Chapter 3
The stoplight party was about as thrilling as watching a TV shopping channel.
And while I might have been exaggerating, the point was I wasn’t having fun.
Drew introduced me to some of his friends: his fraternity big, a handful of other brothers, and a few of their girlfriends.
I tried to make small talk, but the problem was I didn’t have anything in common with them.
No, that wasn’t true. If I dug deeper, I probably could have found similar interests.
The real problem was, the longer I stood in the stifling basement of Zeta Gamma Theta listening to the girls talk about an upcoming sisterhood retreat, the angrier I became.
Not at Drew’s friends, they were nice enough, but at the universe or God or whoever was responsible for robbing me of a normal existence.
If I hadn’t gotten sick, I would be one of these people right now—happy, carefree, and taking advantage of everything college had to offer.
I could have joined a sorority, tried out for the cheerleading team at whatever university I attended, and studied interior design.
Watching others my age enjoy the life I’d planned to have was too much, so I pretended to use the bathroom and never came back.
I chose to hide out in Drew’s room. Since I couldn’t drive, I’d been forced to catch a ride with him to campus.
He had to arrive early to help set up the party, so I’d spent the afternoon watching Dapper Daddies on his roommate’s TV; Blake was still gone for winter break, so Drew said he wouldn’t mind.
The season four finale had just started when my phone buzzed, and I glanced at my sibling group chat.
Y’all Look Familiar
Tue, Jan 5, 11:13 p.m.
Stella Samuel:
Concert is over. We’re on our way
Drew Samuel:
ETA?
Stella Samuel:
11:30
Drew Samuel:
Okay. I’ll meet you guys at the door
I had a perfect view of the street from my spot on Drew and Blake’s lumpy futon, and fifteen minutes later, a black SUV pulled up to the curb.
I pressed Pause. The back door opened, and Oliver slid out.
My stomach fluttered at the sight of him, but I ignored the feeling as best as possible as he helped Stella from the car.
When a guy with spindly legs and shaggy, strawberry-blond hair stepped out after her, I did a double take.
I hadn’t realized anyone else was coming, but there was Xander Jones, adjusting his glasses as he surveyed the house.
He slammed the door shut, but a couple seconds later, two guys joined him from the other side of the car.
The first had immaculately styled platinum hair, the chiseled face of a model, and a pair of earbuds draped around his neck—Alec Williams. The other, JJ Morris, was a broad-shouldered guy with short dark hair who, despite the freezing temperature, didn’t have a jacket on.
The cutoff tee he was wearing showed off his massive biceps.
I perked up, suddenly energized by the sight of my favorite band.
For a split second, I considered racing downstairs to meet them at the door with Drew.
It would be so cool to hang out with the Heartbreakers again…
but what was the point? Once the party realized who had arrived, everyone and their mother would want to talk to them.
Might as well stay up here and avoid the chaos.
My gaze drifted back to Oliver. I couldn’t help but watch him as the group started up the front walk; that was until Stella took his hand and my throat turned thick.
I tore my eyes off my sister’s boyfriend in time to see JJ sneak up behind Xander, yank down his pants to reveal a pair of blue boxer briefs, and bolt away.
Xander paused like he was considering retaliation, then shook his head, pulled his jeans back up, and continued walking.
Two seconds later, the band disappeared from sight as they stepped onto the porch.
I let out a heavy sigh. Even though I thought the party was a letdown, I hoped the boys enjoyed themselves. As long they had fun, I’d be content watching trashy TV by my lonesome.
Scooping up the remote, I was just about to hit Play when I heard the unmistakable stomping of multiple pairs of feet on the steps.
Drew’s room was the closest to the staircase, and it suddenly hit me that the band would need somewhere to ditch their stuff.
If my siblings caught me up here sulking, I had a feeling I’d never hear the end of it.
I turned off the TV and glanced around for a hiding spot. The bed frames were too low for me to fit underneath, and when I opened the closet, a huge mountain bike along with what looked like a hockey bag nearly crushed me.
