Page 27 of Palm South University: Season 3
“YOU KNOW,” ERIN SAYS,a little out of breath as she wipes the sweat from her forehead. “Guys complain about sweaty balls, but they have no idea the torture of sweaty underboob.”
I chuckle, glancing up at her from where I’m seated on the turf that stretches in front of the fountain. Less than two weeks ago it was the setting for the Alpha Sigma concert, and in less than a week it will be home to the Kappa Kappa Beta Dodgeball Tournament.
“At least we have a little cloud cover,” I offer optimistically.
“Ugh, it’s just so muggy,” she counters, squinting up at the sky before watching me hammer in another peg for the fence we’re putting up to outline the dodgeball court boundaries. “When you’re finished here, can you come help me with the referee stands?”
“Absolutely! Be right over.”
“Thanks,” she says, still eyeing me. She watches me work for another moment before throwing up her hands in exasperation. “How are you this cheery when we’re all sweating like pigs and working like men in this God-awful Florida heat? It’s gross. And it’s creeping me out. Stop it.”
I laugh, shrugging as I stand and dust the grass off the back of my shorts. “I can’t help it. Grayson is finally taking me on a date tonight. Nothing can bring me down today, Ex. Not even underboob sweat.”
“Ugh, fine. Can you at least fake a frown for me?”
I give her my best scowl, but we both end up breaking into giggles as we maneuver through the field of girls toward the referee stands.
“So, where’s Mr. Perfect taking you?”
“There’s a really fancy steakhouse on the water that he wants to take me to for dinner, and then we’re going to walk the beach and you know… I’m sure we’ll end up back at his place.”
I blush, biting my lip at the thought of Grayson’s hands on me. After the rough few weeks we’ve had, I’m looking forward to having one-on-one time with him, to having time withmyGrayson — not the one who lives on stage.
“Okay, now I understand why you’re all smiley,” Erin says, flipping through a few pages of her clipboard. “Think you guys will finally have sex?”
My cheeks heat even more. “I don’t know… maybe. I guess we’ll see how the night goes. But if I were a betting woman like Skyler… well, I’d put my money on yes.”
Erin eyes me for a second, her brows bent like she’s worried about my decision. But that doesn’t make any sense, since she’s more pro-Grayson than anyone.
Her eyes are soft as she grabs my elbow and squeezes it gently. “Well, just be careful, okay, Grandlittle? Protection and all that.”
“Oh, my God. Stop mothering me and go boss someone around. That’ll make you feel better.”
She laughs, but it’s small and soft. “Can’t argue with that logic. Let me know before you head out for your big date, okay?”
“Will do.”
Erin watches me for a moment more with a slight smile, then she snaps back into business mode, flipping through the pages on her clipboard once more and barking out orders at every girl she passes as she crosses the field.
My stomach catches flight with butterflies as I get to work on the referee stand, helping two of our newer sisters build it from the ground up. It’s actually a nice distraction to work with my hands for a while, especially considering my mind is completely in the clouds. I can’t stop imagining what the night will be like, what he’ll wear, how the food will taste, what conversation we’ll have, how amazing it will feel to have my hand in his as we walk the beach at night.
Grayson has been so busy, and after our little fight at the Alpha Sigma concert, we really need the alone time. He was stressed that night, running from his solo performance at a coffee shop in an upscale neighborhood back to campus for the concert. He didn’t answer my calls the first few times I tried to reach him, and when he finally called me back, he went off on me for blowing up his phone when I knew he was at another performance. The truth was I hadn’t remembered it was supposed to go that late, and I was just trying to help Adam.
I can still hear the bite in his voice, the snap of it, a sound so unfamiliar to me. He’d blamed me for putting the pressure on him by making him agree to do the Alpha Sigma concert, and said some things about Greek life that I always knew he felt, but never thought he would say. It hurt, and made me feel about two inches tall.
Grayson apologized, of course, and he held me that night after the concert, kissing away any last tears I had to shed over our fight. Then he promised me more dates and more time spent together, and I promised to be more understanding of his new lifestyle.
I’m beginning to realize that relationships take work. Sure, the passion and butterflies are amazing, but to really survive as a couple, you have to compromise. You have to work together. And I’m happy to do that with Grayson, because I believe in us. And the more I learn about him, the more I fall for him.
I think I might be falling in love.
The admission makes me giddy again, and I bite back the stupid smile spreading on my face as I try to keep up with the conversation my sisters are having about what outfits they want to wear for our next social. But when the last stand is finished and I’m free to go back to the house and get ready for my date, I let the butterflies take me over, wings tickling my ribs as I practically skip home.
I scan through my outfit options the entire way back, wondering what he will wear, wondering how he will look when he sees me all dressed up. I imagine his fingers sliding the straps of my favorite emerald green dress down over my shoulders, my eyes fluttering shut at the thought of his hands moving to the long zipper on the side. It’s impossible to know how everything will happen, but one thing I know for sure.
Tonight will be amazing.
Tonight is the worst night of my life.