Page 3 of Roots of Redemption (Hicks Creek #4)

Chapter One

Sutton

“ O kay, ladies, we’re doing something a little different today,” Kelsey announces as we stand in the living room of our shared apartment.

“Oh no,” Avery giggles as she shakes her head.

“Stop it, it’s going to be fun.” Kelsey grins mischievously.

“Out with it.” I roll my eyes.

“We just got into vet school, and that’s something to celebrate.

We’ve all been so focused on our undergraduate degrees and doing everything right for our dreams that we haven’t let loose and had the full college experience.

At twenty-two, we’re officially going to let loose tonight.

We’re changing our names, getting out of our comfort zone, aaaaannnnd… finding hookups.”

“I’m not hooking up with some rando,” I sigh.

“You don’t have to. I just want us to pretend…I guess it sounds silly, but we’re always so strait-laced. Let’s live a little tonight.”

“I like the idea,” Avery interjects. “It’s a little wild, but…she’s right.”

“I’m down,” Jess adds.

I look between my friends. I know they’re right.

The four of us are all business and have not had the typical college experience.

Kelsey was right; we were all so focused on getting straight A’s and doing everything necessary to extend our time at A he just walks toward the bar. I turn around to my friends, who are all holding up napkins on which they’ve scrawled the number ten on all of them.

Okay, so they’re giving me scores as though we’re in the Olympics?

I roll my eyes and giggle as I go over to the pool table. I’m beyond my comfort zone here, but I’ve never had anything feel so right as this moment does.