Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
TRUTH OR DARE
TARYN
I’ve never been much of a party girl. College for me was about getting my degree so I wouldn’t need to juggle three jobs to make ends meet like my mom.
I’m grateful to her; she worked hard to help me get the best start in life, and I never doubted that I was loved, not even for a second.
“Holy shit,” I whisper to Jodie as we enter the corner unit on the ground floor of our building. “And there I thought that the party at the Gamma house was the quintessential college party. These guys take things up several notches.”
Jodie is definitely the party animal between us, but judging by the look on her face, she’s impressed too.
“Yup. Beer pong is just old news, apparently.”
The apartment has been turned into a party game galore.
It isn’t as crowded as my last party in Hemlock Beach since the hockey team and the cheer team candidates are the only people in attendance, but I’m impressed.
There are the classics like a beer pong table and a body shot station, but the fun doesn’t stop there.
Vaughn Heston, our host, is mixing cocktails, juggling bottles like a modern day Tom Cruise; there’s a dartboard, and a photo booth corner, but the party games continue outside on the deck and on the beach.
I spot an inflatable hot tub and… “Is that Jell-O in that huge clear plastic tub?” I ask pointing to the viscous blue substance inside it.
Talia chimes in from behind me. “It sure is.”
“That tub is big enough for two people to bathe in it.” I muse.
“Or fight in it.” Tucker’s sister sighs.
Jodie and I turn to look at her. “Fighting?”
“Yup. You have to thank my brother for that great idea. A couple of years ago during Rush Week his fraternity wanted to do something different from their usual dunking stand. Tucker had the idea of Jell-O wrestling. There’s vodka in that Jell-O, just FYI.”
I scrunch up my nose. “Really? That’s so tacky. And chauvinist. I wouldn’t have thought Tucker was the type to expect women to wrestle in the mud, or Jell-O in this case, for his entertainment.”
“Yuck,” Jodie agrees. “Speaking of entertainment, be right back. I’m gonna go get us something to drink.”
Talia laughs. “Women? Look, my brother can be a dumbass when he wants to be, but he’s all about equality. He was the first one to jump in that tub and challenged Topher, the Gamma president at the time, to wrestle him. Of course girls do it too. Anyone who wishes to wrestle is welcome to join.”
Yeah, no. “Not to be boring, but I can’t think of anything worse than being covered in boozy Jell-O and fighting someone in that tub to entertain a bunch of drunk people. I knew straight away that Tucker is goofy, but I’m surprised this was his idea.”
“Look, I’m not defending him. And I’m the first to admit that his silly streak has landed him in hot water more than once. But Tucker has changed. He has matured a lot in the past year.”
That makes me feel better. If I had wanted to date the typical frat boy, I could have done that during my undergraduate years at Hemlock Beach—I would have made the time even in my busy schedule.
“Good. I like Tucker’s funny side, but I must admit that Jell-O wrestling tub doesn’t reconcile with the sweet guy I think I’m starting to get to know. What made him change?”
Talia lowers her voice, pulling me closer so I’m the only one who can hear her in the relatively crowded party. “The only thing with the power to change someone. He fell in love.”
“I assume it didn’t work out since he’s single?”
“He got crushed.” Talia sighs. “The fact that he got drunk and acted like a fool in front of half our school didn’t help matters.
And Bex was a sweetheart and forgave him.
But the experience taught him a lot. With some help from Coach Harrison, who threatened some serious consequences if Tuck didn’t quit his wild partying. ”
That makes a lot of sense. It explains why Tucker wasn’t drinking the night we met.
“I’m glad that bad experience had some positive impact on his life.”
Talia’s blue eyes bore into me as she takes my hand and squeezes it.
“Tucker hadn’t been himself lately. But he looks happy again since he met you.
I try my best not to meddle in his life, but he’s my big brother and I love him.
Whatever happens between the two of you, please don’t hurt him.
He’s way more sensitive than he shows the world. ”
I pull Talia into my arms. “I promise, Talia. He’s lucky to have a sister who loves him as much as you do.”
She squeezes me hard, reminding me of Tucker’s tight hugs. “We push each other’s buttons sometimes, but I would light the world on fire for my brother. If you have any siblings, you probably understand.”
“It’s just me and my mom. The closest thing I have to a sister is Jodie. She’s my ride or die.”
As if summoned by my words, Jodie and Sam find us outside on the deck. “Here you go, Tar-Tar.” She hands me a red Solo cup. “I watched Vaughn pour it. Let’s make sure we have our eyes on it at all times. If we get distracted, don’t touch it. We’ll get you a new one.”
