Page 45

Lilly

“Does anyone want another round?” Finley asks glancing around the booth.

A chorus of orders comes in making him groan, taking his phone out, he types in the orders on his note app, muttering about how he’s not a superhero who can type a million miles per second and stop shouting orders over one another.

“What’s that one with the salt around the top?” Lakelyn asks, lifting a finger to her lip, tapping at it in thought.

“A cock?” I resort, swirling the wine around my glass before taking a sip. “Thought you’d know that from the amount you claim to suck.”

My eyes widen when I realize what I’ve just said, holy fuck, am I that drunk where I’m just spluttering stuff out? But in all fairness, it’s not a lie.

She shoots me a glare. “Don’t be jealous.”

I snort. “I would never be jealous of you.”

God, I’m so fucking lucky I don’t have to be around her anymore—of course we ’ll still see each other in class and around campus, but I won’t have to be in close proximity to her which means I can just ignore her.

“So, a margarita,” Finley chimes in, giving an awkward laugh and then turns to look at me. “Lilly, you want another?”

“Negative.” I shake my head, looking down at the almost empty wine glass in my hand.

“Isn’t there a cocktail called mind your own business ? I’m sure she would love one of those.” Lakelyn laughs, looking at her friends and smirking.

“No, but there’s definitely one called sex on the beach which is what you wish would happen to you.” I resort back.

I’m definitely drunk.

She scoffs, folding her hands across her chest and turns in the direction of her friends, talking to them with a scowl on her face.

We’ve been here for almost three hours, and I promised myself I wouldn’t drink more than two drinks…yeah, that went down the drain the minute we stepped inside Jinx.

Everyone had encouraged Lakelyn, Jennifer, Daniel, and me to take a celebratory shot when we first arrived—sambuca too, something I told myself I’d never drink again after throwing up everywhere the last time I drunk it.

But I took the shot—fine, okay…I took four shots of the horrid liquid. Don’t judge me, okay, I’m celebrating.

Then I drunk a glass of red wine, and then another…and you guessed it, another. I could already feel a headache coming along, so I know this glass is going to be my last.

Looking down at my wine, I see there’s only about a mouthful left so I bring it to my lips, down the remainder and wipe away the excess with the back of my hand.

As I look around at everyone talking, laughing, and even flirting, I can’t help but wish Greyson was here right now. Although I’m having fun, him being here would’ve made the evening even better.

I texted him after my lecture to see if he was around because I wanted to tell him in person about my article getting printed, but he texted saying he had back-to-back lectures all afternoon which I was a little sad about, but there’s always tomorrow…

I’m an idiot though, when I went home to get ready for tonight I stupidly forgot to charge my phone, so now it’s currently sitting at the bottom of my purse out of charge. The girls knew where I was, but Greyson didn’t. And I didn’t want him to think I was ignoring him, because I’d never do that, not intentionally.

Finley returns to the table with an array of drinks and hands me a bottled water, I smile at him as I take it from him.

“You’re the best, Finley James.” I grin.

“I know right.” He smirks, sitting back down beside me.

“So, how’s it going with you and Jane?” I ask, unscrewing the lid of the water and bringing it to my lips.

“Yeah, we didn’t work out.” He shrugs.

“Oh, that sucks.” I pout, genuinely feeling sorry for him.

He’d been going on for weeks about how he finally found the love of his life—Jane was a drama major who caught his eye when he accidentally bumped into her in the east canteen, and he called it love at first sight. But clearly that’s changed.

He chuckles, bringing his beer to his lips. “Nah, trust me, doesn’t suck. Turns out she’s obsessed with bugs…her whole bedroom wall was covered with them.”

I choke on my water, my eyes bulging from their sockets. “Sorry, did I hear that correctly?” I blink.

“I’m not joking, she had needles through their necks and everything.” He shivers.

“What the fuck,” I gasp. “They were dead already, right?”

He shrugs. “Fuck knows, but they certainly are now.”

My eyes widen in surprise. “Seriously? That’s…intense.”

“I mean, I get having interests, but her room was literally a bug museum,” he shivers, his face twisting. “Butterflies, beetles—you name it. some were even framed and labeled.”

“Did you freak out?” I wince, because I would’ve.

“I tried to be cool about it, she’s nice…hot too,” he winks. “But when we were getting down to business, I couldn’t. All I could feel was all those eyes on me and I felt so uncomfortable.”

I couldn’t even imagine that, and my body shivers at the thought.

“Hey, maybe the next girl will be obsessed with reptiles.” I smirk.

His eyes widen. “Don’t say that.”

“Maybe she’ll have a snake that will slither up your arm…” I tease, trailing my finger up his arm slowly, making him shiver.

“Fuck you, Lilly.” He glares at me.

I tilt my head back laughing, squeezing my hand against his arm. “And it’s going to wrap around your arm to the point you lose circulation.”

“I really fucking hate you.” He grumbles, his body erupting in goosebumps.

I laugh to the point tears are streaming from my eyes. He told me once before how petrified he was of snakes—to the point that if anyone mentioned them he’d sweat and start to hyperventilate, which I’m surprised he’s not doing now.

“Your boyfriend is standing over there,” he suddenly smirks, gesturing his head toward the bar area. “And it looks like he wants to murder me.”

My eyes dart up and I lock eyes with the one person that truly makes me happy. The smile on my face widens, and before I know it, I’m out of the booth and running toward him.