Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
Rosalie
“I messed up so badly,” I muttered, holding a red solo cup in my hand and staring at the lukewarm beer. Gosh, it tasted like hot piss. Not that I ever tried it, but I could tell.
Daisy smoothed down her cute pink mini dress, which hugged her curves and held her cup as if her life depended on it. She didn't even drink a sip, and I hated myself for dragging her to a party when her eyes bounced all over the room looking for something bad to happen.
“What happened?” she asked, her green eyes finding mine and arching a brow.
It was unfair how pretty she was, with her curves at all the right places and her post-break-up weight loss.
I shook my head, not allowing myself to think negatively as I slammed the beer down next to the sofa we sat on.
The frat party I dragged her to was hosted by one of Aaron's friends, and the whole soccer team was attending.
Nothing bad could happen with my brother and his overprotective teammates lurking around.
“I was texting this guy,” I started, and Daisy laughed. “Didn't even tell you what I did.”
“Let me guess, he asked for a nude?” she giggled into her cup.
“Is that normal?”
“Yeah,” she grimaced. “I've sent so many pictures to my boyfriend... and he almost always threatened to show them to his teammates if I didn't do something I didn't want.”
“I'm sorry,” I muttered, reaching for her hand. Daisy shook her head.
“It's fine, therapy works and watching you stumble on the dating scene like a newborn deer is funny.”
“Glad my misery provides you entertainment,” I grinned at her. “I guess I shouldn’t send nudes?”
Daisy shrugged. “There really are no rules. I wouldn't send a nude to a guy I'm not dating or trusting. But I know many girls do. It's up to you to take risks.”
I contemplated her words. Not that I wanted to send a nude to the guy, but I met him last year at one of these parties, and despite being older, he was nice. We only recently reconnected when he reacted to my Instagram story. He also knew my brother.
But then the last thing I wanted was for my brother to see my picture.
“Nova, Nova!” Daisy shouted across the room and motioned Nova to come over.
She was the daughter of the soccer coach and had a very eccentric personality. She was a walking ray of sunshine all the time.
“What's up?” she asked, squeezing onto the sofa between us. She wore cut-off jean shorts and sneakers, keeping her look super casual.
“What's your take on sending nudes?” I asked her, making her laugh.
“Dating 101, don't send nudes.”
Daisy and I exchanged a look.
“Dating 102, block the guy after the first unsolicited dick pick.”
“What about dick videos?” I asked, making Daisy almost choke on her drink. I stared at my roommate, and her face was completely natural. But behind her, Derek stood coughing up his water.
“I need to join this conversation,” he groaned, his voice all raspy, and his blue eyes swam with humor.
“You really don't,” I muttered, but both Daisy and Nova moved, allowing him to squeeze in next to me.
I watched as his big thigh pressed against my exposed skin, the roughness of his jeans rubbing against my smoothness.
I wore only micro shorts and a top that could have passed for a very mini dress.
It was over the top, and sitting next to Derek, I suddenly felt self-conscious.
Why did I think it was a good idea to dress in such short clothes?
Oh yeah, unsolicited dick video.
“What's your take on nudes?” Nova asked, pushing her solo cup in front of Dex as if it were a microphone. Her eyes lingered in the distance before looking back at us, and I caught her staring at Maddox.
“Sexy,” Derek replied with a grin. “But I like them unsolicited. When a guy asks for it, and you don't send it right away, it kills the vibe. He was probably jerking off and needed mental stimulation. Once that passes, your nude is just one of many.”
“Or you know he could watch porn,” Daisy grimaced.
“You’re not wrong,” Dex nodded.
“What about unsolicited dick... videos?” Nova glanced at me, and I felt my cheeks burn.
“What's on the video? Jerking off, showing off... like I need context.”
“You really don't,” I muttered, embarrassed. “I just suck at this dating scene. I don't understand why everything has a double meaning, and clearly, I can't hold a conversation for more than three minutes without being asked for nudes or getting dick videos.”
Dex watched me, his blue eyes scanning my face, studying. His piercing gaze was slowly peeling back my layers, and he was trying to make sense of the mess that was me. Comparing the Rosie he knew, who always smiled and talked, and this new Rosalie, who sucked at even maintaining a conversation.
Gosh, I thought college would be good for my social life and help me build confidence, but all I wanted to do was drop out. It would save my parents a bunch of money, and I could do anything different than going to parties and trying to get a boyfriend.
What a pathetic little life.
“I'm going to grab a drink and play some beer pong,” Nova jumped up, breaking my inner turmoil. “I'll leave you with the dick expert.”
