Let Life Happen Page 3

  Garret said under his breath, “I love drunk Jenna. She’s so nice.”

  Nate shook their hands and talked for a bit before heading out. But then for the second time tonight, I got the stare down from my best friends.

  “Seriously? Seriously? You become popular at the hottest frat on campus by serving them for an hour this afternoon. What did you do to them?” Maya asked in a whiney voice. She had a thing for frat guys and wasn’t good at hiding her jealousy.

  “I served them drinks. Called them names. Made fun of their president. None of the things I would recommend to make friends. Trust me; they’re all yours.” I scrunched my nose. Now that I thought about it, I had no idea why they were being nice to me. Once again, no shits given. I wanted my buzz to continue. “I’m going to find the beer-pong tournament. I want to win some money. Adiós, bitchachos.”

  Maya rolled her eyes and carried on with her mission: dance with hot guys.

  “I’ll be in the basement when you losers are ready to play some beer pong.” I threw up my fingers into a sideways peace sign and marched down the stairs on my mission: drink all the free beer.

  Chapter 4

  TheBall’s In Your Court. Make a Play-Aiden

  “BABY, you’re acting weird tonight. What’s wrong?” The blonde on my lap ground on top of me, dragging her tongue down my neck. I would’ve loved every second, but I was still in a mood from the afternoon. “Take me to your room. I’ll make you feel better.”

  I sighed and knew it was a lost cause when I didn’t get an inkling of interest from my guy down south. “Listen, sweetie.” I forgot her name. “I’m not feeling it tonight, so maybe another time.”

  I picked her up off my lap and set her down on the couch. The party was in full swing, and everything was going smoothly. I wasn’t on supervision. I paid my dues last year, so I was able to drink my body weight if I wanted.

  “Aiden! Come here, my main man. Take a shot,” one of my brothers yelled across the room, and I obliged. I downed the whiskey and clapped him on the back. I felt antsy and needed to get some air. I hated this unsettled feeling I had.

  A couple shots later, Jon found me sitting on a stool outside, talking with some of the football players. He motioned with his eyes to meet by the keg.

  “What’s up?” I asked and saw him cover a smile.

  “Just thought you’d like to know we have a new party guest tonight. She just joined the beer-pong tournament with Kam as her partner, and she’s challenging you openly.”

  “Jenna.” My pulse quickened, and my stomach tightened.

  “You called it. I’m pretty sure she’s drunk, but the fun kind. I believe her words were, ‘Tell that arrogant, hot asshole to be a man and come play a game with the peasants of his castle.’ Or something along those lines.”

  “I was a total dick to her. Right after my dad called, she was handing me my card, and I snapped at her. Told her I’d do her if she wanted.” I got it off my chest, relieving some of the stress, but it was nowhere near enough.

  “Dude. Not cool.” Jon’s face fell and his eyebrows pulled together in concern. “Just apologize. Maybe that’s what’s bothering you. This isn’t like you.”

  The only person in the world who would get away with saying that to my face without getting punched would be Jon. But he was right. That had to be the negative feeling I’d been carrying around with me all day. “You’re probably right. Wanna be my partner?”

  “You know I’m straight, bitch.”

  “Hilarious. You know what I meant. Let’s go play some beer pong.”

  I knew where she was the second I walked down there. The crowd all watched two games, but her energy outshone everyone in the room. Her hair was up in a ponytail but hung down her bare back. I had to do a double take because there was no way she wasn’t wearing a shirt. I sucked in a breath and was about to jump over the crowd to shield her, but then I saw her turn around. She had on a low-cut, tied-in-the-back halter with black painted-on jeans. And she was still wearing Chucks. It was hot as fucking hell. My guy woke up then. Her curves filled out the shirt in the best way, and every time she moved, my gaze followed. Not many girls would show up to a frat party barely wearing makeup, but she didn’t need it. She easily was the hottest girl in the room. Her sudden manifestation in my life just made shit complicated.

  I didn’t want my presence known quite yet, so I stood in the back and watched.

  “Bring it, bitch.” Jenna trash-talked her opponents, and Kam matched her with his own idiotic insults.

