Chapter 5
Petty Crocker
The conversation is buzzing in the back of the SUV. Sasha is laughing animatedly. I smile as I hear her call Dallas out on some bad pickup line he just used on her. I love her already. Jake looks at me and smiles. A genuine, relaxed smile. "Where's Bubba tonight?"
I try to maintain a straight face. Okay then, Mr. Sex King.
No warm-up, he went straight for the kill in the very first round.
I roll my eyes. No need in carrying on with this charade any further.
He knows I’m lying, and I know that he knows.
I won't insult his intelligence. It's time to be honest. "We both know I was lying about that.
I just assumed it would make you lose interest. Sasha pointed out that it would have the opposite effect only after I had hit the send button. "
I hear the boys "ooouuuuu" in the back. Jake is stunned.
His expression is hilarious. I don't want him to think it's because I find him repulsive or anything.
I don't want to hurt his feelings. I quickly add, "Listen, I'm not the best with spoken words sometimes.
I didn't mean it in a bad way. You're hot, and you seem nice enough.
But I'm not interested in a one-night stand, and I’m pretty sure you major in them.
No offense, and no judgments given. Let's just be friends. "
I reach out my hand so that we can shake on it. He smiles slowly. "So....you mean with benefits?" He winks.
I laugh. "No, jerk face. I mean, just two good ole buddies. Talking nonsense whenever we see each other."
"I am very offended that you called me jerk face, but yeah, friends. That's cool or whatever. In the spirit of honesty, I do think you'll change your mind. Eventually."
"Nope, I'm fairly stubborn, and jerk face is more polite than butt face. Just sayin'!"
The whole car erupts in laughter. "Yes, it is. Thanks for that." He rolls his eyes.
Jaxon leans up and whispers in my ear. "Hey Georgia, how are you? I'm just trying to make him jealous. That way, I can make fun of him later."
I throw my head back and laugh. That's crazy. Jake wouldn't get jealous over him flirting with me, I'm just a passing infatuation. I look at Jake, and he is giving us the death stare. That makes us laugh, and Jaxon whispers, "I told you so!"
That one eyebrow goes up again. "Told you what?"
I point back to the road. "I'll never tell, but pay attention, Jake. Precious cargo is up in here!"
He gives me that smirk of his. "Yes, ma'am. Will you tell me later though?"
We laugh again. "I'm almost certain Jaxon will tell you later."
We drive slow toward Fraternity Row. The streets and sidewalks are packed with people now.
Red solo cups can be seen from a mile away and some people have one in each hand.
Music is blaring from every single one of the houses we pass by.
Some houses are big, while others are small.
Not one house is the same color, but all have the name of their fraternity proudly displayed on the outside of their home in big Greek letters.
We park in the garage of the biggest house. "Y'all in this fraternity?"
"Nah," Jake answers first. "They just let me use this garage when big parties are in full swing. My car got keyed last year."
"That sucks. Probably some disgruntled one-night stand." Oh crap! I didn't mean to say that out loud. He looks amused. I quickly add, "Glad they let you use it, though. I've never been to a party. What do we do? Walk from house to house?"
Jaxon puts his arm around my shoulders. Which earns him another glare from Jake.
That glare makes my knees go weak. I need to remember, he's not interested in me, only my innocence.
We are just friends, with NO benefits. I will not change my mind either.
"Georgia, football has its perks. We are the head honchos on this here campus.
We let the party come to us. As our newfound friends, you can do the same. "
No arrogance is in his tone. He is bluntly stating a fact. "Well, friends, what can I drink that won't make me fall flat on my face but will help me loosen up? I'm a nervous wreck right about now."
Sasha speaks up first. "I got you, and I'll handle that for you tonight! And Dani, remember, present company excluded, of course, never take a drink from a stranger."
I nod my head. "My cousin's friend was almost assaulted at a party back home. She took a drink from a cute guy, not thinking he would slip anything in her drink. Toby found her before he could do anything to her, and he beat his ass."
I shiver, and Jaxon, tightens his hold. In an almost brotherly way. I like him. I think he'll be my second friend. He makes me feel comfortable.
Jake reassures me. He makes a move to take my hand, but I awkwardly put it in my pocket. He grins. "Nothing will ever happen to you or your friend. We’ll protect you. Won’t we boys?"
"Yes!" They shout in unison.
"Thanks." I'm smiling but feeling reasonably awkward. I've never really had any good guy friends before, except for Toby and he's my cousin, so that doesn't count.
We move into the house. It's not packed in here yet. The walls have farm wood paneling, and the high ceilings are rustic tin. The floor is a light brown wood. This house is gorgeous. Pictures are everywhere on the walls of past accomplishments from each class.
The DJ is warming up in the corner, and Jake goes and grabs himself a beer. Sasha brings us a mixed drink back. I look at the amber liquid not sure if I should "sip it" or "turn it up." Yes, I'm a dork. Unashamedly. "What is this?"
"An Amaretto Sour. My Mama makes the best ones. She lets me have one every New Years' Eve. We have a big family party every year. You'll have to come to our next one!"
"I'd love that!" I look around the room to see if I might recognize somebody from our dorm but I don't. I think these may all be upper classmen.
Jake is talking to two guys I don't know.
One of the guys is from earlier today, the one with long blonde hair.
