Chapter 7
7
Dash
Weekends come and go, I head to parties, and I head home solo. The only changes to my schedule are that first, I make sure Levine won’t be at any of them, and second, I haven’t hooked up with anyone since him.
It’s a fucking issue. The sex was supposed to tick that little conquest box so I could move on to others.
It hasn’t.
It’s only made everything worse.
If I’d known Archie Levine was going to be this much of a pain in the ass, I would have avoided those frat parties at all costs. Sometimes a pretty face isn’t worth it. I wasn’t even this cockblocked when I was closeted.
“Holy shit, look at this,” Larry says, tearing a flyer off a pole as we walk past. “Sounds like it’ll be a good laugh.”
“What is it?”
“Jousting night at Kappa.”
“What the hell is that?”
“Just says the theme is medieval and the fraternities are going to have some kind of joust battle.” He chuckles. “I’m down to see a bunch of drunken fraternity brothers injure each other.”
Yeah, but one of those brothers is bound to be Archie, and I’m not ready to face him again.
“You have fun.”
His eyes almost fall out. “There’s no way you’re leaving me to go to this thing by myself.”
“Sure am. We don’t hang out at parties together anyway.”
“Yeah, but we show up together! Getting there alone is sad.” His voice breaks it goes so high-pitched. “You love a good Kappa party.”
“Yeah, a good one. That one looks terrible.”
“You’re lying through your ass. What’s going on?”
I shrug, trying to play it off and definitely not skimming campus ahead of us for any familiar faces. “Just cooling off on the party scene.”
“Another lie.” Larry steps in front of me, trying to make his lanky, gawky form intimidating. “Did something happen?”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know, that’s why I’m asking.”
Larry is a laid-back guy, so seeing him get protective like this is cute. It also makes me feel like shit for not being able to tell him anything. I meant my promise to Levine–I won’t out him–which means my choices are to let my best friend worry or suck it up and go to a stupid party. Considering Larry won’t notice if I duck out immediately, I probably won’t have to face Archie at all. Simple.
“If it means that much to you, I’ll go,” I say, throwing my arm around his shoulders. “Wouldn’t want my boy missing out on a chance to get drunk! What would all those college chicks do without you there to hit on?”
He shoves me off. “You’re such a dick.”
“Anything for my little buddy.”
“I’m like half a foot taller than you.”
“Still maintain you wear lifts.”
“Whatever. See you for dinner.” He forces the flyer into my hand and leaves.
I head toward the social sciences wing and glance down at the poster made of clip art and crazy letters.
The Princes of Kappa House Challenge Ye.
Fuck my life.
When I agreed to come to this stupid party, I didn’t realize I’d be agreeing to getting dressed up as well. The worst part is that all the hot costumes were gone, so Larry and I had to rock, paper, scissors for the soldier costume, and I’d lost. Now, I’m in boots, tights, and a fucking tunic. The belt around my waist has a sword strapped to it, so if Levine does see me, at least I’ll look a little bit tough.
The line to get into Kappa house is long, so Larry and I skip it and swing around to the back of the property. Between the high brick fence and some hedges, there’s just enough room to shuffle through. Fuck paying ten a head to grace their party. Those assholes can afford what I drink in cheap booze, especially considering tonight, I’m not planning on drinking anything.
We sneak through the hedges—and I’m glad I didn’t bother fixing my hair with how the bushes tug at it—and then skirt around the trees on the property border.
Only, instead of stepping into a backyard full of people drunkenly stumbling around, we step right into—the jousting path.
“Fuck!” I narrowly avoid being hit by a frat brother madly pedaling on a toddler’s tricycle. He’s holding a mop handle, while on the other side, another brother is stuffed into a kid’s toy car, scooting at a speed that I wouldn’t have guessed possible, with a feather duster out and ready.
Larry steps out of the tree line behind me, and I haul him against me and out of the way.
His cackle hits my ear. “I already love this party! Come on.”
All I know is the two competitors aren’t Levine, but he’s likely around here somewhere. My eyes stay glued to the ground as I follow Larry up to the back of the main house. We grab drinks, and I expect him to split off from me, when he grabs my forearm and tugs me back toward the jousting. “Let’s go watch.”
“You go. I wanna dance.”
He hurries to shake his head. “I can dance.”
“You?”
“Sure? It’s, uh, so fun.”
For someone as wildly uncoordinated as him, I highly doubt he’s suddenly gained a love of dancing. “What are you doing?”
“Enjoying the party.”
“Larry …”
“Fine.” He slumps. “You seemed worried about coming, so I didn’t want to leave you alone.”
