Page 83 of For the Fans

He even somehow managed to ruin my first bisexual experience. Now,every timeI think about fooling around with a guy, I’ll see his stupid face.

Bleh.

I’m in a mood as I take the stairs up to Theo’s floor of the Walsh Residence Hall. As soon as I’m in the hallway, I hear music and voices, which amps up my jittering even more. I hatecoming to parties on my own.I knew I should have called Zeb or Micah to see if I could meet up with them and go together.

I made sure to arrive fashionably late, because as much as I dislike parties like this, showing up before everyone is loosey goosey sounds a million times worse. Meandering up to the door, I peer into the party. Right away, I spot Bea talking to Theo, and I decide to buck up and go sayhi.

Wandering inside to the thumping bass and smooth melody of Two Feet, I keep my head down, ignoring thehe doesn’t belong heregazes sticking on me like static cling. I avoid making eye contact and head straight for Bea. But an arm grabs me before I can get to her.

“Hey, girl, heyy!” Zeb kisses me on both cheeks like we’re somewhere in Europe.

“Look who made it!” Micah cheers.

“Sup…” I mumble, forcing my eyes not to travel around in search of my stepbrother.

“Ooh… someone’s not fucked up enough.” Zeb pouts. “Here. Take this.”

He hands me his cup. I sniff it and wince. “Jesus… What is this??”

“It’s my signature cocktail.” He grins. “I call it theSex With Zeb On the Beach.”

“My mom told me not to accept drinks from strangers,” I chuckle, then take a large gulp from the cup. “Hopefully these roofies kick in quick.”

“Amen, sister,” Zeb sneers. “Can’t wait to have my filthy way with you.” He winks, and I give him a look.

“This drink, like the idea of sex with you, is completely disgusting,” I tease, and he feigns outrage. “Where’s Frankie?”

Sipping the drink again, I look around, already feeling warmed up, partially from the booze, but also from the comfort of having my friends around. They always help to improve mymood. I don’t feel like any less of an outcast, but when I’m with them, we’re all outcaststogether.

“Believe it or not, she’s chatting up your all-star quarterback stepbrother.” Micah nods across the room.

My spine stiffens, and my pulse instantly speeds back up when I spot them over on the couch. Frankie is talking to Kyran, who’s smiling pleasantly, laughing at whatever outrageous thing I’m sure she’s saying.

A strange knot forms in my stomach while I watch them… The way Kyran is leaned back and sort of relaxed. Frankie’s hand on his knee.

Are they… flirting??

There’s no way… Kyran is not Frankie’s type at all, and she’sdefinitelynot his type either.

But then my mind flicks through images of them making out, her stroking his dick and him licking her pussy… During our haphazard attempt at a threesome, which led us down this confusing and complicated path that we’re now on.

So I guess Kyran was just intoherthat night…

Hm.

Slugging back the rest of the gasoline that is Zeb’s drink, I cough and shove the cup at him. “Make me another one, please.”

Zeb lights up, but I can barely focus on it. I’m too busy watching Frankie trail her long, sparkly nails along my stepbrother’s shoulder.

“I think they hooked up,” Micah says, and my face whips in his direction.

“What??”

“Yea… At her Halloween party,” he goes on, and my shoulders drop back along with my perplexing dread.

“Oh…” My eyes nonchalantly swoop back over to them.

“I saw him leaving her bedroom that night, and then he bounced right after.”