Page 48 of Massacre Monday

With the tight dress, full face of makeup from Evie Lynx, sex hair from Amelia, and four-inch stilettos, I may pass as a bombshell. We all line up on the second-floor balcony and take pictures for our socials, and I post mine, hoping Ryan will see it.

No, get him out of your head…

Before the guests arrive, we have our Pledge Party, where the freshmen are paired with seniors in Big and Little sister assignments, and we all welcome them with blue hyacinth corsages.

After dinner, the doors are opened to those invited to attend.

I’m on my second champagne and listening to Valencia talk about howproudshe is that her little sister pledged with us, when a large hand spreads over my lower back and lips latch onto my neck.

“Mm, hey, Pip. You smell good.” Mitch grips my waist and tugs me into his side. I startle at his forwardness.

“Hi.”

His dark brown eyebrows hover over his eyes. “Too much?”

Forcing a smile, I shake my head. “No. Want a beer?”

“Yep. I’ll grab you something. Champagne?”

“No. I’ll have a beer, too.”

Valencia is momentarily distracted with Logan, who looks great in his suit and tie. He awkwardly attempts to make small talk with her until she sidles up to his chest and grabs his sports coat lapel. My entire body winces when he takes a few steps away from her.

The night rolls on, with Evie causing some whispered drama when both her girlfriend and her girlfriend’s boyfriend stop by and none of them seem to get along.

Amelia is, oddly, alone, but talks to the new pledge class, getting to know each one like the welcoming committee. It makes me wonder if she’s dated anyone before, or if she has a secret lover hidden somewhere.

Mitch returns with our beers, and I chug a few gulps, but choke on a swallow when he presses his body into my front and grips my ass with his free hand. I teeter back into the wall, and he leans a bent arm above my head, locking me into a corner. Deep blue eyes darken beneath his lashes as he scans my breasts that almost pop out from my strapless dress. “God, you look sofuckinghot tonight.”

“Are you drunk?”

“No. You wanted me to be your boyfriend. So I am. And I can say things like that when I’m your boyfriend.”

I nod, not quite buying his words. It seems like he’s a bittoointo the role, one that doesn’t fit the Mitch I know.

My eyes scan the crowd, but I still don’t see Ryan. Or Elina.

“Want to dance?” I ask once I finish my beer.

“Absolutely.” Mitch grabs my hand and leads me over to the space set up in our large conference room. A DJ booth covers one corner, casting colorful sparkling glimmers onto the parquet floor. Blue and white strobe lights flash occasionally in time withthe bass. When we reach the middle, I pop my hip for the samba. Mitch’s hand slides over my abs, bringing my arm up and into his hold.

A loud squeal cuts over the music, and the crowd moves toward the entry hall. When I straighten up on my toes to peek over people’s heads, Elina’s blonde hair swooshes behind her in a rush down the main staircase while she wears a giant smile on her painted face.

Lead fills my stomach when she jumps into the open arms of the devilishly handsome man with inky hair, a broad form, and a sculpted face, wearing a custom-cut black suit. Ryan grabs her into a tight embrace and spins them slowly, Elina’s hands clasping around his neck. As I inch closer with my sisters, the metal in my belly ignites like bullets when I see her hand…

A gigantic diamond ring nearly blinds me, and my fingers clutch at my bare chest as if my heart has been removed.

Backing up, I look for a place to sit, but Mitch is right there behind me. I stumble, my brain going numb. Too many thoughts happen all at once for me to even pick one out of the mess left by the two figures caressing by the front door.

“I heard he proposed on the rooftop at Luminescence this week.”

“Fucking lucky. That restaurant is impossible to get into, and she’s wearing, like, a ten-carat Harrington princess cut.”

“No, that’s only three. She was aiming for five carats, but I think it’s like a family heirloom or something.”

“So romantic! I love them together. King and Queen of Northview right there.”

“Their kids will be so attractive.”