than my father. I’d kept that in mind whenever my conscience told me it wouldn’t work. I’d seen how his eyes wandered over the past few years like they never had before, and if the early morning he’d stormed into my apartment so long ago now wasn’t an indication, he’d certainly felt something for me that I held onto no matter what he told me. “I’m not dating right now. I’ve only got a semester left of school. I want that to be my focus.”
“Of course,” my knowing best friend played along, causing me to elbow his stomach. He moved his arm and winked. “We should probably go. Or did you forget you agreed to go to the house with me tonight?”
Sophie frowned at him. “That frat you’re part of? I’m not sure Adele should go there after the brawl that happened last time.”
“It was hardly a brawl,” I argued lightly. Two guys were arguing over a girl and it got a bit messy. Beer went everywhere, including all over me. I’d broken a heel. Somebody accidently yanked my hair trying to catch themselves when the men bumped into the crowd. It was an interesting night to say the least.
“She’ll be safe, Sophie. I promise.”
“I feel like I need to protect her now…”
That my father couldn’t. My father might not have been fond of me going to these “social events” with Lawrence, but he knew I’d be smart and cared for. I was never one to make reckless decisions, especially if it meant risking my father’s reputation. Not that it mattered. He did that just fine himself.
“I’ve got her back, Soph.” Ren was the only one who could call her that. My aunt always had wandering eyes whenever he was around, which was more times than not. I found it more amusing than weird, because neither one would do a thing about it. Ren was a smooth talker most of the time, so Sophie had a sweet spot for him.
We walked out shortly after I changed into something more “frat appropriate” which, in Lawrence’s mind, was a yellow sundress that hit mid-thigh, strappy heels, and a layer of makeup that I only applied whenever I went out to college events. While I normally preferred clothes that covered me, bare feet, and little to no makeup, it was fun to put on a front that I could wash off as soon as I locked myself away at night.
The drive to the frat house was short, only ten minutes. As soon as Lawrence pulled his Jeep into his usual parking spot in the back, he jumped out and jogged around to my side and opened the door with a grin on his face. “My lady.”
Rolling my eyes, I got out and adjusted my dress. “You’re in a much better mood than last time I agreed to one of these. Did you finally get laid?”
He gasped, his palm flattening against his chest in mock offense. “That isn’t a very ladylike question, Adele. I thought Sophie taught you better than that.”
The smile on my face grew over his theatrics as he guided us into the house, our arms linked as people greeted us in the packed hallway as soon as we stepped through the door. He waved, slapped a few people on the back, and grabbed a beer that was extended to him before passing it to me.
Shaking my head, I look around the room to find other familiar faces. “I don’t want to drink today. Is Jase here? Wasn’t he the one who begged for this party?”
“Social gathering,” a husky voice corrected from behind me before two arms wrapped around my waist and picked me up. I squealed in Jase’s arms as he spun us, narrowly missing a few innocent bystanders.
“Ah, that’s right. You could get shut down if the college finds out about any potential parties.”
He set me down with a boyish grin on his not-so-boyish face. Unlike Ren’s boy next door look, Jason, his frat brother, was more matured. In looks, that was. He was the prankster, the guy that got them into trouble nine times out of ten. Even Lawrence was surprised he hadn’t been booted yet. I liked him though. He was fun and could get me out of my head even when I was stuck in there for a while.
“Good to see you, Della.” He bent down and pecked my cheek before shoving Lawrence’s shoulder. “I thought you said you wouldn’t be here. Something about ‘duty calls elsewhere.’