  “Nice Jorts, douchebag,” Kam slurred, making me roll my eyes. What a loser.

  “Good one!” Jenna laughed and raised a hand for a fist bump at their own little inside joke. “I am on fire.” Since she made three cups in a row, she was able to continue until she missed.

  Someone from the crowd shouted back at her, “Yeah, you are, sexy thing.”

  Instead of hurling some insult back at her admirer, she winked. The motion pissed me off. If I did that, she’d probably flip me off. She was such a puzzle.

  Kam and Jenna beat some poor rushes within minutes. I had to give her props; she was quite good.

  Jon used this moment to announce the next game. “Due to house rules, Aiden and I got a bye on the first round. We’re up next against Team Jorts.”

  I used that moment to push myself off the wall and walked right up toward Jenna and Kam. We were separated enough from everyone else, so I knew no one would hear our conversation. “I heard you were trash-talking me at my own party. Not good manners, Jenna.”

  Her gaze narrowed, and she licked her lips rather angrily. “Like you have any manners, asshole.”

  “Look, I’m just down here because you called on me, but I’m going to make a deal with you.” I looked back and forth between her eyes, fire spilling from them.

  “I don’t want to make a deal with you. I want to kick your ass,” she growled.

  “As much fun as that sounds, darlin’, ain’t going to happen. In order to forgive you for trying to embarrass me in front of my brothers, if I win, you come up to my room with me. If you win, you get to decide what I do.”

  “I am absolutely not going to go up to your slut room!” she yelled, causing murmurs to run through the party. She realized her mistake and blushed. It was nice seeing a soft side of her for just a second. “So sorry I just yelled that. I didn’t mean it to be that loud.”

  Kam chuckled and used put his arm around Jenna. “You ready to kick this guy’s sorry ass?”

  She took a second, still narrowing her exotic green eyes, and I swore I saw her check me out. I probably imagined it, because nothing but dislike radiated from her face. She held out her hand with a mischievous smile. I took it and rubbed my thumb against her palm before backing away.

  “Bring it,” I challenged.

  Since Jenna and Kam had won the previous round, they went first. They huddled together like they’d been friends for years, and it annoyed me.

  “Let’s go. Throw the damn balls.”

  Jenna snapped her head around and glared at me. Jon laughed and tried to cover it up with a cough but failed.

  “I think she hates you. It’s awesome,” Kam said, my fists clenching in reaction.

  She grabbed one of the balls and tossed it perfectly into the air, landing the middle cup.

  “Aw, Jenna made the freshman cup. Cute.”

  “Fuck off.” She stuck her tongue out at me, which was so childish it shouldn’t have turned me on, but it did. Damn it.

  Kam tossed his and made his as well. “Roll them back.”

  “Twat faces.” Jenna threw in and gave Kam a nod. “They aren’t my brothers, so I can talk shit. I’ll talk enough for the both of us.”

  I was positive she thought she was whispering when she said that, which caused me to laugh. “Yeah, little Kamy. Wouldn’t want to talk shit to your president, would you?”

  Alarm shone in his eyes, but then Jenna flipp
ed me the bird. The crowd chuckled softly, and I had to admire her tenacity, which was still well deserved.

  After they made a consecutive six cups, they did some handshake making them both look like idiots. Jon and I retaliated by making six of our own. We’d been beer-pong partners for years, so we didn’t need dumbass pep talks or handshakes. Maybe a victory dance here and there, but that was all.

  It was Jenna’s turn, and she nailed it, threw her arms up, and shouted, “I’m en fuego!” It caused the drink in her hand to spill down her halter. Her cream shirt was now soaked. It was see-through, and I couldn’t take my eyes away from her tits. They were goddamn perfect. Round, real, perky, and her pink nipples were on display for everyone.

  I got hard instantly, and so did half the room. She didn’t realize what she’d done until she looked down. Her face turned red, and I did the only thing I could think of: I ripped off my shirt, took two strides to her, and shoved it over her head.

  I bent down to her and whispered, “Don’t argue. Please.”

