The night of Eric’s party arrives the next week and I’m getting ready, my mind already on Z. I’ve seen him a couple of times since the Tipsy Moose, but it’s been brief. We met in the student center for lunch one day, and he took more pictures of us and posted them to his social media. “This will keep the girls away,” he said with a smile, but I knew they wouldn’t. He’s the kind of guy girls will crawl on the floor to be with. As we were leaving that day, me off to the library and him to hockey, Reece and Veronica showed up and Z visibly stiffened, his entire demeanor changing. There’s a weird energy when they’re around, and it pricks at me, makes me wonder what the backstory is there.

Don’t get your heart broken, Sugar.

Poppy eyes me critically, her lips spreading into a wide grin as she takes in my figure in the dress I picked out to wear. The color is a deep merlot, silky and stunning and clingy, and of course, it came from her closet. She’s two inches shorter than me and a size smaller across the boobs, but because it’s a halter dress that ties around the neck, we had some leeway. She claps, her face filled with glee. “I wish I had your boobs.”

“No, you don’t. Have you seen me try to jog? Scary.”

She tugs her cardigan around her slim shoulders. “I’m flatter than a pancake. I would die to shake those things in some guy’s face and watch him melt…”

“You’re beautiful, Poppy!” And she is with her shiny, dark, almost black hair and blue eyes.

She shrugs. “Meh.”

I grimace as I look at my reflection. “This dress is as subtle as a freight train. It practically screams look at me.”

“No, that’s the shoes,” she says with a grin.

We glance down at the strappy gold two-inch heels. They match the delicate gold necklace with a glittering rectangular quartz pendant around my neck. My toenails are painted a wine color and my fingernails match, all thanks to Taylor. I huff out a laugh as I look at my long legs in these heels. “I’ll be taller than all the girls and some of the dudes.”

“So? Hockey guys are huge. It’s perfect.”

The deep V of the neckline falls far enough to reveal my considerable cleavage, and I tug at it until she pops my hands. “Just leave it. You look like a siren.”

I twirl around. “If I bend over, my ass is going to show.”

“Don’t bend over.”

“Or do bend over,” Taylor says slyly from his spot on my bed. “Get you a little something when no one is looking.”

I shake my head at them both.

Taylor applies a thin coat of mascara to his lashes, snaps the mirror closed, and gives me a long look. “Honestly, I know you hate dresses, but you look good enough to eat.”

“It’s because I’m so dang tall. Nothing looks right on me, so I just stick with leggings or skinny jeans.”

“Leggings should be outlawed. Just wait until you get that law degree and get a nice job—then you can get your dresses tailored.”

Poppy plops down in the beanbag chair underneath my window, crossing her legs in the air and swishing her feet back and forth. She sends a disdainful look around my dorm room. “I feel horrible you have to live here. I would have loved to be your roomie, but we all assumed you and Bennett…” She shrugs. “Sorry.”

“Where is Julia anyway?” Taylor asks.

“I rarely see her so I assume she’s staying over with someone.”

I touch my hair, which I curled into soft beach waves that brush against my shoulders. My eyes are accentuated with shimmering grey shadow, and the lids are lined in black eyeliner. I inhale a deep breath.

“I’m nervous,” I say, putting on more Bad Girl wine-colored lipstick.

“What’s one party? Just picture yourself in law school next fall, learning all that lawyery stuff,” Taylor says.

“Those classes will be hard, I assure you.”

He waves me off. “Why, you’ll be just like Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. All you need is a cute little puppy and a friend who’s a manicurist to teach you how to bend and snap.” He stands and demonstrates. “Bend and snap! See? Easy peasy.”

I’m outright giggling. “Dude, I can’t even bend over.”

*

After picking up some donuts, I drive to Z’s, and I have a hard time finding a parking place. I end up on the side of the road one block over, and I curse myself for not agreeing to let Z come pick me up. While it was kind of him to offer when he texted me today, I like knowing I can leave when I want to.

