Just a Little Crush (Crush #1) (11 page)

The frat party was crowded when we arrived. A guy bumped into me as I stepped through the door and I was ninety-nine percent confident he copped a feel while steadying himself.

Fallon led me toward the back. With every step I took, my shoes made this weird slurping sound as they peeled off then restuck to the beer-soaked floor. Fallon said something and I shook my head and raised my hands palm up. They’d gone all out for the party and hired a deejay, making it impossible to hear anything over the thumping speakers.

She leaned toward me and yelled in my ear, “Beer. We’re getting beer.”

I nodded and followed her. She stopped in front of several large galvanized oval tubs. Like troughs. For beer. Classy. She smiled at some guy and he reached in and produced two silver cans, then tapped his cheek. I tried not to gag while Fallon leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek.

She placed a beer in my hand.

“Please tell me you know him.” I popped the top of the can.

“Sure. He’s the guy with the beer.” She smiled and grabbed my hand. “Look, there’s Dani.”

A girl in jeans and a tank top approached. I bit back jealousy that she got to wear jeans.

“Hey. Dani, this is my roommate, Brinley.” She gestured toward me.

“Hi.” I offered a small wave.

“Nice dress.”

With a tug on the hem, I said, “Thanks.”

Dani’s gaze roamed down and back up. Slowly. She whispered something to Fallon, who shook her head. Dani frowned. “Bummer. She’s hot.”

Fallon rolled her eyes and led me to the dance floor. “She will hit on you relentlessly if she even thinks she has a tiny chance, so whatever you do, don’t let her think she does.”

“What?” I asked.

Fallon squealed and launched herself into another friend’s arms. “Mel! I haven’t seen you in forever.”

“I know, girl. Been studying. My grades last semester killed my GPA. Now I’m paying for it. Going to lose my scholarship if I don’t turn that shit around.” She waved at me. “Hi, I’m Mel.”

“Hi, I’m Brinley. The roommate.”

“Cool. This is Leena. My roomie and the bestest dancer ever.” She pointed to a girl with a lean, tall frame. Her neck was long and her shoulders straight, posture perfect. If I had to guess, I’d say dance major.

“It’s inevitable she’ll make us look bad, so just shake your ass a lot and maybe no one will notice,” Fallon said, wiggling her hips.

Leena laughed. “I don’t think classical ballet compares to ass shaking.” She smiled at me. “Nice to meet you, Brinley. And I’m pretty sure next to you, in that dress, it’s impossible to make you look bad.”

My cheeks warmed. “She made me wear it.”

“Guilty as charged.” Fallon grinned.

“Sounds like something she’d do. But don’t worry, she steered you right. You look fan-fucking-tastic,” Mel said.

“Thanks.”

“Okay, enough feeding the ego. Let’s dance.” Fallon raised her beer and the girls tapped cans with her.

Another guy bumped into me, and I glanced around. I swore people were staring at my too-tight dress. What if I looked like an idiot trying to dance in it? But I came to have fun. And dancing was fun. The stares were probably only in my head. Finishing a drink would help me relax. The last time I’d hung out with Fallon, I’d discovered the sweet spot between sober and drunk. And that’s where I needed to be now. I chugged my beer then set the empty can down.

“Damn. Want another?” Fallon asked.

“No. Just needed the courage.”

“Ah, gotcha.” She bumped her hip into mine.

Between the shots and the beer I’d loosened up enough to enjoy myself. Leena was a damn good dancer, but she was also funny as hell and spent more time goofing off than actually trying to impress anyone. Still, she looked amazing.

Several guys approached us but Mel deemed them all unworthy. It was a nice change, considering Fallon found everyone acceptable. So we remained dancing alone. Eventually I got thirsty enough to finish off another beer, and I even let Fallon and Mel convince me to take another shot. It wasn’t hard though. The carefree attitude that came with drinking was alluring, and all my prior reservations about alcohol seemed silly.

“Having fun?” Fallon asked.

