Prologue
Charlotte
“Are you sure you want to go in there?” My friend Bree asks as we stand outside a house on Greek Row. Bree and I aren’t regulars to frat parties, but my boyfriend has been pressuring me to come and he promised it would be a good time. Raphael is an international student from France. He arrived last year and we’ve been together since we met at a party last New Year’s Eve. Bree along with some other friends dragged me to the party because our friend Callie was interested in a guy there. Things never worked out with the guy Callie was there to meet but I met Raphael and we hit it off. He’s been my first relationship since high school. Given that I am now a senior and things are getting serious between Raphael and I and I feel it’s important I try things he likes to do like attending this frat party. It isn’t fair I drag him to basketball games, and book signings while I don’t do something he likes in return. Truth is he’s tried to convince me to party with him for months and I’ve been apprehensive this whole time. Bree felt like since it is our senior year of college we should try something new and basically sew our wild oats before we enter the real world.
“We got this.” Bree nods. She looks beautiful with her auburn hair blown out and skimpy black dress we bought yesterday at a shop in town.
“We do,” I agree yanking on the hem of my dress. I bought it at the same shop she bought hers. The thing hits mid thigh which I am really not used to. I much prefer cute little sweaters and plaid skirts, or pants. Raphael says I remind him of a sexy librarian with my black short hair and my dark framed glasses.
It’s a late summer night and this party is in honor of Orientation week. The air is humid so I can only imagine how hot it will be in a house packed with way too many bodies.
I’m wearing a flat sandle despite Bree trying to convince me to wear a pair of heels like her but I’m all about comfort over looks.
We enter the house and my senses are enveloped from all angles. The scent of sweat and alcohol mingle in the humid air. The place is packed with people dancing, playing beer pong and making out. Despite being a senior I feel very out of my element. Music pumps at a loud beat and I find myself moving to the music as I search the house for Raphael.
“Where do you think he could be?” Bree shouts over the music.
I shrug.
A girl comes up to her all smiles and holding her arms out ready to get her in a hug. Then she is whispering in her ear and taking her by the hand.
“This is Esther, we have classes together,” Bree explains.
I nod. “Nice to meet you.”
“She wants us to grab some drinks,” Bree says loudly.
“Why don’t you two go ahead. I’m going to see if I can find Raphael,” I say.
Bree places her mouth next to Esther’s ear and then the girl’s head bobs.
“We’ll be over there,” she points.
“Okay.”
I walk through the house. It fits the stereotype of frat house to a T. Old furniture, lots of students. The house itself must be over a hundred years old. I scan areas in the main room, I walk into the kitchen I even check the backyard and there is no sign of Raphael. He usually hangs around some other international students he’s met at Riverside U but I don’t see them either. I walk back into the house but I am not ready to give up my search yet. I shoot him a text telling him I’m here and head upstairs. I need to pee and I heard someone say the bathroom upstairs was less busy. I peed before I left my dorm but when I get nervous I have to pee more often so this is me with my nerves kicking in.
I head upstairs and get in a line that looks just as long as the line I passed downstairs. As I am waiting I hear loud moans.
“Someone must be having a good time,” the girl in front of me chortles.
I give her a knowing look. I really wouldn’t know about a very good time because I can’t say I’ve had earth shattering sex. Although Raphael has been a little more capable than my high school boyfriend.
I suddenly hear the girl that was moaning scream. “Yes, Raphael.”
My eyes feel like they bug out of my head. Did I hear that right? Did she say Raphael? How many Raphael’s are there at Riverside U? He’s the only one I’ve met in my three years here.
“Fuck, yes, Raphael.” The girl screams.
Oh hell no. I’m not imagining this. I leave the line and head toward the sound of the moans. My heart rate kicks up with every step and as I touch the doorknob I feel like I’ve stopped breathing.
I turn the knob and push open the door. Raphael as in my Raphael is lying naked on top of a naked girl and he’s drilling into her.