The house is lit up as I turn the corner, shivering from the gust of cold wind as I cross my arms over my North Face.

Finally at his house, I walk up the sidewalk and open the door. It’s loud inside with music blaring over a sound system that I can’t see. Happy Birthday Eric! is written on a gold banner strung up on the wall near the staircase, and black and gold balloons float around the room.

There’s a coat rack overflowing with jackets, so I fold mine up and tuck it neatly inside the hall closet. “Stay safe, Coat.”

I feel exposed in my dress, as if I’m on display. Several girls are huddled in a pile on the couch in the den, and I search their faces for anyone familiar I might know, but it’s pointless. I don’t know these people. One of the girls turns around to get a look at me, and my eyes narrow. Veronica. She sniffs, turns her nose up, and whispers to one of the other girls.

I’m almost to the kitchen when she gets up and cuts me off, giving me an overly bright smile.

I blink. “Hi?”

Dressed in a slinky black pantsuit with a silver sash around the middle, she looks sophisticated and snooty. She’s wearing her I smell something bad expression.

She arches a brow and looks down at the donuts.

“They’re for Eric.”

“I see. How thoughtful. I’ll take them and put them on the food table,” she says, pulling them from my grasp.

“Okay.” Whatever. I let them go. I’m sure at some point, Eric will see them, and I feel awkward carrying them around in the crowded house anyway.

I go to step around her but she moves in front of me.

“Yes?”

She gives me a condescending smile, her eyes running from the top of my hair down to my shoes. “Just wanted to tell you to enjoy yourself tonight. After all, who knows how much longer you’ll be with Z. He tends to go through girls on a regular basis.”

She doesn’t know about the agreement we made, and I’m glad.

I bat my lashes, playing her game just as well as she does. I know her type. She can’t have Z, and she doesn’t want anyone else to get him either. “Oh, I know. Thanks for reminding me that he’s quite the player. And his one-month deal? Suits me just fine. Bye now.”

Then I’m shoving past her and into the packed kitchen. There’s a makeshift bar set up on the table, and a girl wearing one of the player’s jersey is pouring drinks for everyone. Easing in between people, I grab a glass of punch and pretend to drink. Someone jostles into me from the side and some of it sloshes out of the cup, splattering down my dress.

I glance up, but whoever it was has already gotten away. I exhale, trying to wipe at the fabric. At least the dress is a dark burgundy color so it doesn’t show up.

“I’m already regretting this,” I mutter to myself.

Eric appears at my side, his hair tousled as if someone’s had their hands in it. He picks me up and twirls me around as much as he can. “You came! I told Z you’d chicken out.” He leans down conspiratorially. “Did you bring me a gift? If not, that’s totally fine since we told everyone no gifts, and I’ll take a little kiss instead.” He points to his cheek. “Right here will do just fine.”

I brush my lips against his skin and step back. “I brought donuts, but Veronica confiscated them.”

His eyes go around the room as if looking for someone. He shakes his head at me. “Ah, man, Z must have it bad for you.”

“Why do you say that?” I ask, sipping my drink, doing my best to relax and blend in.

“Because he’s staring at us right now.” He grins, a bit maniacally. “I love it when he gets riled up—which doesn’t happen much when it comes to girls.”

I look around the room. “Where?”

Eric wiggles his eyebrows and tilts his head toward the stairs. “Up on the ledge. I guarantee he saw you when you first came in, and I’m dashing before he kicks my ass.” He goes to leave but turns back around, his face serious. “Also, don’t hurt him, okay? I’m not sure he can take it.”

How would I hurt him?

“He’s the one with a girl of the month,” I say.

Eric winces. “Is he really? That’s mostly gossip, you know, and I don’t know of any girl who has a bad word to say about him—other than maybe Veronica on a bad day—so that pretty much clears that up.” He continues, lowering his voice. “He’s just got a lot going on with hockey. We didn’t win a championship last year, and it’s important to him that we do this year.”

I nod, seeing the slightly worried, earnest expression on his face. “Okay.”