“I would prefer being called a pussy expert,” Dex narrowed his eyes at her, but Nova just threw her dark hair over her shoulder and disappeared.
Daisy shifted on the sofa and slowly stood. “I'm going to find the bathroom.”
She disappeared in the crowd of people and only looked up when Dex dropped his arm at the back of the sofa, brushing my neck. “What's up Rosebud?”
Taking a deep breath, I leaned back and groaned. “Nothing. That's the problem.”
“Lay it out on me, I'm the expert you heard.”
I didn't understand why he was being nice after my rudeness. But this was Dex. It was always so easy to talk to him.
“Do you like this guy? Is that why we are trying this hard?” he asked, probing me.
“Gosh, no,” I grimaced. “I don't think I like any of these idiots.”
Derek shot me a confused look, and my shoulders sagged. “I'm trying to date.”
“I can tell,” he nodded. “Where are you stuck?”
“Getting a date instead of a hookup.”
Dex laughed. “You're in college, using a dating app. That's calling for a hookup.”
“What?” I blinked. “You're telling me, it's not my profile, or my picture, or even my bio. Is it simply because I'm using an app? So, how am I supposed to meet guys?”
“I don't know, jeez,” Derek grimaced and motioned around. “Talk to them at a party, in the coffee shop, at the library, on your way to class. Anywhere?”
“You make it sound so easy,” I stared at him, my nose scrunched up.
“It's not rocket science, Rosie Posie. You see a guy you like; you flash him your smile and approach with a "hi." Has a 95% success rate, and it's 100% dick pick and video proof. Did I just change your life?”
I hummed. “Potentially. Do you maybe want to give me lessons?”
Derek coughed as he lifted the water to his lips, but my questions startled him. “Lessons in what exactly?”
I bit into my lower lip. “I don't know... flirting, texting, dating... the basics?”
His eyes fell on my lips, where my teeth met flesh before they jumped back to my eyes. “You're a girl, Rosie. I'm sure you know better than me how to drive a guy crazy.”
“I don't think so,” I shook my head. “I never had a boyfriend.”
“Yeah, but...” he started, with the excuse, but I shook my head again.
“Derek,” I said his name more assertively, as our eyes collided. “I never had a boyfriend.”
The way I emphasized “never,” I saw his face fall.
“What the fuck, Rosie,” he muttered, his hand raking through his hair. “Are you telling me this is a deflowering movement?”
I winced. “When you put it that way, it sounds bad.”
“Jesus,” he stared at me as he saw me for the first time. “How are you almost twenty and have never had sex...”
“Are you judging?” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Not everyone likes to just fuck around. I was busy dancing.”
“Very busy,” he nodded, and I punched his arm.
“Stop.”
Dex burst out laughing and shook his head. “Sorry, I'm just masking my shock with humor.”
“Why is it so shocking that someone wouldn't have the... opportunity to have sex?” I turned towards him, eyes wide. “Explain.”
“You're... pretty, smart, and a dancer,” he pointed out some of my features, making me blush.
Was he complimenting me? Or just saying what I needed to hear?
I shrugged, dipping my chin to hide my blush. “Guess, I just haven't found the right person.”
Derek arched his eyebrow and snorted. “Clearly, your standards are so high that you would pick anyone off an app.”
“Asshole,” I muttered, punching his arm again.
“If that were the case, I would have already been done with my quest. So, yes, I do have standards. I want to find someone good, someone who is not just going to fuck me and leave. I want them to be kind and caring, not like all these frat boys. No offence.”
“None taken. So, we are looking for a boyfriend,” Dex smirked, and I really wanted to wipe that off his face.
“No... I don't know.”
“But you do, Rosie,” he chuckled, his voice dropping lower as his gaze darkened. “We are looking for your Prince Charming, who is going to magically solve all your problems. We are searching for a Max to your Ivy. The Liam to your Brooke.”
“I get the point,” I cut him off, my cheeks burning from anger. “You don't need to make fun of me.”
“I'm not,” he shook his head, and I saw pity in his eyes. “But love isn't something you can learn, Rosie. It's something you experience and fall into, hoping the other person will be there to catch you. You can't plan for it; it just happens. And usually, in the most inconvenient time.”
I scoffed. “What do you know about love, Casanova? All you do is fuck your way through all the sororities.”
Derek laughed, my jabs clearly not hitting him. “I know more than you think, Thorn. That's why I'm fucking my way through every sorority. I'm not interested in love.”