On the Sideline (BSU Football #3) - J.B. Salsbury Page 0,42

the only Thunderbird who had to be forced into etiquette lessons.

Kaipo smiles over my head and I hear a deep male voice say, “I’m cutting in.”

Loren.

“I figured you might.” Kaipo winks at me, backs away and the moment he does Loren wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me into his torso. I weave my fingers together at the back of his neck and feel a surge of warm fuzzies that he’s holding me tighter and closer than he did Riley.

“Where’s your date,” I say and try to look around his big body to see if she’s glaring at me from a distance.

“Had to run off. Sorority business.”

“This is risky,” I whisper. I catch a few stink-eyes aimed our way from sorority sisters in the vicinity. Although, they kind of always look like that.

“I don’t care.” His eyelids get heavy and his lips tilt up in a contented, lazy smile. “I don’t think I’ll make it until eight o’clock anyway.”

My feet freeze, and he does, too, so that now we’re standing still on the dance floor. “What do you mean?”

“When Riley comes back I’m going to pull her aside and have our talk.” His gaze drops to my lips. “I want to kiss you so badly right now it’s physically painful.”

“I think they call that blue balls.”

He throws his head back and bursts out laughing, guaranteeing we get seen by just about everyone.

“Shhh,” I say through my own laughter. “Everyone is looking at us.”

“Good. I hope they take a long hard look because they’re going to be seeing a lot more of us together after tonight—why do you look terrified?”

Do I? “You don’t understand the wrath of the sisterhood. On one hand I get to be with you.” I keep my voice down so as not to be heard by anyone dancing nearby. “But the sisters are loyal to Riley and they’ll see me as a traitor or—here she comes.” I step back and out of Loren’s arms just as Riley spots us. I shift on my feet and can’t find a good place to put my hands so I lock them together behind me.

“Bexy, you’re the best for keeping my date occupied while I had to go inside and take care of some…unfortunate business.” She cuddles up next to Loren who takes a noticeable step away from her. She frowns at him and the act sends a streak of unease down my spine. “We’re finally at the highlight of the night.” She swings her attention back in my direction.

I do a mental run through of tonight’s itinerary. The caterers are serving cheesecake and we have the DJ until eight so… what am I missing. “What highlight?”

“Hello? The Eta Pi tradition?” She releases Loren to wrap her arm around my shoulders.

The move paralyzes me with fear for two reasons. One, Riley doesn’t usually touch me, at all. Two, there’s only one Eta Pi tradition that I know of and it’s strictly for sister’s only. Matter of fact, we’re sworn to absolute secrecy when we take the Eta Pi pledge.

Lily scampers to Riley and hands her the DJ’s microphone and the music comes to an abrupt stop.

“I hope you’re all having a nice evening,” Riley says into the mic, garnering the cheers of everyone in attendance. She tightens her hold over my shoulders. “You’re all in for a real treat tonight. We at Eta Pi are going to share one of our long held traditions.” The sorority sister’s all look a little confused, their dates, however, look eager. “As Eta Pi President, I consider it an honor to share with you all the creed we sisters live by.” Her hand squeezes my shoulder painfully. “Bex is going to recite the creed for you all now.” Her gaze slides to mine and she hands me the mic. “I hope you can remember it.” Her eyes turn cold. “It seems some parts might be easy to forget.”

“Someone else can do it.” I wave over Meegan, Becky, Renee, all of them recede deeper into the crowd rather than jump to my aid. I expected as much.

“Go on, Bex.” Riley backs away leaving me alone in the middle of the dance floor.

I swallow hard, wet my lips and tell myself she can’t possibly pull off what we do during rush week. Surely this is just a plug for the sorority, a way to shine a spotlight on her leadership greatness. I clear my throat and meet Loren’s eyes. His jaw is tense and his