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Chapter Three

Jemma

S hannon Brady escorts me through the Kappa Delta chapter house.

They assigned every pledge a Big Sister, and Shannon is mine.

We move through the crowded halls and up the back stairwell that leads to the bedrooms on the second floor.

My sister’s bedroom is at the end of the hall, a private room she doesn’t have to share with other girls.

It’s one of the perks of being the vice president.

“So, how do you like Strick U so far?”

Shannon sits on Jordan’s bed, smoothing the cream-colored comforter with her hand. She gestures for me to take my place next to her.

“I’m still getting used to the city.”

Dressed in tiny shorts that ride up her long, thin legs and a tight crop top that reveals a silver-and-diamond navel ring, she reminds me of a model in a retro-chic kind of way.

Her clothes look high fashion but have a grunge feel to them.

It’s hard to place what era or style inspired her attire, but I like her look.

She’s a natural beauty with long lashes and high cheekbones.

She towers over me when standing at her full height, at least five feet nine inches.

“I bet you grew up knowing you would become a Kappa Delta, right?”

I shake my head. “I never planned to transfer midway through college. This was a last-minute thing.”

She raises a curious eyebrow. “Jordan said you needed a change.”

“Yeah. It’s boring where I’m from. I was sick of the same old thing. I’m sure you already know my dad owns Walcott Dairy.” She nods, and I continue, “I can’t live on a farm anymore. It’s not for me.”

“I bet,” she says, not the least bit surprised. “Jordan acts like a city girl. If she hadn’t told me, I would have never known she spent most of her life on a dairy farm.”

“She’s never been interested in our family business. That responsibility falls to my older brothers.”

“Seeing your family’s name on milk cartons at the grocery store must be cool.”

I shrug. “It’s how our family makes a living.”

Unlike the other girls in the house, who ooze wealth from head to toe, Shannon’s more laid back and down-to-earth. I like her. She doesn’t come from money, even though she tries to hide it.

Shannon kicks off her heels and slides along the bed until her back hits the headboard. “I’m dying to know what brought you here,” she says as if she can tell I’m keeping something from her.

It’s not like I’m trying to be secretive. I have no problem telling her why I left Albright to attend Strickland University.

I let out an exaggerated sigh. “You want the truth?”

“Spill it, girl.”

“My boyfriend… Well, he’s my ex-boyfriend now, proposed to me after my sophomore year of college. I froze when he asked me. I couldn’t move or breathe or even think to give him an answer.”

“That’s why you’re here? You ran away from him.”

I bob my head. “Corey said I could take all the time I need to think it over. That was four months ago.”

“Are you guys broken up?”

I nod in response.

“Do you think you’ll get back together?”

I roll my shoulders, unsure of where I stand with Corey.

“A day turned into a week, and then a week turned into a month, and before I knew it, I was transferring to Strick U. Corey says he understands, but I doubt he does. We were high school sweethearts. We’ve never been with anyone else.”

“You’re trying to figure out what to do next.”

“Pretty much.”

“Oh, this is perfect.” Shannon claps, a big smile illuminating her face. “We’ll have so much fun this year. Consider me your social coordinator.”

Shannon will have my entire calendar planned by the end of the week. This is what I wanted. I didn’t come to this school to keep my nose in a book and my head in the clouds.

I smile. “I’d love that.”

“We’re having dinner in the cafeteria tonight,” Shannon informs me. “Most nights, we cook in the house, but Abby has something planned for the pledges.”

I groan. “Is it something embarrassing?”

She shakes her head. “All of this will be over soon. This might seem like a pain in the ass but trust me, it’s worth it. Hang in there and go with the flow because you want to become a Kappa Delta. Plus, it’s your legacy.”

I force a smile at her last comment. My mother was thrilled when I told her I was pledging her sorority. Jordan was equally excited to welcome me into her extended family.

“What about you?” I ask Shannon. “Where are you from? What’s your story?”

She slides another pillow behind her back and grins. “Well, I’m from Philly, born and raised about twenty minutes from campus. My dad is a truck driver, and my mom is a trucking company secretary. I’m not the typical Strick U student.”

“Did you always know you wanted to be in a sorority?”

She chuckles. “No, I never thought I would get a bid, let alone become a sister.”

“Why not?”

“I wasn’t what you would consider sorority material during my freshman year. I was awkward, still had braces on my teeth, and hadn’t grown into my weight. And I hadn’t even heard of Louboutin until one of my sisters let me borrow her shoes.”

I stare at Shannon, wondering how this beautiful girl isn’t Kappa Delta material. She’s gorgeous, her presence commanding attention. She looks like she would have been prom queen, the center of attention, the girl every guy in school wanted to date.

Shannon must notice my confusion because she says, “It’s funny how much you can change over a few years, right?”

I nod, understanding what she means. Last year, I thought I was ready to settle down after college and start my life with Corey. At least, I thought I was until he proposed. My entire life veered off course after that, making me second-guess everything.

Shannon sits up and slides her legs off the edge of the mattress. “We should head downstairs. It’s almost dinnertime, and Abby hates it when we’re late.”

Fear floods my veins when I consider all the stupid and ridiculous things they might make my pledge class and me do. And there goes my appetite.

O ur latest pledge chore wasn’t horrible. They forced us to serve the current members of Kappa Delta dressed in skirts with Greek letters on our asses, accompanied by the matching baby tee in white and green, paired with heels and a full face of makeup.

Everyone in the cafeteria stared at us as we formed a single-file line in the middle of the room and marched toward the buffet line like G.I. Jane Barbie dolls. My feet are killing me. Heels are not my thing, which makes this task harder.

While our sisters talk about people we don’t know, the pledges are so tired and beaten down from constantly working that we silently eat our food.

Riley looks as though she wants to take a nap in her salad.

Zoe is staring out the window, twirling a lock of her blonde hair around her finger, lost in thought.

I zone out because I’m so bored with their conversation that I’m ready to return to my dormitory. And then I spot him—Trent, the hottie from the Quad. Across the cafeteria on the opposite side of the room, I lock onto Trent. He’s hard to miss.

Well over six feet tall, broad-shouldered, and built like an athlete, the sexy blond captures my attention. Hell, he doesn’t have just mine. A few girls closest to his table stare up at him as he moves his hands back and forth, showing something to his friends.

A large group of popular guys surround him. They laugh at Trent’s joke. I can’t hear a thing from across the room, but I’m curious, wondering what’s so funny. Since we kissed in the Quad, I’ve been dying to see him again.

I haven’t stopped thinking about him.

He’s probably forgotten me already, yet I can’t stop fantasizing about him.

I bite my cheek and sigh as Trent lights up the room with his larger-than-life personality.

He stands at the end of his table, his arms outstretched, his voice now loud enough for me to hear his laugh.

It’s deep, manly, and so damn sexy it sends a shiver down my arms.

A natural magnetism surrounds him. He has the It Factor you can’t put your finger on, but you feel it when you’re around him. I feel stupid for watching him from afar.

But it’s hard not to notice him.

Hard not to want him.

“Ladies,” Abby says from the end of the table. Our heads snap in her direction, and she continues, “We could use some dessert.”

Without another word, all fifteen of us push ourselves up from the table. I glance over my shoulder at Trent, realizing the fraternity party is my only shot at hanging out with him. I haven’t asked Shannon yet, but I hope we can attend.

I’m about to head toward the buffet at the front of the room when Trent looks in my direction. He’s so beautiful that my breath catches in my throat.

And then he does something unexpected.