“She was upset that you weren’t there,” Hunter offers.

“You hoping to see her tonight? Maybe you could ask her out on a date or something?” Evan suggests.

“Nah, I’m going to give her some space, respect those boundaries she’s always saying I cross. We live in the same house, it’s not like we’re not going to see each other,” I tell them with a shrug, forcing my expression to stay neutral while I spew bullshit to my best friends.

I spend the next few hours playing Xbox and resisting the urge to text Starling and demand she get her ass home. But by the time the pizza we order for dinner arrives, I’m starting to get more than pissed. Pulling my cell from my pocket I text her security team again.

Me: Location?

Sec1: Party – Bufford Row.

Me: Who?

Sec1: Starling, Sammy and three unknown males.

Me: Have they touched her?

Sec1: Negative. Shall we intervene?

Me: No, I’m on my way

Sec1: Copy.

“I don’t want to stay in tonight, this is our junior year and since Starling got here I’ve been a moody motherfucker. Anyone know any parties happening tonight? Let’s go be social and get some beers,” I suggest.

“Bound to be a party somewhere, let me send a few texts,” Evan says, pulling his cell out.

Resting my hand on my knee to stop my foot tapping impatiently, I force myself to eat while I wait for one of my friends to tell me there’s a party at Bufford Row.

“Chad says there’s a lacrosse party down on the field,” Hunter says.

“There’s a block party at Bufford Row,” Evan offers.

“Is that the town houses closest to campus?” I ask, already knowing exactly where it is.

“Yeah, I forgot about it, they always throw a party a few weeks into the semester. Everyone in the row opens up their houses and chips in for a few kegs. They have the party in the street outside and each house has like a different theme. Last year they picked retro video games. One house was Pacman and they dressed up in these homemade costumes, it was awesome.” Evan laughs.

“Sounds good to me, my balls are fucking blue, I need to find me some pussy tonight,” Clay laughs.

Smiling to myself, I take another bite of my pizza, imagining all the things I’m going to do to my little bird when I get her into my bed tonight.

28

STARLING

Sammy wasn’t lying when she said her house was like a permanent orgy. When we got here, she steered me straight up the stairs to her room, but not before I spotted not one, but two couples going at it in the living room. When I reached out to put my hand on the banister, she slapped it, taking my hand in hers and pulling me to the middle of the stairs. “Fluids, don’t touch anything out here.”

Cringing, I pull my free hand to my chest and cautiously follow her to the first floor, so glad that I never offered to take my shoes off when I came inside. When we reach her door, she unlocks it and we both step inside.