When we made it to her apartment, Nick squeezed my shoulder gently. “Chin up, girl, we’re about to have some fun.” With that we walked in and I stood proudly, I would fake it until I made it if it killed me.
This party had a different feel than other gatherings I’d attended. First, it was not wall-to-wall packed, which seemed like it was only more exclusive. There were several football players, sorority and fraternity members here that I’d seen around campus. However, everyone was dressed nicer, not casual. There were hors d’oeuvres set up on every table and counter in the spacious apartment. Did she have the party catered?
Axel and Dmitri were standing over by a sofa in the living room, holding court as a group of girls fawned over them. Couldn’t blame them. Both were as handsome as sin. Axel for sure had a killer personality, too. Didn’t know about Dmitri. He’d never really spoken to me, but he obviously did okay on looks alone. As well as being a good wide receiver. Who was I kidding? He was gorgeous in a tragically dark way.
“Move along girls, the doctor said the antibiotics would take a few days to kick in on my friends,” Nick said as we approached Axel and Dmitri. “STDs can be a bitch,” he added. The girls scrunched their faces and the pack of adoring fangirls disintegrated.
“Thanks, dickhead,” Dmitri stated in a monosyllabic tone.
Axel only scrubbed his forehead, fighting a smile. Did anything ever bother him? “I’ll get you back for that.”
“Sure you will,” Nick agreed. “However, I’m gonna get Theo a drink so keep her entertained for a sec, but not too entertained.” Nick pointed at Dmitri. “Especially you.”
Dmitri only answered with a smug look and mumbled something into his drink. Axel thumped his chest. “I got you, bro.”
I glanced around and spotted Taylor with a wine goblet in her hand and her hair pulled up in a messy bun with a black tank dress on. She was conversing with a small group; Roman was not among them. However, the blond girl she was talking to the other day was laughing and waving her hands animatedly. Blondie was pretty and dressed a little edgier than someone who would hang in Taylor’s crowd. Of course, I was only making an assumption.
Axel and I talked about our group topic on youth subcultures. We’d already discussed an outline for our presentation.
“What’s the story?” I heard Dmitri’s deep voice with a slight hint of an accent. I realized his eyes were on me.
“My story?”
“Yeah. You and Roman.”
I lifted a shoulder. “Not much to tell. We grew up together.”
“Hmm.” His indigo eyes never wavered as he said, “Are you two fucking?”
My jaw dropped at his candid question.
“Jeez, D, could you be a little more subtle?” Axel slapped him on the back of the head, but he wasn’t fazed.
“Are you?” he pressed.
“No.”
“But you will.” His eyes raised over the rim of his drink, focused on something over my shoulder. I turned to see the subject of our conversation approach.
“You charming her with your winning personality?” Roman asked deceptively soft and he crowded my space as usual making a show he was the one I needed to focus my attention on. Whether good or bad.
“If I wanted to charm her, we wouldn’t be standing here.” Dmitri had a conceited look on his face.
Roman ran his eyes over me slowly, and I felt goose bumps on my bare arms in the spaghetti strap dress I wore. “Sometimes you over exaggerate your powers, D.”
“I don’t think so.” Dmitri’s eyes had a mischievous glint. “And don’t abuse yours.” With that he walked off as he was zeroed in on a red head standing alone by the dining room table. What was that all about?
Nick walked up with my drink, nodding casually at Roman. “Moving in on my girl again?”
“Nick,” Roman warned in an ugly voice. “Don’t start with me.”
He stood beside me, but didn’t touch. Perhaps he wasn’t trying to provoke Roman. Or maybe he knew his limits with him. If he had any, that is. But they were close friends, right? A silent look passed between them leaving me puzzled.
“Theo, you came.” Taylor held out a hand and touched my shoulder. She eyed Nick standing at my side. “Did you two come together?”
“Yep. She’s my date. I’ve been trying to get her to go out with me, but something always came up, right, bro?” He lifted his brows at Roman.
“Yeah, you have the worst luck, don’t you?” Anyone had to be oblivious to not feel the tension. “So don’t press it,” Roman said under his breath.
Just then, I saw Kenzie and Justin walk into the room. She looked gorgeous as usual with a cheery smile on her face, but it was overly bright. Justin was slapping hands with one of his teammates. She didn’t tell me she’d be here. Not that I needed her itinerary, but something was off. Justin glanced our way and he and Kenzie came over.
“’Sup,” Justin greeted the group.
“Justin,” Nick responded with a tightness in his voice. Axel gave a little chin nudge with eyes narrowed, while Roman ignored him completely. I knew these guys thought they were campus royalty being stand-out ballers on the team. However, they didn’t seem very interested in talking to a fellow football player who I knew for a fact was a friend of theirs.
“Hey, Kenz,” I said, leaning in to give my roomie a side hug.
Taylor stepped up and took over the conversation as they exchanged compliments on each other’s dresses. I stood by contributing a few words, but I was more interested in what Kenzie was not saying because she could take over a conversation with ease. Maybe it was because Taylor was a talker too.
Later, after a few mixed drinks, I walked over to a table with an assortment of cheeses, crackers, fruits, and different slices of meat. As I picked through the choices, I saw an appetizer plate jammed in my hand.
“Eat. You’ve already had a few drinks and haven’t touched the food.” Roman hovered over me looking every bit the handsome, arrogant man he was. He wore a black dress shirt and slacks. If his dad could see him now, I thought sarcastically. He’d fit right into their environment. The natural habitat he acted like was so foreign to him. Yet, I knew better.
I ignored him, but knew I needed to eat something before the alcohol went to my head. The party was starting to pick up, while the music thumped through my veins.
“You think not speaking to me will deter me? It hasn’t worked before.”
“I don’t know. It seemed to work fairly well this week.”
He picked up a toothpick and stabbed a piece of cheese, setting it on my plate. “I gave you time to pout, so get over it.”
“Get over it?” I glanced around him to see Taylor with the pixie blond and a few other guys and girls in the living room dancing provocatively among the small crowd. “Why don’t you join your girlfriend? She looks like she needs your attention. Or are you concerned?”
He tucked his chin. “You’re jealous.” He poked a grape and shoved it between my lips, forcing me to take it. I chewed before it got caught in my throat. “Tonight, Theodora, you’ll find out about our relationship.”
“I don’t care.”