Page 45 of The Deception You Weave

Heated stares follow me as I move through the crowds, I see a few faces that I recognize from my classes but no one stops me as I pass.

"Here you go," I shout to the girls as I join them in the middle of the living room where they're dancing.

"The team here yet?"

"Nope."

"Good, I love it when they arrive at a party after a win."

I smile, pride for what Luca and Leon achieved this afternoon making my chest swell.

We drink and dance and laugh while waiting for them to make their entrance, but they don't seem to be in any rush to get here.

"I need to pee then we need to head outside. That pool is calling my name," Violet shouts, breaking away from us.

"We'll come with, right, Let?"

"Sure."

Dumping our now empty cups in the trash, we head upstairs and join the line for the bathroom.

Thankfully, it's quick and only ten minutes later, the girls are leading me outside.

"Oh my God, why didn't we come out here first?" I ask, looking around at the Hawaiian-themed backyard.

There are beach huts, a bar serving cocktails out of coconuts, girls—and guys—in grass skirts, and the pool is almost full with students enjoying themselves as the same music from inside pumps through speakers that line the space. There are lights along the fences that run the length of the yard and then strung up in the trees at the end.

I look around, trying to take it all in, my chin dropped in shock. When they told me it was a pool party, this was not what I had in mind at all.

"Now do you understand why you needed a swimsuit?"

"Yeah, I get it." And I actually feel a little overdressed right now looking at everyone.

"Come on then, what are we waiting for?" Violet asks, placing her purse on the table beside us and peeling her dress up her body, much to the delight of some of the guys surrounding us.

"Take it off girl," someone calls and she immediately turns to the voice and wraps her arms around his shoulders.

A loud cheer erupts inside the house and a wide smile curls at Ella's lips.

"The guys are here."

In a flash, she has her dress over her head and is dropping it to the table. She doesn't get a chance to fix her hair because Brax and West come running out of the house and tackle her until the three of them go crashing into the pool.

I crack up laughing as they throw her around as if she's no more than a rag doll.

"Come on, girl. Take it off. Take it off," she shouts when they let her up for air.

Turning to me, both West and Brax join in her chant until almost everyone out here looks my way.

My cheeks heat under everyone's stare and I'm grateful for the alcohol that's surging through my system because it gives me the confidence I need to drop my purse to the table with Ella and Violet's and shimmy my dress down my body.

"Yes, girl," Ella cries while the guys whistle, helping me feel less self-conscious about showing so much skin.

"Holy fucking shit," a deep voice barks behind me, sending a shiver racing down my spine.

Spinning, I turn to Luca and all but throw myself into his arms.

"Congrats," I squeal in his ear, making him pull back a little.