Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78007 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78007 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“Nothing. What are you guys up to?”
“We’re gonna play some games and chill for a while before we figure out something to do tonight.”
I want to join them. It sounds much better than my computer, which is taunting me, but I also know I need to hit the books. It takes things a little longer to make sense to me, so I say, “I’m gonna go upstairs and study. I’m down to do something later tonight.” I wish Perry were free, but he works at Shenanigans.
“I’ll study with you if you want.” Casey stands, but I shake my head. It’s easier for me to concentrate in a quiet room, and I’ve never shared my school difficulties with him.
“I’m good. Thanks, bro.”
“You’re gonna hang out with us tonight, though, right? You’ve been with that guy a lot this week.”
I have been with Perry a lot, which in some ways, is maybe a little weird. Has it really only been a week since I met him? It feels like he’s taken up residence in my thoughts ever since. “Yeah, for sure.” I bump fists with them, then head upstairs, open my laptop, and try to make sense of what feels like a foreign language to me.
We end up going to Shenanigans. It’s not my idea, but I don’t argue with it either. It’s the bar everyone who goes to Franklin U hangs out at, so the little buzz I’m feeling beneath my skin has nothing to do with Perry. The social aspect is the best part of college so far.
Jack agrees to drive, and we all climb into his SUV at about ten to head over. He’ll stay sober or leave his vehicle there. I probably won’t drink either, so if we need to, I can always drive home. I’m still working through last week. I’m not sure I’ll ever drink again, which is probably an exaggeration, but still.
They check our IDs at the door. If you’re over twenty-one, you get a wristband with a different design every night. No band, no drink. It’s blue with pineapples on it tonight, the door guy wrapping it around my wrist.
Rock music is playing when we go inside. I don’t recognize the band, but the beat is vibrating the walls and floors, making my insides shake. The bar is pretty busy already, with the counter to order drinks to the left, tables to the right, and there’s also a dance floor, pool tables, and things like that. They do open-mic nights sometimes, but I’ve never been. Honestly, I haven’t spent a ton of time at Shenanigans like everyone else does.
I tell myself I’m not scanning the room for Perry, but I know it’s a lie. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to see my friend, so I don’t know why I’m trying to pretend it’s not what I’m doing.
I spot him toward the end of the counter. An angry-looking, scowling guy with black hair is sitting on a stool across from him. There’s a strange prickle of something at the back of my neck, but then I realize that must be Brax, Perry’s brother’s boyfriend.
Right behind that knowledge is the fact that it doesn’t matter at all if Perry was talking to some guy he wanted to bone. He’s my friend, and while I can admit he’s an attractive guy, that’s all it is. You don’t have to be queer to know when someone is attractive. I have eyes in my head, so I’ve seen men before and been able to think, huh…I can see what a girl would see in him, but that’s all it’s ever been. Perry’s tanned skin, brown hair, and whiskey-colored eyes are definitely something a person would be into. He’s long and lean, more slender than me. I bet he has a six-pack.
“Let’s get some drinks!” Avery wraps an arm around me, and the group of us head toward the bar. Perry’s gaze snags on me, and he gives me a grin, holding up a glass as if to say hi before he finishes making a drink.
“That’s the dude you’ve been hanging out with, right?” Casey asks.
“Yeah. Perry.”
“He’s hot.” Jack nods at Perry, who nods back. I playfully push him. “What the hell was that for?”
Shit. I have no fucking idea why I did that, so I just shrug and say, “He’s bi,” because it doesn’t matter if my friend wants to hook up with Perry or not. I’ve cockblocked him more than once, without meaning to, so I’m not doing it again.
As we get closer, I notice a blond guy go behind the counter. He says something to Perry, who nods, then winks at Brax. Ah, so that must be his brother. Perry is right. They don’t really look alike. Ty is blond and looks more…I don’t know, like a jock, which makes sense because he is one.