surprise, and I struggle not to look too crestfallen at the news. “You’ve been with Ace?” I blurt. “He ties up girls?”
Bev looks at Zoey and quirks a dark eyebrow.
Zoey shrugs. “She comes off as completely innocent, but I know there’s a dirty girl in there somewhere.” She focuses her attention back on me. “Ace is a bit kinky,” she explains. “It’s the only way he fucks, but he’s got an endless supply of willing women. He makes the experience quite memorable.”
“Oh, he definitely does,” Bev agrees.
I feel jealousy form in the center of my chest as I study Bev. She’s tall and exotic looking with her mocha skin and cat-like, hazel eyes. She’s just like Zoey, stunning. I feel my insecurities rising and quickly decide to switch the topic before I make too big of a deal out of Ace’s sexual tendencies. I barely know the guy, it’s stupid to be bothered by it.
“You say Jeremy’s just as bad?” I ask, wanting to shift the topic away from Ace.
“He’s not into kink. At least not that I’m aware of. But he has turned into a complete manwhore lately.” Zoey shakes her head, reaching for her drink. “Don’t go beyond the friend zone with either one of them,” she warns.
I nod, trying not to look like I care either way.
“You going to AJ’s party tonight?” Bev asks Zoey as she opens her purse and pulls out a dark purple cell phone. She quickly types something before setting it aside.
“Yeah, we’re going.” Zoey looks at me. “You’re going, too.”
“I am?”
This earns me one of ‘those’ looks. “You can’t hide out in your apartment every night. How are you going to meet anyone if you’re hiding all the time?”
“I’m not hiding,” I protest.
“Liar. You’ve turned down invitations lately from both me and Caleb.”
“That’s because I don’t want to be a third wheel.” Not to mention I'm not used to going out nightly like they are. These people seem to have a crazy social life, and I've never had one before. It feels like the second I stepped off the plane, Zoey and Caleb took over my life. I find myself going and doing things that I wouldn't normally do. Is it a good thing or a bad thing? I have no idea. I guess only time will tell.
“You wouldn’t have to worry about being a third wheel if you'd make more friends,” Zoey states pointedly in response to my comment.
Bev gives me a reassuring smile. “I’ll be there. You won’t be a third wheel.”
* * *
I feel awkward.
It also doesn’t help that I’m wearing a halter top. I couldn’t talk my way out of it earlier with Zoey. I hadn’t had the nerve to bring up my insecurity about my scars, so I’d put it on and made sure to keep my hair falling down my back. If I pull it over my shoulder in any way, people will see the evidence of Justin's attack.
Back in Harrison, I’d never dared to wear what I’m wearing right now. How is it that Zoey keeps getting her way all the time? It’s impossible to tell that girl no.
I chew my bottom lip and gaze down at the red liquid in my plastic cup. I haven’t touched it since we arrived. I don’t like to drink. As I look up and scan the crowded frat house, I realize I don’t like parties, either. I’m not sure what to do. I’m not good at making small talk with strangers. And even though Zoey promised me I wouldn’t be a third wheel, I am indeed the loner of the group.
Zoey and Caleb are sticking close to me, but it’s awkward since they keep touching each other. Last I saw, Caleb had his hand on Zoey’s butt while she spoke with Nina. AJ’s usually in the vicinity of Nina, so if he doesn’t have his arm wrapped around her, he’s a few feet away talking to friends—though his blue eyes inevitably keep flickering back to his fiancée.
I find myself feeling envious. As I witness how AJ and Caleb interact with their fiancées, I realize just how messed up my relationship had been with Justin. Justin used to watch me with a territorial
Bev looks at Zoey and quirks a dark eyebrow.
Zoey shrugs. “She comes off as completely innocent, but I know there’s a dirty girl in there somewhere.” She focuses her attention back on me. “Ace is a bit kinky,” she explains. “It’s the only way he fucks, but he’s got an endless supply of willing women. He makes the experience quite memorable.”
“Oh, he definitely does,” Bev agrees.
I feel jealousy form in the center of my chest as I study Bev. She’s tall and exotic looking with her mocha skin and cat-like, hazel eyes. She’s just like Zoey, stunning. I feel my insecurities rising and quickly decide to switch the topic before I make too big of a deal out of Ace’s sexual tendencies. I barely know the guy, it’s stupid to be bothered by it.
“You say Jeremy’s just as bad?” I ask, wanting to shift the topic away from Ace.
“He’s not into kink. At least not that I’m aware of. But he has turned into a complete manwhore lately.” Zoey shakes her head, reaching for her drink. “Don’t go beyond the friend zone with either one of them,” she warns.
I nod, trying not to look like I care either way.
“You going to AJ’s party tonight?” Bev asks Zoey as she opens her purse and pulls out a dark purple cell phone. She quickly types something before setting it aside.
“Yeah, we’re going.” Zoey looks at me. “You’re going, too.”
“I am?”
This earns me one of ‘those’ looks. “You can’t hide out in your apartment every night. How are you going to meet anyone if you’re hiding all the time?”
“I’m not hiding,” I protest.
“Liar. You’ve turned down invitations lately from both me and Caleb.”
“That’s because I don’t want to be a third wheel.” Not to mention I'm not used to going out nightly like they are. These people seem to have a crazy social life, and I've never had one before. It feels like the second I stepped off the plane, Zoey and Caleb took over my life. I find myself going and doing things that I wouldn't normally do. Is it a good thing or a bad thing? I have no idea. I guess only time will tell.
“You wouldn’t have to worry about being a third wheel if you'd make more friends,” Zoey states pointedly in response to my comment.
Bev gives me a reassuring smile. “I’ll be there. You won’t be a third wheel.”
* * *
I feel awkward.
It also doesn’t help that I’m wearing a halter top. I couldn’t talk my way out of it earlier with Zoey. I hadn’t had the nerve to bring up my insecurity about my scars, so I’d put it on and made sure to keep my hair falling down my back. If I pull it over my shoulder in any way, people will see the evidence of Justin's attack.
Back in Harrison, I’d never dared to wear what I’m wearing right now. How is it that Zoey keeps getting her way all the time? It’s impossible to tell that girl no.
I chew my bottom lip and gaze down at the red liquid in my plastic cup. I haven’t touched it since we arrived. I don’t like to drink. As I look up and scan the crowded frat house, I realize I don’t like parties, either. I’m not sure what to do. I’m not good at making small talk with strangers. And even though Zoey promised me I wouldn’t be a third wheel, I am indeed the loner of the group.
Zoey and Caleb are sticking close to me, but it’s awkward since they keep touching each other. Last I saw, Caleb had his hand on Zoey’s butt while she spoke with Nina. AJ’s usually in the vicinity of Nina, so if he doesn’t have his arm wrapped around her, he’s a few feet away talking to friends—though his blue eyes inevitably keep flickering back to his fiancée.
I find myself feeling envious. As I witness how AJ and Caleb interact with their fiancées, I realize just how messed up my relationship had been with Justin. Justin used to watch me with a territorial
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