That only left one not-so-great option.
There was already a pile of coats on Drew’s bed, presumably from his friends who didn’t live at the frat house, so I threw myself onto the mattress and slipped under the comforter. I had just finished arranging the pillows and jackets on top of me when the bedroom door opened.
“In here,” I heard Drew say. “You can leave whatever you want on the far bed.”
Holding my breath, I listened as multiple people entered the room, chatting and laughing among themselves.
The floorboards creaked as they moved around, accompanied by the sound of zippers unfastening and the rustling of fabric.
I stayed as still as possible, but when someone tossed their jacket on top of me, I nearly jumped in surprise.
“Time for me and Stella to kick someone’s ass at beer pong,” Oliver announced. His voice was so close, he had to be standing directly next to the bed. “Any takers?”
A few more jackets were added to the pile, and then a cheerful voice that could only be Xander said, “You’re on. Alec, want to be my partner?”
Alec didn’t say anything, but he must have given some kind of response, because Oliver let out a snort of amusement. “Positive you’re up for some public humiliation? Because the two of you are going down.”
Before Xander or Alec could reply to Oliver’s taunt, a phone rang.
“Hey, I have to take this call.” It was JJ talking now, and he sounded annoyed. “Mind if I stay up here?”
“Sure thing,” Drew said. “You can meet us in the basement when you’re done.”
The floorboards continued their chorus of creaking as everyone trooped out of the room. When someone closed the bedroom door, JJ released a long sigh. He let his phone ring for a few more seconds before finally answering.
“This better be important,” he said in lieu of a proper greeting.
It was silent for half a minute as JJ let whoever was on the other line speak.
“Seriously, this again?” he said abruptly, and his tone had taken on a dangerous edge. “Just stop. I’ve already said no, and I’m sick of these stupid games.”
There was another pause, and an itchy, uncomfortable feeling crept across my skin. I shouldn’t have been listening to his private conversation, but revealing myself now would probably make things worse.
“Are you for real right now?” he snapped, moving closer to the bed. “Actually, you know what? I don’t give a shit what you tell Soph. She’s my sister. Do you really want to bet your friendship on this? Because when it comes down to it, she’ll pick me every single time.”
Out of nowhere, the mattress springs groaned, and something heavy crushed my foot.
“Ouch!” The word slipped out before I could stop it. The weight vanished instantly, and a moment later, JJ yanked the covers back, spilling the mountain of winter clothes onto the floor.
“Layla, I have to go,” he said, staring down at me. He hit End without waiting for an answer.
“Um, hi.” I offered him a hesitant smile. “Sorry for interrupting.”
“It’s fine.”
“Are you sure? I can wait in the hall if you want to call them back.”
JJ didn’t answer. He glanced at the door in clear confusion, then back at me. Finally, realization dawned on his face. “Cara?”
“That’s me,” I said awkwardly.
“For a second, I thought you were—” He stopped and shook his head. “Your hair was blond when I met you.”
“That was a wig,” I told him.
There was something different about JJ’s appearance too.
For as long as I’d been obsessed with the Heartbreakers, he’d always had a simple armband tattoo.
Elements of the vine-like pattern were still present, but he’d extended the design into a half sleeve.
It must have been a recent addition, because the skin around the Celtic knots twisting up his bicep and covering the top of his shoulder was still a little red.
“Right.” He shoved his phone into his pocket and flopped back down, careful not to crush me this time. “What are you doing up here anyway?”
“Hiding.” Hadn’t that been obvious?
A slow grin stretched across his face. “If you wanted to get me in bed, gorgeous, all you had to do was ask.”
My blush was instant. “Yeah, that’s totally it.
I wanted you so badly I hid in my brother’s bed waiting to seduce you,” I said, trying to play it cool.
