Page 16 of Running Play (Gods of Campus #1)
Shelby
By the time we park back at our dorm and walk over to the party, the house is in full swing.
The house on frat row has lights streaming out every window and people scattered over the lawn and front porch.
We walk inside the crowded house, with most people still wearing their blue and silver colors.
One key observation I have made during my brief time here is that American colleges display a strong sense of team spirit.
Team colors are always worn with pride, banners and logos are everywhere, and our players are celebrities around here.
In the corner of the main downstairs area is a stage where a football player stands and starts tapping on the microphone, grabbing everyone’s attention. The sound broadcasts around the house and into the backyard through massive speakers.
He grips a beer in one hand and a microphone in the other. “Hey, guys, just wanted to say welcome to the football afterparty. For those of you who don’t know me…well, you must live under a massive fucking rock.”
The crowd heckles him, and he basks in the attention, eventually interrupting the crowd.
“I’m Jason, the one to watch when we are on defense.
I live in the biggest bedroom upstairs. It’s a magical room, and if any of the gorgeous ladies out there want to check it out, you just let me know. ” He winks.
“Magical, all right! He makes hymens disappear,” someone yells from the crowd.
The gathering erupts in laughter.
Jason laughs and gives the guy his middle finger while holding his red cup.
“This will be one of many get-togethers we will have over the years. Have a good time, but don’t burn yourselves out on the first night.
” The crowd cheers. “And to all my fellow Raptors,” he yells as he holds up his beer up and salutes the room.
“This song is for you!” “Centuries” by Fall Out Boy blasts through the speakers, and as if on cue, the crowd starts chanting the Raptors war cry.
Once the war cry is over, Jason downs his beer and jumps off the stage into the body of dancing students.
“Come on, let’s dance,” Letti says, grabbing my hand.
“Have fun, you two, I’m going to find my team,” Travis says, pulling Letti in for a bear hug and pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I’ll be with the boys. Jake just messaged; they are upstairs playing pool.”
“Okay, baby, we will,” Letti says, pulling Travis back for another kiss.
** *
After dancing enough to make beads of sweat form across our foreheads, Letti pulls me in close, using her hand to fan her face. “I’m going to go find Travis, want to come?”
“No, I’m good. But I need a drink,” I reply, swinging my hips to the music.
Tom is with us and grins as he grabs my hand, twirling me around without warning.
We have two classes together—he slid into the seat next to me during week two and we just clicked.
He is good looking, gay, and will easily be taking a guy home tonight.
He’s already confidentially pointed him out to me.
“I need a drink, too…I can go with you,” Tom says.
“Suit yourself, don’t leave without us,” she points her finger toward me in warning. “Safety first.”
I blow her a kiss. “I won’t.” I promise.
Tom takes my hand, leading me outside and into the sea of people scattered in the yard. It’s a mission to move with so many people gathered, even in such a large backyard, but I welcome the cooler fresh air as we move toward the keg.
Two of the footballers take notice of us. “Aussie girl!” Randy says, slinging an arm around my shoulder and pulling me flush against his body like we are old friends.
Tom’s hand slips from mine as I look up at Raptors quarterback. “Shelby,” I say, my demeanor half entertained, half a little thrown by his forwardness.
His smile is mischievous, almost daring. “Okay, Aussie girl Shelby. Drink?”
“Yes, please. Two; actually, this is Tom,” I say, gesturing toward Tom as I step away from Randy’s embrace.
The large guy from my first encounter with Christian stands beside him.
The famous Seth, a wall of tattooed muscle, is crazy good looking.
Tom’s eyes flick to me, the look on his face displays the question of how the hell do you know these guys.
Randy grins. “I’m Randy, and this is Seth.”
“Hi,” I say. “How did you know I am Australian?”
“Baby, I’m the god of this school,” Randy replies with a grin.
Seth lets out a grunt, clearly unimpressed, but doesn’t even glance our way.
Randy pretends not to notice. “I know things. Anything that is going on around these areas,” he leans in. “I know about.” Then, while filling two cups from the keg, he looks over at Tom. “But you—I don’t know you, freshman?
“That’s because he doesn’t have tits,” Seth suggests.
Tom’s head turns from me to Randy as he takes the beer from Randy’s hand.
“Play any sport, freshman?”
“Nope,” Tom replies without missing a beat, giving a quick shake of his head.
