap of salt between the webbing of my thumb and index finger.

“What’s this for?” I looked at Shelby
and she smiled.

“First you lick the salt.” Shelby’s
long, pink tongue scraped the salt off her hand and I copied her movements with
my own.

“Heads back, girls,” the guy with the
bottles instructed as he kept one thumb on the spout of the liquor bottles.

“Woo hoo!” Shelby yelled and wiggled in
her chair.

“Let’s do this!” I screamed and relaxed
my head against the cold marble. The guy moved down the line, pouring a shot
full of liquor into each of our mouths. Cold liquid filled my mouth and I
raised my head, swallowing it in one gulp. The feeling of fire shot down my
esophagus and I yelled, “What the hell was that?”

“Lemon. Suck on your lemon.” Shelby
shoved the slice of fruit in her mouth. I followed, sucking on the tart and
sour lemon, trying to mask the horrible taste that filled my mouth.

“Otro! Otro!” a group of Hispanic guys
started chanting and I shook my head.

“Hell no. If I take another one, I’ll
probably vomit.” I turned away from the guy ready to fill my mouth again.

“Only one?” A cute guy with thick, brown
hair that swept to the side stood in front of me. He studied me purposefully,
his gazed traveled from my head to my toes, and I tingled all over.

“Yes, just one.” I pulled on the hem of
my dress, hoping I hadn’t flashed him.

“What’s your name?” He had a cute Texas
twang and I couldn’t help but notice his tight shirt squeezing his biceps. Was
he a football player? He seemed a little bit smaller than most of the guys on
the team.

“Lexi.” I smiled and he smiled back.
Maybe I needed to forget about guys that played sports. My stats weren’t
looking too good in that area.

“Don’t tell me that was the first time
you took a tequila shot.”

“That was tequila?” I looked over my
shoulder, trying to catch a better glimpse of the liquor bottles in the guy’s
hand.