Page 51 of The Publicity Stunt

I want to murder the guy.

After five whole minutes of the fucker trying to flirt with her and April laughing at shit jokes that aren’t even that fucking funny, he finally bids her goodbye and proceeds to exit the lecture hall.

Once he’s out of sight, April turns to face me, a guilty expression slathered all over her face. “I’m sorry,” she says, sounding genuinely apologetic. “I have plans at eight. But I’ll meet you guys at the party?”

Most people, I guess, would say,It’s no big deal!What comes out of my mouth is, “You mean you have a date.”

April’s brows come together in a frown. “We’re just hanging out.”

“Where?” My question is instantaneous.

“His place.”

His place? The guy lives in a frat house.

“It’s not a date,” April adds.

Honestly, it shouldn’t bother me this much even if it is a date. She can go out with whomever she pleases. It’s her fucking life. But the idea of her and Ben Johnson huddled on his frat house couch (or worse, his bed) at eight p.m., drinking and laughing and—well, it bothers me a lot. I scoff. “Sure, whatever you say, gorgeous.”

Logan stands behind me and coughs. “Smooth.”

April looks at me with narrowed eyes. “Fine, it’s a date. Is that a problem?” Her tone gets more aggressive. “Do you have a problem with me going on a date, Parker?”

It’s obvious she’s pissed. It’s also obvious that she’s trying to insulate something. I just don’t know what.

“Forget it.” She throws her hands up in exasperation. “I’ll see you guys at the party.” And with that curt one-liner, April leaves the hall.

It takes ounces of self-control to not reach for her hand and tug her right back to me.

I don’t want her to “hang out” with Ben Johnson. I hate the way he was looking at her. And I know I have no right to be this jealous. No right at all. But I can’t help it. The minute he finds out how amazing she is, I’m fucked.

Because I’m the replaceable guy. The friend. The one who isn’t good enough. That person might not be Ben, but eventually she’s going to find him. And when that happens, moving on isn’t gonna be an option. It’s going to be my only choice. You don’t get to keep everyone in your life forever. I just thought we were the exception to that rule. I really did. I made one friend in high school and decided she was gonna be it for the rest of my life.

“Dude.” Logan places an arm over my shoulder. I look back.

“What?”

“You’re a jackass, that’s what.”

I shove his face aside and he snickers. We start walking toward to our dorm.

Don’t I fucking know it?

* * *

Okay, wow.

Holy shit.

I have been to Theta Chi parties before, but this—this is something else entirely.

The house is packed. There are fog machines, straw bales, and paid zombie actors traipsing the party, spooking the guests every now and then. This is so fucking over the top.

Three out of ten on the “fright factor” but ten out of ten for effort.

“What can I get you, m’lady?” Logan asks Shara, flirtatiously toying with the red devil horns on her head.

She rolls her eyes and swats his hand away, but her smile is evident. “A beer, thanks.”