I don’t think Randy meant to sound rude, but the two guys are intimidating, it’s hard not to feel a little out of place. Wanting this awkward exchange to finish, I throw on a polite smile. “Well, it’s been a pleasure,” I gesture toward Tom. “Ready to head back in?”
“Sure,” he says, smiling as we turn away.
Turning to Randy, I toast and tell him, “Thanks for the beer.”
“My pleasure, Shelby, come back anytime.” Randy winks at me as I turn to leave.
***
As we walk back to the house, Tom takes my hand again, guiding me through the crowd.
Nearby, a group plays beer pong, laughter and cheers spilling out from their circle.
It was daunting to move to another country, but all these experiences I never would have had if I hadn’t taken a chance.
My main reason for leaving was always to escape Justin.
Even though he was in jail, I was still looking over my shoulder.
The fact that he was released two weeks after I left only cemented the idea of getting away.
The constant fear I had at home when I knew he was in jail.
I just couldn’t imagine that fear again if I was back in Australia, knowing he was out and roaming the streets like a common citizen.
I square my shoulders, the way I always do when my mind drifts to him.
I breathe deep, let the air settle me. He doesn’t get to define me.
He doesn’t get to cage me. It’s my life and I control it.
I focus on the warmth of Tom’s hand wrapped in mine, the press of bodies around us forming a shield.
The tangible— the things I can touch, smell—anchors me to reality.
My breath steadies, and a smile finds its way to my lips.
Then it falters the moment I spot Christian.
My heart stumbles, then races. The effect he has on me is unlike anything I have known.
He scans the crowd, and when his gaze locks onto mine, he smiles.
The slow rake of his eyes over my body sends my stomach into freefall.
He descends the stairs with the ease of royalty, like a king stepping down from his throne. “Hi, Shelby,” he says in greeting.
“Hi, Christian.”
“Having a good night?” he asks.
I’m not as nervous as I have been around him in the past, but then again, I’ve had a few drinks that give me added confidence. “Yes, are you?”
“I actually wasn’t.” He gives me a whisper of a smirk.
“But it seems to be getting better.” I try to decipher his words, but all I can do is stare at the man in front of me.
Christian looks amazing in his gray shorts and Raptors team shirt.
His eyes pick up the blue from his shirt, making his gray eyes shine with a flicker of this otherworldly color.
“Umm, I might head inside,” Tom says, gesturing toward me. I feel the poor guy has been put in an awkward spot for the second time in two minutes. I feel horrible because momentarily I’d completely forgotten he was with me once Christian walked up.
“Wait, I’ll come with you,” I say back to him. As much as I would love to stay and talk with Christian, I don’t want to abandon Tom .
Tom looks at me in surprise, stunned I would choose him over the popular football player. “Okay, you ready to keep tearing up the dance floor?” He smiles so big, swinging our combined hands.
“Hell yeah,” I say as I lift my drink higher.
Christian lifts his chin. “Have fun. I’ll see you around.” His words linger, saying it with such power that it sounds like a promise.
“Bye, Christian,” I reply. Tom leads, and I dance-walk up the stairs and into the house. Yep, dance walking, that’s how you know you’ve had too much to drink .
***
The music is thumping, and I spend the next thirty minutes dancing with friends. “I need to go to the bathroom,” I say to Jane, who lives across the hall from me. I fan my face as I feel like I’m being scorched from the inside out.
Holding her hair up and away from the back of her neck, she nods.
“Bathroom,” I yell to Tom and point as he nods his head in understanding.
I squeeze myself through the crowd, keeping an eye out for Letti and Travis, but assume they are still upstairs in the pool room. I climb the stairs but stop when I hear a deep voice.
“Hey,” he says, taking the last few steps toward me.
My mind remembers the text messages we shared just a few hours ago. “Will, right?” I ask .
He nods and smiles, clearly happy I remembered who he was from our brisk run in at the coffee shop.
He is good looking with dazzling blue eyes and has the trademark missing tooth of a seasoned hockey player.
Not one of the main ones, thankfully, and only visible when he smiles, which is something he hasn’t stopped doing. “You’re a hard person to find?”
I thumb the dance floor and look down at the crowd, wondering how I managed to dance among so many people. “I’ve been dancing.”
He looks down at the dimly lit area, the strobe lighting and mirror ball only making it harder to recognize people. “Yep, that would explain it.”