Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
She’s not for you.
I swallow. “Yeah.”
Margo lets out a heavy sigh, and this time her hand on my arm is insistent as she tugs. “Whatever.” She focuses back on me. “Anyway, as I was saying, the Chi Omegas are having a huge—”
“Willyoucometothehomecomingpartywithme?” Penelope asks rapidly, running the words together as she stands with her hands clenched.
I whip my gaze back to her. “What?”
Did she just ask me to go to a party with her?
She nods. “It’s a homecoming party at the Chi O house after the game. I know you usually go to the Tau house…” Her voice drifts off and she fidgets.
I grin at her, giving her the full golden boy charm. “I’d love to, babe.”
She grimaces at the endearment. “And I invited you,” she adds, a scowl on her face as she sends a triumphant look at Margo.
“Whatever floats your boat.” I turn more fully toward her, hoping Margo will take the hint and move away, but she doesn’t. “What about Dimpleshitz?” I ask. “Is he going to be okay with that?”
She looks confused and waves me off. “I invited him too…just now. I was coming out to tell you. Aren’t you proud of me? I mean, I was nervous, but he asked me out, so I think he’s really into me. It gave me the confidence I needed.” She smiles.
A frown scrunches my forehead. “I see. So I’m not your date?”
Penelope gives me an unsure look. “No. We can invite as many people as we want. We want to have a better party than the Thetas, and Margo insists we ask the most popular A-list students to come to the party. You’re my pick.”
A muscle ticks in my jaw. I get it now. I’m just a commodity. A means to an end. Get the popular jock there and everyone else will follow.
“Dudes! What’s going on?” Blaze calls out as he waves. Dillon is next to him, the backup quarterback from Alabama with dreadlocks and a killer smile. They jog over to us, faces expectant. Carefree. Maybe that was me at some point but not anymore.
Blaze sidles up to Penelope, his gaze darting from her to me, a questioning look in his eyes. “So you guys are cool now?”
I just got her a date with her #1 crush—so yeah.
Margo is still attached to my arm, and part of me, the part that’s smarting after not being the only person Penelope invited to the Chi Omega party, decides to let her keep hanging on, especially since Penelope can’t stop looking at me and Margo.
Charisma appears in our circle and throws an arm around Penelope then gives me a narrowed look. “What’s up?”
Penelope says brightly, “I asked Ryker to the Chi Omega after party for homecoming, and he said yes.”
An expression of surprise then understanding flits across Charisma’s face as she looks at Penelope and then Margo.
Blaze’s ears perk up, and he turns to Charisma, his eyebrows waggling. “I haven’t gotten my invitation yet. How’s about it, babe—wanna ask me?”
“Don’t call me babe and no.”
“I’m inviting you,” Penelope announces.
He lets out a whoop and high-fives Dillon.
“Well, if it’s going to be a big hoedown, I gotta be there too,” Dillon mutters.
Charisma rolls her eyes. “Great. It’s going to be one big football sausage fest.”
Penelope gives Margo a smile. “Aren’t you glad Charisma and I managed to invite all these great guys?”
Margo grits her teeth and pushes out a smile. “Of course. Our party’s going to be the best.”
Blaze gives me a long look. “Homecoming isn’t that far away. Maybe we all need to hang out some before it gets here.”
My lips tighten. I know what he’s insinuating. He wants me to bang Penelope.
Penelope shrugs. “Sure.”
Penelope
Class is weird.
Ryker and I enter at the same time, and because we’re a few minutes late, the only seats left are in the very back. Connor is sitting up front, where it’s packed, and someone took my seat. Professor White is known to be a quiet talker, so if you want to keep up, it’s best to sit close.
I’m glad I still have my backpack and workbook on me.
We head to the back, and Ryker’s face is a mask as he settles in next to me.
While Professor White gives us a few moments to look over some notes before a quiz, I lean over to Ryker, keeping my voice low. “Aren’t you proud of me?”
I expect him to flash that smile at me and be cocky.
But his expression is flat. Inscrutable. “You managed to get a date with Connor and invite me to a party and get a yes. Kudos. You’ve got some mojo. Everyone will be impressed.”
I frown, searching his face. “Are you mad?”
He shakes his head and focuses on the board, where the professor is writing notes.
I replay the conversation, my conscience tugging at me. I can’t come up with a viable reason for his surliness. Unless…