“OMG.” My palm comes up to my mouth and he turns his head to look at me.
“Charlie?” Raphael asks but he’s frozen. “What are you doing here?”
“Are you kidding me right now?” I ask feeling my insides shaking.
“Charlie Cherie I can explain,” Raphael says shifting off the bed and standing. His dick waves in the air and the girl he was with pulls the sheet over her naked body.
“I don’t think there is anything to explain,” I say as the sting of tears pricks the back of my eyelids.
“I love many,” Raphael says holding his arms out to his sides as if that is explanation enough.
My mouth falls open. I should walk away but my feet feel glued to their spot.
“Hi,” the voice comes from behind me. I turn to see a guy.
I stare at him. He places his hand on my shoulder.
“I was looking for you,” he says.
My brows furrow because I am pretty sure I’ve never met this guy before and I would remember a guy like him because he is drop dead gorgeous.
“You were?” I ask feeling light headed.
“Yes, you said you would meet me here. I couldn’t find you,” he goes on then he is giving me very intense eye contact.
“Ah yes, right. . .” I try to come up with his name.
“Finn,” he says.
“Finn, it’s so good to see you,” I say.
The guy steps closer to me and wraps his arm around me. “And who do we have here?” he asks looking between Raphael and the girl in his bed.
“Holy shit,” the girl in the bed mutters and then she is batting her lashes at Finn.
“This is Raphael. We’ve been dating for the past eight months. He told me we were in an exclusive relationship and now I am getting the vibe he is the world’s biggest cheater,” I explain to this mystery man.
“I think you’re better off without this scum bag. In fact I think you should come with me. This guy looks like he must be terrible in bed. His penis is too small.”
Raphael’s dark eyes bug out and he quickly moves to cup himself.
The girl in the bed pouts and mutters. “Lucky bitch.”
I have no idea what is going on. I have whiplash.
“Come,” this Finn guy says looking at me and waiting for my approval. He’s easily a foot taller than me and I’m five foot five.
I nod and he guides me out of the room.
We head back into the hallway and Finn closes the door behind us.
I blow out a breath. “Thanks for saving me.”
“You didn’t need saving,” he says.
“I kind of did. I froze. I trusted that guy,” I say pointing my thumb back to the room.
“Come I have a better spot to show you,” he says.
“Is that some sort of weird pick-up line because. . .”
“Look I’m not trying to pick you up. Let’s just say I’ve been where you are and the person I was dating I knew from childhood.”
I wince at his statement. “Tough.”
“So, you want to see my secret spot?” he asks.
“I do but I really need to use the bathroom first,” I say.
“Come with me,” he says.
I usually don’t follow good looking strangers but my instincts tell me this guy isn’t dangerous and he just saved me from completely falling apart in front of Raphael.
He leads me to a room and presses a code into the door. It opens. “There’s a private bathroom in here. I’ll wait for you out here.”
“Thanks,” I give him a shy smile and walk past him my bladder painfully full at this point.
I find a clean bathroom and I sigh the minute I close the door. What would have happened if I had surprised Raphael months ago at one of these parties? He always told me that he wasn’t interested in the girls that went to these things that he was purely going to hang out with friends.
I quickly relieve my bladder and wash my hands. When I look in the mirror I’m surprised to see my makeup has held up. Not that I am wearing a lot just more than I usually do. I made my lashes extra thick with mascara and used a black eyeliner to accentuate the round shape of my eyes. Then I applied some lipstick which has held up nicely.
I take a breath before heading back out to his Finn guy.
“All good?” he asks when I leave the room.
I nod. “Thanks.” I tuck a piece of hair nervously behind my ear.
“Can I show you my secret place now?” he asks.
“Do you live here? Was that your room?” I point back to it.
“No, it’s my buddies room. I don’t like parties. I hang out in there or I go to this other place. It’s got a nice view.”
“And why do you want to take me there?” I ask.
He laughs. “I don’t know. Did you want to join the party downstairs?”
