A small part of me feels guilty at not coming clean to Devin for fibbing about losing a necklace, but I’d do it again a million times over if it resulted in the past twenty-four hours. I accidentally told Devin I loved him—it was bound to slip out sooner or later, because the feeling sure as hell isn’t going away—and he didn’t run. I thought for sure I’d spook the surly giant. It took weeks just to get him to go out with me and another couple of weeks for him to admit he enjoyed it. I thought for sure letting the L-word slip was going to be the end. But it wasn’t. Now I just need to find a way to convince him of what our future could be. If he asks me to stay, will I be able to say no?

“That’s pretty,” Megan says, pointing to my new necklace and plopping down next to me in her penguin onesie.

I smile widely. “Birthday present from my boyfriend.”

“Awwww,” a chorus of my sorority sisters chimes in.

“Seriously? Didn’t think you were the boyfriend type,” Megan adds.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing, you just always seemed to like the chase more than the rest of it.”

I tilt my head and think. She’s right. With other boys, the game was the fun part. Not with Devin. I sigh, thinking about running my fingers through his hair last night with his head on my chest.

“Guess I was just waiting to let the right one catch me.”

“She does exist!” Michelle teases, strutting in from the kitchen in her pink bunny onesie. “The mythical Jessie Bird! More rare than a rainbow unicorn.”

“Hardy har har.” I toss some popcorn at her and she ducks to catch it in her mouth like some freaky food ninja.

She sweeps behind the couch and wraps her arms around my shoulders. “I’ve just missed you, babe.”

I squeeze her forearm. “I missed you too.”

She hops over the couch, embracing her bunny persona, and takes the seat on my other side. “When are we going to meet this hunky boyfriend, anyway?”

“I don’t think he’s ready for the sisters of Kappa just yet.” I laugh. “How are things with Drew?”

Michelle’s face drops into a deep frown. “Non-existent. I thought he was a good guy, but turns out he’s an asshole like the rest of them. Good riddance.” Her voice is detached, but I know her well enough to hear the pain she’s concealing underneath.

I open my mouth to ask what happened when Kimmie comes rushing into the living room. Her worried and serious face doesn’t match her purple dragon onesie.

“What’s wrong, Kimmie?” I stand as she waves me over to the hallway.

“There’s a girl here to see you. She seems upset.”