Between her partying and extracurricular activities, I’d always seen Fallon as someone headed down the same path as my mom, but the more I hung out with her, the more I realized she was nothing like Mom. And neither was I.

I could enjoy myself without turning into my mother. And that’s exactly what I’d do.

“Yeah,” I admitted.

“Good. Just try not to slip in the drool puddle.” She gestured behind me.

Four guys were huddled in a group, watching us dance. They smiled when I made eye contact. I smiled back then quickly turned to Fallon. By the next song, two more guys had joined the group and, on the one hand, the dress did make me feel incredibly hot, but on the other, I wondered if this was how strippers felt. Practically naked while guys drooled waiting for that last shred of clothes to drop. It wasn’t very often I felt this sexy though. I decided to go with it.

I thought I heard my name and turned to the guys. One glanced up from his phone and smiled but I didn’t recognize anyone. Fallon danced up to me and pressed her butt up to mine. The guy’s mouth dropped and I grinned. She slowly circled me then did it again.

“Stop teasing them.” I laughed.

“Please, it’s what they’ve been waiting for. Right, boys?”

A few made little hooting sounds.

“See.”

Laughing, I pushed her back.

Leena grabbed my hand and tugged me against her. “Please, they are here for the classic art of dance.” She spun me away.

I twirled out and came face-to-face with Ryder. “Oh. Hi.” Then I was reeled back in. The room blurred and a bubbly sort of lightheadedness settled over me, triggering a laugh.

“Who’s the pissed-off hottie?” she asked as she let go of my hand.

“Ryder. And he’s not pissed.” I glanced back. “Or maybe he is.” I shrugged.

Fallon appeared next to me. “Whoa, what’s up with Mr. Fuckable? He looks like he wants to kill those guys. Then get you naked.”

I shook my head. “Only you could end every Ryder-related thought with that.”

The group of guys dispersed and Fallon whined to Ryder, “Seriously, man? You ran off our fan club.” She mock glared, but he didn’t look amused.

He shifted his gaze. My body got all sorts of hot as he took in every inch of me, slowly. By the time our eyes met, I suspected he really did want to get me naked. Which made me grin.

Mel, who apparently had gone on a beer run, handed me a can. I popped it open and took a gulp. Some of it splashed out and dripped down my chest.

“Hey, Ryder, want to lick it off?” Fallon asked as she waggled her eyebrows.

I swatted her but couldn’t hide the smile. “Shut up.” Just as I finished drying my chest, someone shoved me toward him.

“Dance with him already,” Leena said.

I slammed into Ryder, managing to contain most of my beer but part of it did spill on his shirt. “Sorry.” I grinned. “Don’t worry, I won’t lick it off either.”

“You’re drunk.”

“You’re hot.”

His lips parted and I laughed. “Oh, sorry. I thought we were playing the point-out-the-o
bvious game.”

He took my can of beer and set it down.

“Hey,” I protested. “I was drinking that. Geez, so I might be a little drunk.”

“I’m pretty sure you’ve had enough and you’ll thank me when you don’t finish your night with your head hanging in a toilet.”

I’d seen enough hangovers to know I probably didn’t want one. “Fine. If I can’t drink, can I at least dance?”

“Sure,” he said.

I turned back to my friends, but he hooked his arm around my waist and pulled me against his chest.

With his lips pressed to my ear, he whispered, “With me.”

“If you say so.” I made little swaying motions with my hips, rubbing myself against him. His grip tightened on my waist. I smiled, pleased at how quickly I could turn him on. Where was Paige now? “So where’s your girlfriend?”

“What are you talking about?” he asked.

Fallon and Leena laughed, twirling around the floor, and I wanted to be a part of their fun. Not rubbing up against a guy who screwed everything in a dress…but me.

“You know,” I said, and started to walk away but my body was jerked back mid-step.

“Not so fast.” Ryder’s arm snaked around my waist. He turned me and flattened my body to his chest. “I don’t have a girlfriend.”

“Oh, wait. That’s right, you don’t do
girlfriend.
What should I call her, then?”

“Call who?”

“The girl. The one you left me for. Twice.”

