Page 10 of Forgotten Sacrifice

“Guessing your father’s a doc with that handwriting.” He snaps a pic with his phone, and I don’t comment. “Give me five minutes.” He exits our dorm.

Before anyone can ask more questions about my “father,” I stand and announce, “I’m going to pack. Let’s go down the shore!”

“Yes!” Olivia and Emma cheer.

Music pumps from speakers as sweaty bodies grind on each other, the sound of the Atlantic Ocean drowned out by the bone-rattling bass.

Olivia pulls me into the bathroom, locking the door. “You didn’t tell me you shanked Aspen like a prison bitch.” My friend giggles as I take her beer from her. She pulls down her thong and plops down on the toilet.

I snort a laugh, fixing my hair in the mirror. “Shanked is a bit of a stretch; it was an accident.”That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

“Boo, that’s not as exciting. I’d go with the shanking rumor; it gives you more street cred.” Olivia flushes and I move out of the way so she can wash her hands. She does, and then pulls out a little baggie of pills from her bra. “You want a Molly?”

“Nah, I’m good,” I tell her, handing her back the beer.

“Miss goodie two shoes,” she chides.

“Why would I ever wear one shoe?” I raise an eyebrow in challenge.

She swallows the pill and chases it with the beer, giving her head a shake. “Shitfaced, doing a shoey on a yacht in the middle of Sydney Harbor and nearly falling overboard.”

“What?” I snort.

She fixes her lipstick before making a kissy-kissy face to herself in the mirror. “You had to be there. Anyway, let’s do this damn thing.”

We exit the bathroom, and I follow her through the crowd to the patio. I spot our party host next to the keg hanging with a group of his friends.

“You should hook up with Kevin,” Olivia shout-whispers to me. “He’s been eye-fucking you all night.”

“You think?” I glance over to Kevin, who flashes a flirty grin. He’s cute in a preppy boy sort of way. Tall and lean, with blond hair cut tight. We’ve chatted politely a few times at school, but we don’t typically cross paths.

“Totally. He just broke up with his girlfriend, so if I were you, I’d pounce before someone else does.”

“Someone like you?” I say, only halfway joking.

“Nah, I’ve got my eye on Liam. Word is he’s got a monster dick. And after you’ve had a big dick, you don’t ever go back,” she informs me.

“Mmm,” I murmur my agreement. Being a virgin, I wouldn’t know, but I’ve kept that tidbit to myself. When I first arrived at school, I quickly learned that being a virgin isn’t a virtue, it’s a liability. Best case, you get mocked relentlessly. Worst case, your name gets put on a “hunting season” list.

Someone appears with a tray of shots, and Olivia grabs us two. We cheers and kick back the stinging liquid.

“Ladies,” Kevin says, joining us. “Hey, Luna. I’m glad you could make it.”

I smile, my cheeks flush from the booze. “Thanks for the invite.”

“Hey, what about me?” Olivia pipes up.

“And Olivia. The party doesn’t start until you arrive.”

“Thank you very much.” She curtsies. “Have you seen Liam?”

My phone buzzes, and I grab it from my pocket, wishing I hadn’t.

Do NOT be late tomorrow.

Fuck Vince and his rules and his threats and his expectations and his three-piece suits.

“What’s wrong?” Olivia asks.