“No,” I blurt. “I mean, I don’t usually come to these kinds of parties,” I murmur.
“Why’s that?” he asks.
“Not my scene.” I shrug.
“It isn’t mine either but my friend’s sometimes pressure me into coming. Because it’s orientation week I agreed,” he says.
“That’s why I came. I figured new year new experiences and I needed to step out of my comfort zone a little. I’m a senior. It’s my last year here.”
“Same,” he says.
“What are you majoring in?” he asks.
“Communications. You?”
“Biochem with a minor in philosophy,” he replies.
“Holy shit. Impressive,” I say.
He laughs and a dimple pops in his right cheek.
“I didn’t catch your name,” he says.
“Charlie,” I reply.
“Finn, officially nice to meet you,” he says.
“Yeah,” I sigh. He’s literally been my knight in shining armor tonight.
“So you going to risk following me?” he asks.
“Why not. Lead the way,” I say. He guides me to another set of stairs that leads out to a roof balcony.
The fresh warm air hits my face and it feels like a relief from the musty house.
“This is a nice view,” I say.
He walks over to a table and chairs and takes a seat.
I follow and sit too.
“How did you know I walked in on Raphael?” I immediately ask.
He frowns. “I went inside to use the bathroom in my buddies room. The one you just used and I was walking out and heard the sheer panic in your voice. I was being a nosy asshole and peeked in the room to see that Raphael dude buck naked squirming like the vermin he is.”
“Well, your timing was impeccable,” I chirp.
“No, you’re timing was impeccable. Did you catch them in the act?” he asks.
I nod.
“Damn, that’s harsh,” he winces.
“Were you sitting up on this balcony all night?” I ask Finn.
“I was reading a philosophy book on my kindle,” he says with a crooked grin. This guy has the body of an Adonis. He has wavy brown hair and green eyes with tanned skin. He’s gorgeous and he’s sitting up here all by his lonesome.
“Why bother coming to a party then?” I ask.
“I told you my buddies dragged me here but it’s really not my scene,” he says.
“Then why don’t we get out of here?” I suggest. “No. . .wait. I didn’t just say that.”
His right brow quirks and he looks at me questioningly. “Do you want to leave?”
“I mean yeah, but not in the way you may think. I don’t just tell guys at parties I want to go home with them. Not that I want to go home with you I don’t,” I clarify.
Finn chuckles. “You’re funny.”
“That’s what you’ve gathered from my muttering?” I ask nervously.
“Why don’t we head to the beach. We can sit and watch the water,” he suggests.
“It’s nighttime,” I remind.
“The way the moon hits the water is amazing, trust me,” he says.
“I don’t know you,” I counter.
“Well you’ve been safe with me this far,” he says.
“True but this could all be part of your plan,” I reply.
“Charlie, I don’t have a plan. I don’t do relationships. I’m mostly not a nice guy but I felt bad for you tonight and I’m sure you don’t want my pity but at least I can distract you from thinking about that trainwreck you just encountered.”
“Aren’t you Mr. Sunshine,” I snicker. “You know what? I will go with you to the beach but only because I don’t want to think of Raphael and his floozies.”
Finn licks his lips and stands from his chair. I follow him through the house. I grab onto his arm and tell him I need to find Bree and tell her I’m leaving.
“I’ll wait for you outside,” he says, and he looks like he wants to run out of here like the house is on fire.
I find Bree dancing with some big guy. She’s clearly drank a bit. “Charlie where have you been? Were you getting busy with Raphael upstairs?”
“Not exactly, but I am going to take off. I’ll see you back at the dorm,” I say to her.
“Are you okay?” she asks. I really don’t feel like getting into it right now.
“Yeah, totally fine,” I assure.
“I can come with you,” she offers.
“No, you stay, I’m good,” I assure.
We hug and I leave the party.
I find Finn standing by an old beat-up Honda Civic.
“You ready?” he asks.
“As I’ll ever be,” I confirm.