“The Alpha Mu frat is a big deal here. They throw the best parties, so when word spread that another chapter was coming in, yeah—word got around. The party tonight is going to be insane.”

A flicker of worry sparked in me. Maybe I should check to see if our bedroom had a lock on it.

“Where are you staying, Summer?”

The question came from Clarissa, but I could feel Avery’s keen interest too. I shrugged, feeling itchy all over, all the sudden. “I don’t know. I’ll figure it out.”

“Are you planning on asking for directions and my dorm key later tonight?”

“What?” Avery asked.

“Yeah.” Clarissa pointed to me. “This one here called me a couple weeks ago and asked if she could stay at our room if it got too crowded here. I told her she was nuts. Everyone is hoping to get in this party. Why wouldn’t you stay? You know?”

Avery laughed, but it sounded a bit forced. “Oh yeah. I know.”

I relaxed. We were laughing. It was all good. They were getting along, and then Avery stopped. “Are you staying with Caden tonight?”

We weren’t laughing anymore.

The itching doubled, and I tried scratching my ear against my shoulder. “Uh. What?”

“Caden. You rode with him. You said he got upset before. Are you sleeping with him?”

“You mean is that just the place I’m going to crash?”

Her eyes held mine, and when I glanced away, I felt a gotcha vibe coming from her.

“You know what I mean,” she said.

“Yes. I might crash there, but I don’t know. We haven’t talked.’

“Who’s Caden? The guy outside said his name too.”

“You should go ask him.”

“Is he the guy?” Clarissa leaned closer, whispering.

“The guy?” Avery’s attention snapped back to my high school friend. “What do you mean?”

“There’s a guy—”

I clamped a hand on Clarissa’s arm. “My friend. That’s what she means. I told her about my weird friendship with Caden. She thinks it’s more than that.”

Avery frowned. “It’s not a weird friendship.” Her tone softened. “You’re not weird, Summer. You just think you are.”

Now I frowned. What did she mean by that?

“There’s Paige!” Clarissa burst out, waving. “Paige, over here.”

A girl with short hair, stunning green eyes, and a slim figure darted around a group and came into the room. She was wearing a black sarong-like skirt with a cropped green top. It hung loosely from her breasts, lightly falling over her stomach, and she’d topped it with a tiny black leather jacket. She was punk, edgy, and beautiful, and I was instantly jealous.

Avery skimmed her up and down, and I caught a slight curling of her top lip. I wasn’t the only one.

Then Clarissa did the introductions, and as much as I hated it, Paige was nice. I liked her. She had a sweet southern drawl, which was a magnet for the guys. Suddenly Marcus came over to welcome our friends. His buddies were with, and more of Caden’s fraternity brothers materialized. They all wanted to “make sure we were okay.”

Avery snorted at that excuse, and after the fifth guy wanted to be the polite welcome wagon for Paige, she muttered under her breath, “What are we? Chopped liver?”

Marcus put an arm around her shoulders. “No, you’re just spoken for.”

That did the trick. Her cheeks grew pink, and she softened all over again.

“What about you, Summer?”

The question came from Paige, but I was having a deja vu moment. “What?”

“Do you have a boyfriend? Clarissa said there was a guy coming.”

Avery held back a smile, as did Clarissa.

Marcus grimaced. “Don’t say it. I don’t want to know any details about you and my brother.”

“So there is a guy.” Clarissa gave me a sly look, pursing her lips together. “Something more than a friendship?”

I was uncomfortable. “Um. You know. We’re friends.” I began edging backward.

Marcus snorted, and everyone looked at him. “What? You guys don’t know?”

Panic sliced through me, and I gritted my teeth. “You don’t know anything either.” My voice hitched to a higher note. “Because there’s nothing to know. We’re friends. That’s it.”

Marcus gave me a confused look. “I know, but I was just going to say you’re good friends. That’s it.”

I swallowed over a knot at the base of my throat.

He shook his head, lifting his arm from Avery’s shoulders. “And you’re back to being weird. Avery, come get a drink with me.” He didn’t give her a chance to decide. His finger looped in her waistband and tugged her behind him.

I yearned to follow them, but turned back to the group that had gathered.

It wasn’t just Clarissa and her roommate now. There were other guys lingering, and one them shifted on his feet, scratching behind his ear.

“There are a few of us who’d like to know if you’re, you know…” He raised his eyebrows.

My mouth opened. I had no idea what that meant. “Huh?”

Paige covered her mouth, her shoulders shaking. Clarissa hit me in the arm again. She leaned close and said into my ear, “He wants to know if you’re available.”

Oh.

…

OH!