“Is everything ok?” Talia asks.
I take a sip of the watery beer and regret it immediately. I’m going to find something else to drink in a second.
“Yeah, we’re fine.” Jodie explains. “But Taryn got roofied at our old school and it didn’t end well. So now we’re vigilant about watching our drinks.”
“Yikes,” Sam says. “I mean, we go to school with these guys and they are harmless for the most part, but I guess you never know.”
Talia agrees. “True. This group is much better. But Tar-Tar and Jodie are right. You never know this stuff until it’s too late.”
I ask her for more details, eager to divert the conversation from my past. “I sense a story there?”
Sam is the one who explains. “Yeah. Let’s just say that Coach Harrison worked hard to weed out all the bad apples from his roster. He’s had a couple of problems in the past.”
I’m about to ask what's the story there, but I’m lifted off the ground and spun around by two strong arms.
“Hey, put me down.” I giggle.
When my feet touch the ground again, I turn around to look into a pair of dark blue eyes.
But the owner of those mesmerizing eyes isn’t Tucker. “Hey Mack.” I smile. “I’m happy to see you, too.”
He lowers his head to whisper in my ear. “Please stick close to me, please. Gen and her minions just got here and I’m not in the mood for her crap.”
“Are you ok?”
“Yeah. I probably shouldn’t drink, but I think I need some liquid courage so I can tell my ex to fuck off if she tries to ruin my night like she did last weekend.”
I hand my beer to Mack. “Here, have this. I barely touched it.”
“What about you?” He immediately worries, accepting my solo cup.
“I’d rather have water. If they have sparkling, it’s even better.”
Mack wraps his much larger hand around mine. “Let’s go get you one, then.”
Jodie tracks the movement, her eyes wide as she looks at me to check if I’m ok.
I nod in response. “Hey babes, I’m going to get myself a bottle of water with Mack. See you in a sec?”
We get back inside the house. We find a large cooler filled with bottled water and cans of soda on the kitchen floor.
As I grab a sparkling water for myself and one for Tucker, I feel observed.
“I think avoidance isn’t getting you anywhere.” I tell my new BFF. “You should have a heart to heart with her. Have that hard conversation once, so she knows you aren’t interested in getting back together.”
“Don’t you think I did?” Mack groans. “We’ve had that conversation twice. But she’s never cared about what I want. I think there’s only one way to get the message through to her.”
I’m almost afraid to ask. “What’s that?”
“If she sees me hooking up with other women, eventually she’ll get the message.”
The words leave my mouth before I can think about it. “Mack, you’re hot, but I don’t feel that way about you. I’m sorry if that sounds rude, but…”
“I know, Tar-Tar.” His gaze softens. “And I know exactly what you mean. Don’t get me wrong, when I saw you for the first time at Joe’s last weekend, I thought you were a total smoke show.
But then something happened. When your top fell off during your audition, rather than finding it hot, I was embarrassed.
As if those tits belonged to my little sister rather than a hot, bang-able girl. ”
“Gee, thanks.” I can’t help but giggle. “I don’t know if I should feel relieved or offended.”
Mack pulls me into a side hug. “Relieved. You should totally feel relieved. I’m gonna be honest with you, Taryn.
Gen shattered my trust in women and relationships.
Right now I’m rebounding hard and even if there had been attraction between us, I wouldn’t have touched you with a ten-foot pole.
Not because I didn’t want you, but because I really like you beyond the fact that you’re hot.
I’m dangerous right now. All I can offer is a fun time between the sheets with no strings attached.
And I’d rather not risk an awesome friendship by sticking my dick where it doesn’t belong. ”
I respect that. “Ok. What about your hookups though?”
“I never promise anything more than what I intend to offer.”
I take his hand in mine again. “You’re a good guy, Macklin.”
“Thanks, Tar-Tar.” He brushes his lips over my temple. “Besides, two of my closest friends on the team are burning holes into our sides. It looks like you might have a problem on your hands. Because let me tell you, I think that both Tucker and Colsen have the hots for you.”
He isn’t wrong. Eventually it’ll be a problem when they expect me to make a choice. But it’s early days and I have time before we get to that hurdle. “There’s no problem. We’ve got this.”
“Hmm?” Mack tilts his head in question.
“I’ll explain another time. They’re coming over.”
My two boyfriends approach us.
Tucker immediately pulls me into one of his bear hugs, while Colsen kisses the side of my face in a similar way to what Mack did a moment ago.