“Twice,” he repeated. A small smile began to take shape on his insanely kissable mouth.

“Mm-hmm.”

“Are you jealous?” he asked.

“Of course I’m jealous. Wouldn’t you be if the person you liked chose someone else over you?”

His smile stretched. “The person you like?”

“Yeah.”

“I’d be more than jealous.”

“Well, I’m not angry. I mean, she’s beautiful, so I’m not surprised.” I shrugged.

“You’re beautiful.”

“Not like that.”

“Well, if you’re referring to the girl with me at Amy’s Pho, then I can assure you I don’t find her attractive.”

“But she’s—”

“My sister.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah. Oh.” He brushed my hair back and tucked it behind my ear.

“What was going on at the restaurant?”

His smile vanished. “Just some stuff.”

“Like what? Not to sound conceited but I feel like somehow I’m a part of this
stuff
.”

“I’m handling it.”

“I have no idea what that even means.” My palm was pressed against his chest and I brushed my finger over where his tattoo lay hidden under his shirt.

“It means I screwed up but I’m gonna fix it.”

“Still no clue.” I ran my hand up his chest to his shoulder. I drew little circles on his neck with my fingernail. “You should probably elaborate.”

His voice deepened as he asked, “How much have you drunk tonight?”

“Um.” I traced his jawline with my fingertip as I counted. “Two tequila shots. Then three beers. Oh, and one more tequila shot. Fallon carries a flask if you want one.” I brushed my thumb over his lip ring. “Did this hurt?”

“I like pain.” He turned his head and kissed my thumb. My body heated as his tongue flicked against my skin.

I stared at my thumb pressed against his mouth. “Why? It hurts.”

“Because I can feel it. Without pain, we’re numb.” He lifted his hand to my face and cupped my cheek.

“I disagree. I think too much pain makes you numb. Like a coping mechanism, you desensitize.”

“Actually, your body copes with pain by releasing dopamine. C’mon, you’re a biology major, you should know that,” he teased.

“I know there are better ways to get dopamine released.”

He brought his finger to my mouth, just as I’d done to him. “Like?”

I grinned. “Chocolate.”

He shook his head. “Not really a fan of chocolate.” His mouth twitched into a suggestive smile, and his green eyes were intense as he stared down on me. With every breath he took, my body pushed against his.

“Then I guess I’m out of ideas. Unless…
you
have some.” I turned my lips toward his finger, but he jerked his hand away, cupped my chin and pressed his mouth to mine. His lips were soft but his kiss demanding.

“I have one,” he whispered. “One really fucking bad idea.”

“It’s not a bad idea.”

He pulled back and stared at me.

“Come on.” I laced my fingers with his and led him through the crowd.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Getting out of here. Did you drive or walk?”

“Drove.”

I stepped through the front door and scanned the street. “Where’s your car?”

He dug keys out of his pocket. A chirp followed by a flash of lights alerted me to the location.

I glanced back at an amused Ryder and asked, “Your place or mine?” He opened my door and I slid in.

He smiled. “I’ll take you to your place.” And, as he closed my door, said, “Then I’ll go to mine.”

I blew my hair out of my face and crossed my arms. He was really making this difficult.

He climbed into his seat and jammed the keys in the ignition. “Buckle up.”

Screw that. Before he could object I threw my leg over the console and slid into his lap. My butt hit the horn, causing me to jump then laugh. “Oops,” I mumbled against his mouth.

“Brinley—”

I pushed my tongue past his lips to shut him up. I weaved my fingers into his hair and tilted my head. One of my knees jammed into the door, the seatbelt jabbed the other. I wiggled to get my knees in a more comfortable position and Ryder groaned. I giggled and moved my hips again.

His hands slid down my back as he pulled me against him, and I rocked into him. My skintight dress started to roll up around my thighs. It gave me more room to move but my knees were still getting banged in the tight quarters. I reached down and found a lever, gave it a tug and Ryder’s back slammed down. I bounced against him, laughing.

“Holy shit, Brin.”

“Sorry.” I smiled and pressed my lips to his.