“Sounds rad to me,” Datson says as Nathan stands and pulls out his phone, ignoring us. “Why would I ever want to leave an awesome party?”

“No clue.” I hold up my beer. “Cheers to a long night.”

An hour later, I’m three deep when I notice the party has really started to bump. All around shirts are coming off—that’s always a good sign fun is being had—and people are jumping into the pool. That’s exactly where I am, watching the patio where Valley U students continue to pour out.

Datson named himself party host and is jumping around chatting people up, offering cups, and acting like he’s lived here for years instead of two hours.

Several of my teammates are in the pool with me shooting the Nerf basketball into the hoop set up on one end, but I don’t have any interest in playing.

I spot Nathan near the edge of the pool. He’s got a cute blonde hanging on him, but he doesn’t seem to be enjoying her company. She’s got fun written all over her which I would have guessed is his type. He tips his head to me in the universal sign for, go ahead, she’s all yours, and I start toward them, but not before she throws her arms around an unsuspecting Nathan and brings him down into the water fully clothed.

“Oh shit.” I bust up laughing, as does everyone else that witnessed it.

She’s giggling when they resurface, but he is not. Nathan climbs out, jeans and shirt sticking to his body, mouth in a hard, straight line. I haven’t quite figured out what his problem is until I see him walking toward a chick from our communications class. She’s a transfer and hot. Hot enough to ditch a good time apparently.

I reach them as he and the communications chick, Chloe, are saying hello. I jut my chin in greeting to her and then slap a hand on Nathan’s wet shoulder. “Dude, that was hilarious. You should have seen your face when she pulled you in.”

He responds, I’m almost positive, but I lose the ability to hear. I scan the group of girls with Chloe and my gaze gets stuck on a tall blonde with big brown eyes that render me stupid. She’s wearing a neon pink dress that hugs her athletic frame. She’s staring at me too, although not quite so blatantly. Her gaze flits to me and then darts away. A shy smile tugs at her lips.

I know I’m gawking but I’m having a hard time doing anything about it until Nathan interrupts my thoughts by elbowing me in the ribs. “Shaw, can you lend Maureen some dry clothes?”