25. Gigi
CHAPTER 25
Gigi
They shouldn’t be calling this a pajama party. I’d bet all the money in the world that these are not the outfits these students wear to bed. I know I’m not wearing my usual sweatpants and tank top. They shouldn’t label tonight as a fundraiser, either. Although it might be true that all the money in the donation box by the front door will be given to charity, nobody in this house cares about the underprivileged. Everybody just wants to get hammered.
“Here.” Zach hands me a drink. “Vodka tonic.”
“Thanks,” I answer curtly, still feeling somewhat salty that he managed to guilt-trip me into coming here. The only thing I wanted to do after coming home from work was curl up in bed, but he sent me an SOS text. It turns out Zach and I have different definitions of the term. I thought he was in one of his depressive episodes again, the ones that seem to come out of nowhere and make him sulk for a few days at a time. He thought a girl ghosting him after five days was enough to warrant sending me the message. After what happened with Andrew, the alarm bells in my head always ring every time someone tells me they’re depressed, even if they’re just exaggerating.
Maybe I’m a magnet for these types of people, but my best guy friend seems to be the one to always ring said bell.
“So what happened with the girl from your ancient civilizations course again?” I ask, tipping the cup to my lips.
“I don’t know. One moment we’re talking about going on a double date with Zoey and Kai, and the next thing I know, she won’t return my calls.”
“Maybe you read the vibes wrong.”
“Me?” He gives me a smug grin. “Never.” I love him to death, but why do these guys who play football seem to be overconfident all the time? It’s like the coach mixes their protein powder with arrogance or something. The moment someone tells them no or something doesn’t go their way, they either get shitfaced like Zach right now or throw a temper tantrum. “Anyway, why are you not interested in Pierre again?” There it is. Point proven.
“Zach.” I close my eyes so I can curb my urge to say something mean. “He’s looking for a fling and I’m…not looking. Period. You have to stop setting us up. You’re making the both of us uncomfortable at this point.”
“What happened to hey, I’m Gigi and I’m ready to get back out there ?”
“I am,” I answer, feeling the panic slowly taking over my body. I did tell him that at the beginning of the year before…Luke happened. “Just not with Pierre. He’ll be leaving the US in the summer.”
Do I stop dating now that Luke and I are doing things? Are we dating? We’ve fucked twice and text on the regular now. We even met once on Tuesday in a group setting. But ever since he gave me my first-ever orgasm last week, we haven’t really talked much about what we actually are. We mostly just talk about unimportant things like how our classes are and what dinner we’re eating that day. He also hasn’t asked me out again.
“I didn’t know he was back with Autumn,” Zach asks suddenly.
“Who?” I ask, still preoccupied with my own thoughts.
“Luke.” Well, he has my attention now.
I think I might be hearing him wrong, but sure enough, when I follow his gaze to the lawn of the sorority house, I spot them. Luke, Autumn, Zoey, and Malakai all taking a shot from a tray being held by some freshman I know from one of my classes. Luke and Kai are wearing flannel pajama pants in different colors while Zoey is wearing a nightgown and Autumn is covered in the same pattern that Luke has on his bottoms. My heart sinks. Did they decide to wear a matching set?
“I didn’t know either,” I mumble. “Zach, I think I’m going to head?—”
“Yo, guys!” Zach yells in their direction. Fuck . “We’re here!”
Out of the three of them, Luke is the only one who’s not smiling when he sees us. He shoves one hand in his pocket and follows the other three in our direction.
“Gigi!” Zoey squeals. “I thought you said you weren’t coming.”
“Yeah, Zach made me come,” I say, trying my best not to glare at Luke and Autumn. Just because I’m not looking at him, doesn’t mean that I don’t feel him burning a hole on the side of my head. He might as well be shooting laser beams with those eyes of his.
“Giuliana Bankowski here,” Zach slurs. “Is just trying to be a good wingwoman for me tonight. Layla ghosted me.”
“So no double date then?” Kai asks, crinkling his nose.
“Give me a few weeks.” Zach smirks. “I’m sure I can come up with something.” And I have no doubt he will. This guy is one good-looking, giant bear.
“And when you do,” Autumn chimes in. “Maybe we can triple date.” I tip back my cup and drink the rest of my vodka tonic. As I’m swallowing, what she says makes me want to throw everything back up. “Right, Luke?”
Luke doesn’t answer. Since everyone’s focus is on him, waiting for his response, I summon the courage to look at him as well. Safety in numbers, right? I suck in a breath when I see his hardened stare pinned on me, like he’s daring me to say something. I almost scoff at him. What does he think I’m going to do? Stake my claim? Or maybe he's silently pleading with me to keep my mouth shut.
“Gonna get myself a refill,” I announce with a fake smile, lifting my cup in the air. When I pass by the freshman handing out the shots, I grab one and take it. It’s not enough to make me forget what Luke and I did or what Autumn just said, but it’s enough to keep me warm for my walk home in this late April weather.