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“Do you mind if I stay?” I abruptly ask, nowhere near ready to leave, but kind of feeling like an asshole at the same time. I know how much misery loves company, but I have no desire to join them in their pouting.

“I’m not leaving you here alone.” Lyric shakes her head at me.

“I’ll stay.” River offers and it takes everything in my power to stifle my smile of victory. He doesn’t know it, but I was counting on him offering to dojustthat.

“You sure?” Lyric looks between the two of us.

“Yeah, this is probably the last time I’ll ever get to attend one of these. I can hang out and make sure Charlotte gets home safe.”

“Really?” I clap excitedly. “I mean, if that’s okay with you.” I give Lyric the biggest pretty-please smile.

“Okay,” she reluctantly agrees.

“You’re good to get home?” River asks.

“I know how to order an Uber,” she fires back.

“Text me as soon as you’re back at the dorm.”

“Yes, dad.”

“And don’t ever call me dad again.”

I would have laughed at that, but I’m too busy trying to figure out my play once Lyric is gone.

So no, I doubt she’d be thrilled if I hooked up with her brother. Then again, I don’t think she’d hate me for it either, and well, that’s good enough in my book. It’s been too long since I’ve gotten laid and even longer since I’ve wanted it as badly as I do when River even so much as looks at me.

“You ready?” Lyric turns toward Maisie, who nods.

“Yes, please.”

Arms linked, they make their way toward the exit.

River watches until they disappear outside, indecision weighing heavily in his expression.

“She’ll be fine,” I reassure him. “She’s tougher than she looks. Besides, no one is going to fuck with Maisie. Even drunk, she’d whoop someone’s ass if they tried.”

“I have no doubt.” He chuckles, turning back toward me. “Now what?”

“Nowwe dance.” I take his hand, tugging him back toward the dance floor.

Chapter One

Charlotte

Eight Months Later

“What the actual fuck, Maisie.” I’m quick to cover my eyes the instant I realizewhymy roommate is currently on her knees.

As if having to deal with Lyric and Kai and their inability to keep their hands off each other even when they’re out in public isn’t bad enough, now apparently, I have to worry about coming home to find my other roommate doing something that makes me want to scrub my eyeballs with a toothbrush.

“Fuck.” The guy with his hand currently tangled in Maisie’s hair groans, not letting my interruption keep him from finishing.

I recognize him but can’t place him, and right now, the last thing I want to do is look back at him to figure it out.

“By all means, keep going.” I huff, holding one hand over my face and the other out as I try to feel my way toward my bunk without running into anythingorseeing any more of the dude’s nether region or what Maisie was doing with it.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a prude by any stretch of the imagination. I’m just not much for voyeurism and as such, I wish Maisie would at least be kind enough to put something on the door to let me know not to enter.