  I thought I heard her reply with a barely audible, “Thank you.”

  Despite the brief moment of truce, we continued our game and trash-talking, but she seemed to have lost a little bit of her zest.

  “It’s down to one cup each, ladies and gentlemen. Winner plays immediately after. Our motto: the drunker you get, the better you play. The better you play, makes all the ladies go heeeey!” Nate’s voice was heard over the room from the DJ’s stand. He was on a roll tonight. What a cheery asshole.

  Jenna was drunk, Kam was drunk, and I wanted to be alone with her. I needed to apologize, and it was nagging at me. I felt like a bitch. I couldn’t enjoy a game because I was an asshole. “Fuck it.”

  I threw the ball in, made the cup in one toss, and Jon did the same. “We win. Kam, take my place in the next game. I’m out. Jenna, come with me.”

  She hadn’t moved from her spot and had a line of confusion between her eyes. “I don’t understand. Don’t we get a retaliation?”

  “Nope, baby doll. When we both make it, it automatically ends the game.”

  “Don’t you fucking call me baby doll. I still hate you.” She crossed her arms and began to storm out of the basement, but in three steps, I caught up to her.

  “Jenna, we had a bet, and I need to talk to you. Please, I won’t try anything.” She didn’t look like she believed me, which made me feel worse. Was I that much of a man-whore that she didn’t trust me for five minutes? I said the only thing I could think of. “You aren’t my type. Don’t worry.”

  She sighed and nodded in defeat, but I swore I saw a flash of hurt cross her face before she masked it. Interesting.

  I grabbed her hand, despite her protest, and led her to my room. Thankfully, it was on the top floor where no one could enter unless they had the padlock code. Two people had this code. Me and Jon. We were safe.

  Questions flashed across her face as she took in my room. I didn’t bring her up here to talk about the stack of books.

  “Please, have a seat. I’ll grab you a water.” She sat on one of the chairs, and I pulled up a chair across from her. I took a deep breath and was overwhelmed with vanilla. “I really need to apologize for what I said earlier today. I doubt there’s any excuse. It was uncalled for and rude. I’m not always an asshole.”

  She nibbled on her bottom lip for a second before tilting her head. Her hand twitched a little bit. I wondered if she was going to punch me or slap me again. “I appreciate you apologizing.”

  I scooted closer and tried to say as nicely as possible, “Is it possible to start over? Strictly as friends?”

  She made a face which resembled a duck, before shrugging. “I don’t know. I guess.”

  “Great. My dad and I have a fucked-up relationship, and I took out my anger on you. You didn’t deserve that.”

  “You’re right. I didn’t. Listen, I gotta go.”

  “Are we cool?” I stood and walked her to the door with my hand inches from her lower back. I didn’t want to cross any line, so I stuck my arm over her to get the door.

  “Yeah. We’re cool.”

  “See you around, Jenna.” I watched her walk down the stairs and rejoin her friends before I reentered the party.

  A weight was lifted off my chest, and the other nagging feeling had nothing to do with her. I was almost positive I just needed to get laid.

  Chapter 5

  Takes One to Know One-Jenna

  “HOW were your morning classes?” Kennedy asked as she sipped on her coffee in the student union. “My first one kicked my ass, calculus three. I can’t even understand my professor. Ugh. I hate study groups, but they are going to be my main squeeze this semester. I already know.”

  I laughed at my friend’s dramatics. “Maybe there’ll be some hot guys there who can help you study. Eh? You never know!”

  “Girl, please. In my major, not bashing it or anything, but for real, there are barely any attractive guys. The first one I find I’m taking home. That’s a promise.” Kennedy rolled her eyes.

  “Computer science has to have some sexy geek somewhere.” I tried to be positive for my friend’s future love life.

  “I look every day.” She sighed into her mug. Then her eyes lit up. “Did you hear you’re a hot topic after this weekend?”

  I spit out my water and looked at her with crazy eyes. “What are you talking about? Why would I be a hot topic?”

  “People were snapping pictures of you and Aiden leaving the basement and heading to his room. This is huge news for most people. It was on Snapchat. Not everyone knows how much you dislike him.” She giggled, and I felt my mood sour.

