“Want to come downstairs?” I asked.

Eliza’s sparkly gold hat nicely complemented her blond hair. “These hats look stupid,” she said. “Also, I don’t drink anymore. Not since Carter’s party.”

“Understood, and you look amazing.” My heart surged. For some reason, Eliza straight-up telling me she was not about the peer-pressure, partying life made her that much more attractive. Probably because I was the exact opposite of being a role model.

Hey, maybe opposites do attract.

The basement’s lights were off. Instead, there was a green strobe that flashed to Jeff’s rap music. Huddled together were even more of my teammates, fellow students, and Austin’s new favorite topic: Madison Hayes.

“Hey, handsome.” She smiled, wearing a leopard-print party hat. I wondered if she’d brought it herself. She nodded to Eliza, then leaned in to whisper in my ear, “Happy to see things are working out. Too bad I’m working on our deal by myself.”

“You’re kidding, right?” Austin was damn near crazy about her. She stalked off anyway.

“She’s the worst,” said Eliza. “Sorry, I know you’re friends. She gets under my skin.”

“Never said we were friends,” I replied.

“Gross.”

I stretched, able to lay my palms flat against the bumpy ceiling. “How do you think I felt about you hanging out with Daley?”

“Touché.”

On the periphery of the room, freshmen finished their game of pong. They weren’t doing too well, and the crowd gathered around us was probably somewhat relieved when I stood up to the plate.

“Who’s next?” I asked. “Anyone who thinks they can match this squad?” I patted Eliza’s party hat.

“You bet,” came Austin’s voice. He had his arm wound around Madison and pulled her over. She pouted, clacking her nails against the ping-pong table. I wondered if she was truly angry that I hadn’t helped her with Carter more. Though to be fair, she’d barely helped me with Eliza. She’d basically sabotaged it.

“Oof. We could not have asked for a better team to play for your first time. Austin and Madison are totally hopeless at this game.”

“Daaaaamn,” Austin called out. “Shots fired. Too bad you’re going be hammered by the end of this game, y’all.”

“Nah.” I searched for some new, germ-free cups. “We are playing with H2O. If you want a drink, hold one in your hand. Don’t want anyone getting arrested like last time.”

“I always did love a man who took charge,” Austin called back.

“Aaaaand Austin owes us pizza,” I said.

Some freshman handed us drinks to hold while playing with the water. Eliza handed hers to me, unopened.

“What’s this?” said Madison. “Little Miss Perfect isn’t going to play the game?”

“It’s fine, Madison,” said Austin. “We’re here for fun.”

“No. I want to know why she won’t play the way you’re supposed to.”

Austin and I lined up the cups to start the game, the goal of which was to throw the ping-pong balls into the cups, each team taking turns, until the first team to hit all the cups won. Before I could shoot my ball to start, Eliza pulled it from my hand.