Acceptance. I sigh. Isn’t that what led me to sleep with him in the first place? He looked at me like I was just me and not the girl who was shrouded in scandal. I wasn’t lying when I told him I don’t do that. The blackout drunk or the one-night stand.

I’m so embarrassed I threw myself at him only a few hours after we met. And yes, I threw myself at him. I remember that much very clearly. He kissed me and then I practically ripped my clothes off.

I stare at my reflection in the mirror above the sink. I look the same as the girl who was living in California, the girl who had very few cares in the world, but I can’t tell the real from the fake anymore. Who am I if I’m not the girl who was given a full-ride scholarship to Golden to play volleyball? Did I deserve that spot or, like everything else, was it bought for me by parents who love me maybe a little too much to see how doing such a thing could be worse for me than letting me fail?

Letting out a deep breath, I shake my head and decide that it doesn’t matter. All I can do now is focus on showing my new teammates that I deserve to be here. This is my chance.

Out in the hallway, I take a step toward the stairs, but Nathan’s voice grabs my attention. Even in a hushed tone, I can tell he’s upset.

“How could you be so fucking stupid?”

I freeze and press myself against the hallway wall. It sounds like something is thrown to the floor before he speaks again. “It’s stupid and reckless. You’re not Vin Diesel, bro. Quit tearing up the road like you’re auditioning for the next Fast and Furious spinoff. Fuck, Heath. You gotta help me out here, I’m doing the best that I can.”

I’m holding my breath, heart racing. I know I should stop listening, but I cannot make my feet move.

“Yeah, alright,” his gruff voice comes once more followed by silence like he’s hung up the phone. I start down the stairs when he calls out, “FUCK!”

I glance back just as he exits his room. He doesn’t see me, but I can’t miss the wild intensity of his blue eyes. He takes off in the opposite direction, and I follow after him. He looks like a man about to make very bad decisions.

I hurry to keep up, which is no easy task in these heels. He heads down the hall and enters another bedroom. This one is bigger and looks a lot more lived in. He doesn’t touch anything in the room, though. He moves to a slider and opens it to a small balcony that overlooks the backyard and the party below.