His name is Axel Creed and he's a part of the Fearless Five.
I have no idea who the other guy is, though.
I feel like a stalker. I know everything about the Fearless Five.
At least everything that Google knows. Ain't technology grand?
People are starting to dance now so I sway with the music and let the alcohol do what it does or what I've heard that it does. This is my first drink. It tastes sweet, but it's also slightly sour. I like it. I don't taste the alcohol at all, which in theory, is probably an awful thing.
"Hi." Startled, I turn to the right, and a guy is standing up against the wall, watching me sway.
"Hi." I blush. I've stopped swaying to the beat. He's cute. Preppy cute, but still cute.
"You wanna dance?"
"I'm more of an observer."
He throws his head back and laughs. I smile back. He's got a great laugh. He winks at me. "Come on, I'll show you."
He grabs my hand before I can object so I stand there and look awkward. He laughs, but I'm not offended. He's not making fun of me. "Just sway like you were a minute ago."
I do exactly that, and he does the same. "See, we're dancing."
I laugh. "Yes, we are, and we're not that bad either."
He's being respectful and fun. He's not all up on me, and he is somewhat keeping his distance. I can appreciate that. "What's your name?"
"Benji. Yours?"
"Danielle, but all my friends call me Dani." He smiles big, but the smile doesn't quite reach his eyes. That odd, but maybe he's just shy.
"Dani, it is then!" I smile at him, but I feel kind of awkward now. It's almost as if he's hiding something. Or maybe I've just listened to too many true-crime podcasts.
Suddenly, I feel an arm around my waist, drawing me close to their side. I know without looking it's him, my favorite. The Sex King. "Who's this, Georgia?"
I swallow hard. Jakes so intense, and he appears to not like my new friend. If looks could kill, he'd be dead. "Benji, this is my friend, Jake. Jake, this is my friend, Benji."
Jake raises an eyebrow challenging him. Benji huffs but does nothing else. Jake gently moves me away from him. "I was dancing, Jake."
"And your pretty good at it, too, but you're my friend. Remember? And I don't like sharing."
I gulp. My knees are weak, and my palms are sweaty. "You can never have too many friends, Jake."
"You're my first friend, that's a straight girl. I don't plan on sharing you with any other guys anytime soon."
“I'm not a full-on feminist or anything, but you don't get a say on who I hang around with or who I talk to."
He shrugs. "We'll see about that."
Yes, we will. I'll show you. I don't say it out loud, but my mind is defiantly set.
Jake will probably lose interest in a little while anyway, so it won't even matter.
We walk through the party until I see Sasha, Dallas, and Jaxon at the open bar getting more drinks.
Dallas is flirting with her, and she's not having any of it. "There's our people."
He waves at them and pulls Jaxon to the side so he can whisper something in his ear.
I laugh as Sasha once again outwits Dallas with another quick retort.
I separate myself from Jake needing a breath of fresh air.
He's so masculine and strong. He is unknowingly suffocating me and making me feel things, things he won't ever feel towards me.
I need to keep my distance. I'm not all about being caught up in an unrequited love affair.
After his chat, he grabs me again. We don't stop this time until we make it out the door. He opens the garage and holds the passenger side door open for me. I fold my arms over my chest. "Where are we going? I'm not leaving Sasha."
"I promise she's okay. Jaxon and Dallas will not leave her side.
Let's just get something to eat, and then we'll come right back.
If you're going to drink, you need to eat.
I don't want you getting lightheaded or drunk since this is your first party, and I need to leave for a little while anyway or I'll punch the shit out of that preppy asshat Benji. I gotta clear my head."
I nod slowly and get in the front seat without saying another word. After we've driven a few minutes, I can't help but ask him the question that's been on repeat in my mind since I got in the car. "Why do you want to punch my new friend Benji?"
"That's between us."
I roll my eyes thinking you have got to be kidding me. "Does Benji play football?"
He shrugs. He does that a lot, and it's getting on my nerves. "He's on the team, if that's what you mean, but he doesn't get a chance to play much."
"Okay, Petty Crocker."
He rolls his eyes, "Just stating a fact, darlin'."
"Why did you act like you didn't know him?"
He smiles an all-teeth kind of grin. "Just to piss him off."
"What position does he play?"
"Quarterback."
Ohhhhhhh. "I see."
"Do you?"
"Yes. What's not to see?"
Apparently done with this part of our conversation, he turns on the radio, and some old school country music fills up the uncomfortable silence in the car. I clear my throat. "What do you want to eat?"
"I was thinking pancakes."
"You talkin’ dirty to me? I didn't bring my wallet, and you made me come, so it's your treat!"
"I don't make the pretty girls pay."
I laugh and blush just a little only a little actually means a lot. "I bet you say that to all the girls."
"Only to my Mama."
"You a Mama’s boy?"
"I am. She's pretty great. You'd like her, I think. She's sweet but keeps me in line."
"That's good. Wow, who knew? "The Jake Ryan" could be so sweet." I put his name in finger quotations.
He laughs. "Tell anybody, and I'll deny everything. Can't be seen as weak to my opponents."
We make it to my favorite diner, and I jump out quickly. I'm hungry, and since this isn't a date, I'm going to eat. We're just friends, and we will never be lovers. Did I just say, lovers. Am I 100?