I grin so hard I scare him. “That’s a bit cute.”
“Fuck off.”
“You got my back, man. I appreciate it.”
He scowls even as his neck goes red. “You don’t have to be an asshole about it.”
I laugh. “No, I’m actually serious.”
“Whatever, Dash.” He flips me off and leaves.
Reminding me that being nice to people gets you nowhere. I’m still laughing about it when someone presses flush to my back, and before I can shake them off, he speaks directly into my ear. “Who the fuck was that?”
Levine.
A shiver ripples down my spine, and flashes of the night we spent together immediately hit my memories.
Telling him Larry’s my friend and roommate would be easy, but the growl in his tone has me feeling reckless. It’s been too long since I’ve seen him, and apparently, the distance knocked out a few brain cells.
“My date.”
His huff is so heavy it skirts down my neck. “Bullshit.”
“Oh yeah?” I step aside so I can turn and see him, which isn’t a smart move. He’s wearing the crown again and is dressed as an actual prince this time. He goddamn suits it. Pure royalty. Even the eyeliner is getting me hard. I remember how easily he took over when we were together, and there’s no denying why I’ve hit a dry spell.
Unfortunately for me, no guy on campus can match Archie Levine.
I steady my breathing, not wanting him to know how much he affects me. “You think I can’t pull a guy like him?” I ask.
Levine’s teeth clench as he reaches up and plucks a leaf out of my hair. “I saw you leave the bushes with him.” He closes most of the distance between us, and I have the strangest urge to remind him that he’s supposed to be closeted. “Did he suck your cock?”
“Why? Jealous you never did?”
Guilty pleasure comes in the form of his nostrils flaring. “You’re really going to come to my house, my party, and hook up with men under my nose?” He shakes his head. “What the fuck, Dash?”
I’m feeling way too good about this. “Wow. It almost sounds like you’re jealous, but that can’t be right.”
“I’m not jealous. It’s called respect.”
“Uh-huh. I love the way you respectfully came all over me.”
Levine quickly glances around, but the music is too loud, and there are way too many people in here for anyone to pay us a second of attention. “You said you’d keep it secret, that you wouldn’t?—”
I pat his chest. “Big guy, if anyone is going to out you, it’s you. You’ve got me all but pressed to the wall. We might as well be making out.”
Surprisingly, he doesn’t back up, just drops his gaze to the foot of distance between us before returning his glare to me. “I forbid you from hooking up with anyone else at my parties.”
“ Forbid me? What in the toxic fuck are you talking about?”
His hand thumps against the wall beside me. “If I can’t hook up with anyone else, it isn’t fair that you get to.”
“Dude, you can hook up with whoever you want. I’m not stopping you. And you’re not stopping me. We agreed to one and done, you’re off the table, so unless you’re going to give it up again, you don’t get to dictate who I can and can’t sleep with.”
“No, but I can have you thrown out.”
My laugh is hollow. “I didn’t even want to come to this stupid party.”
“You didn’t?”
“Of course not. I’ve been avoiding you.”
“You have?” His face falls. “Guess that explains why I haven’t seen you around.”
I don’t know why I keep giving him the time of day, but I don’t walk away like I should. “Have you been looking?”
He doesn’t answer.
“Hoping to bump into me on campus?”
His glare deepens.
“Thought you might trip out of your clothes and land on me again?”
I know I’m on the right track based on how he’s looking at me. A mixture of want and regret.
“Dash …”
“All I’m saying is that I’m safe. A locked box. Really, really good at keeping secrets.”
“You said repeats aren’t something you do.”
“Well—” My gaze flicks up to his crown. “—I can always make an exception for royalty.”
Levine’s eyes flare with heat, tongue flicking out to wet his lips as he stares at me. It’s like I can read his mind, and knowing he’s tempted to sleep with me again is boosting my ego in a big way. Sure, this is sort of a “last man on earth” situation, but if that’s what it takes for me to end up naked with him again, I’ll take it.
“There you are!” Levine is yanked away from me as a pretty blond girl grabs his arm. Based on the way she giggles and falls against him, I get the feeling she’s already had a few. “I’ve been looking for you.”
I hate her instantly.
Mostly because I know I’ve seen her hanging off him at other parties and also because of the way he immediately smiles fondly right back.
My good mood immediately sours, and before he can forget my existence, I slip out from behind them and disappear into the party.
I know I should go home. I know there’s nothing left at this party for me.
But goddamn, my ego can’t take her winning.
Instead of heading for the front door like I’d planned, I hook a left down a hall lined with bedrooms and pull out my phone.
Me:
If you want me, come and find me.