  “Ugh. People need to mind their own damn business. I swear. It’s not like anything happened.”

  “Girl, I know, but the campus doesn’t. But I did hear they just did their second round of rushing, and I heard the next party is going to be even more badass. We are totally going. Garret’s getting us in. Of course, you can probably get in on your own now, too.”

  I decided to ignore her comment about my sudden friendship with Sigma.

  “Whatever you say, lady.” I rolled my eyes, and changed the subject. “This genetics class is going to kick my sorry ass. What a shitty way to spend a Monday morning.”

  “You’ll be fine. You’re super-smart. When’s your lab? I know you’re excited about that! That’s going to be a piece of cake for you,” she said, enthusiasm pouring off her.

  I bit back my smile. “Yeah, I’m real excited about it. I have it right after this break. I hope I don’t get stuck with a shitty lab partner. We usually pick on syllabus day, and I always get shafted.”

  “Just get there early and scope them all out.” She looked down at her watch with a slight frown. “Well, hey, I need to head out. I’ll see you tonight. The Bachelor is on! I’ll pick up some wine on the way home.”

  “Can’t wait,” I said, dripping with sarcasm.

  “You love that show. Don’t deny it.” She narrowed her eyes at me before walking away.

  “I’ll never admit it. ¡Adiós, chica!”

  I picked up my bag and walked to the science building. As soon as I opened the door, I smelled the chemicals and cleaner, and it felt like home. The sense of comfort I got just reaffirmed I was heading into the right career path.

  I walked into the class to see various students spread around the white classroom. I’d stressed all day about this class and felt relieved to finally be here. I felt a tightness in my stomach, and suddenly, I made eye contact with Aiden. He gave me a lazy half smile, which put his stupidly gorgeous dimples on display. He then proceeded to give me a nod that exuded confidence and, again, douche. I narrowed my eyes and gave him a small wave. I had no choice but to ignore the stares I was receiving. I cringed at the news Kennedy had told me. These girls looked like the kind who followed Aiden on Snapchat religiously. I didn’t get the point, but hey, not everyone had my brain.

  I decided to si
t at the table near the back. There were only ten minutes before class started, and I made a to-do list of things I had to get done at the bar. Freaking Cyn assigned me to making staff schedules, and it was a bitch. I’d completed the kitchen shift when I heard the professor begin to talk.

  “Welcome back, class. Hope everyone had a good summer break. I’m Professor Jackson, and today we’re going to cover the syllabus and expectations as well as get you paired up for the semester.”

  I shoved my work shit into my backpack as Professor Jackson introduced himself and began to explain the class. “To make things easier for the class, I assigned you lab partners randomly. Don’t groan or complain. Sometimes in life you don’t get a choice. These will be your partners for the duration of the semester.”

  I closed my eyes and held my breath as I waited to hear who I’d be stuck with for the semester. I silently prayed it wasn’t Aiden.

  “Jenna Smithson and Aiden Chad.”

  As soon as I heard the second name, I groaned. I glanced over at him and saw him looking at me with a wide smile. Then he winked. My eyes closed. My stomach dropped. And I sent another silent prayer to keep my temper down.

  “Okay, class. Go ahead and move toward one of the benches and get acquainted with your lab partners. I’ll give you five minutes before I jump into the syllabus.”

  I picked up my bag and headed toward the table off to the side, as directed, and noticed multiple girls glaring at me. I would’ve gladly traded partners with any of them.

  “What’s up, Jenna? Good to see you again.” Aiden threw his bag on the ground and propped himself on his elbow, casually pushing back his hair. His leg was practically touching mine. His muscular thighs were annoyingly distracting.

  “Yeah, what are the odds of this happening?” I mumbled sarcastically.

  He gave me an odd look before taking out his laptop. Of course it was a top-of-the-line Apple. Mine had some purple duct tape on it, but it worked just fine. His lips twitched when he saw me take it out, but he didn’t say a word. It was a good thing he didn’t, because I was already on edge. I was looking for a fight, as my grandpa would say.