Which was easier said than done considering JJ Morris and I were sitting on the same mattress…
and he was flirting with me. Granted, based on the interviews I’d watched and Stella’s firsthand experience, that was his standard operating procedure.
But a girl could enjoy the little pleasures in life, right?
Don’t freak out, I told myself. Just act normal, and don’t! Freak! Out!
I took a deep breath, desperately trying to slow my stampeding heart. He smelled overwhelmingly of menthol, like he’d bathed in Icy Hot before coming to the party.
It was strange—Stella had always been into guys who were built, bearded, and tatted up, while I liked long, lean, pretty boys.
Minus the facial hair, which judging by his five-o’clock shadow he was perfectly capable of growing, JJ was the definition of my sister’s type.
Yet somehow, she’d ended up with Oliver.
His grin stretched wider. “I knew it. I’m just that irresistible.” Snagging a pillow from the pile, he tucked it behind his head and leaned back against the wall. “So what are you actually doing up here?”
For a few seconds, I was very much distracted.
I’d known JJ was big—obviously, since we’d met once before—but it never registered how much space the guy took up until we were sharing a bed together, his body stretched out in front of me.
Not only was he barrel-chested, but I wouldn’t have been surprised if my scrawny thighs had a smaller circumference than his arms.
He was hot too. Not physically, although I had to admit he was definitely that, but temperature-wise. Body heat rolled off him like warmth from a space heater, and I had to push the covers off to keep from sweating. No wonder he hadn’t worn a jacket. The guy was a freaking werewolf.
When JJ cocked his head at me, I remembered he was waiting for an answer. “The party wasn’t really my thing,” I told him.
“How come? You don’t strike me as the shy type.”
“I’m not.” I hesitated, then added, “I felt out of place.”
“Why?”
“Because everyone here is in college…” And I would do anything to trade places with them. “I’m not,” I finished without much conviction, painfully aware of how flimsy the excuse was.
His lips quirked. “There isn’t a sign above your head broadcasting the fact that you’re not a student here. No one down there knows who you are, which means you can be whoever you want tonight. Take my word for it. That’s a gift.”
I sympathized with what he was saying. It had to be difficult for JJ to exist in a world where everyone knew his name.
To him, my anonymity must seem like a luxury.
That wasn’t my issue, though, and I wasn’t about to explain the bitter anger twisting inside me.
Or the jealousy. If I wasn’t comfortable having this conversation with my twin, then I sure as heck wasn’t having it with someone who was basically a stranger.
“Trust me, I’m usually good at pretending.
” Excellent, actually. After all, I had years of practice pretending to be a cheerful, positive person under my belt.
My personal motto had quite literally become “fake it till you make it,” especially when it came to dealing with Stella.
“It’s just…” I trailed off, still unsure how to put into words what I was feeling.
JJ must have sensed my frustration. “Hey,” he said, holding up his hands. He was wearing multiple silver rings, and I wanted to move closer so I could examine each one. “No need to explain if you don’t want to.”
“Thanks,” I replied, grateful to drop the subject.
“There’s something I need you to do for me though.”
“Okay. What’s that?”
He jerked his thumb in the direction of the door. “Stop hiding and come downstairs with me.”
“Oh.” I glanced around the room, trying to think of an excuse. “I don’t know.”
Another self-assured grin materialized on JJ’s face. “I personally guarantee that you’ll have a good time.”
“And if I don’t?” I asked, raising a brow in question.
“If you’re not having fun after thirty minutes, I promise I’ll distract everyone with my dashing good looks so you can sneak back up here.” He pushed himself off the bed, sending the wallet chain attached to his belt loop swinging, and held out his hand. “Just give it a chance.”
I almost said no.
After all, I’d already done the whole “say yes to everything for a day,” which was the only reason I was at this disaster of a party in the first place. But this was JJ freaking Morris asking me to hang out with him. What kind of Heartbreakers fan would I be if I turned him down?
“Fine,” I said and placed my hand in his. “Let’s do this.”