“Do you want to borrow something to wear?” Cara asks as soon as she returns to our room.

“I know you won’t approve of anything I have.”

She laughs and shakes her head in agreement. “Here, wear this jean skirt you wore last time and try this tank top with it. You can wear the same boots too.”

I hold up the top, taking in the sparkly sequins lining the front. Is she trying to make me look like a disco ball? “The same skirt and boots? Won’t people notice?”

“I hate to break it to you, Sophie, but your clothes didn’t stay on long enough for anyone to notice other than asshat Caleb. Please try to keep your distance from him tonight. You have a better shot of staying clothed that way.”

Rolling my eyes, I know she’s right. “I can’t argue with you there. There will be no excessive drinking or nakedness tonight, Cara. I promise.”

Laughing she snorts. “You said that last time and look what happened.”

Man she’s going for the jugular tonight. “You made your point, Cara,” I remind her.

“Sorry. Kipton won’t let anyone else touch you anyway.”

“He won’t be keeping tabs on me all night.” Will he?

“You are so clueless, Sophie. My brother still has it bad for you.”

“Not anymore.” I made sure of that.

“You do realize that avoiding him won’t work forever and eventually you’re going to give in and have wild monkey sex again.”

“Cara!” I clutch the top to my chest as my mouth hangs open in shock. “What do you mean again?”

“Oh come on, I know you two did it. Now you’re both avoiding each other and it’s because of me. So tonight I vow to change that. I’m reuniting you both, making it clear that I don’t have a problem with you two dating. I thought I had already made that clear, but apparently not. You two are a pain in the ass when you’re tiptoeing around one another. Make out already! You’re sad. I see it in your eyes. I don’t want you to be.”

Feeling the blood drain from my face, I sit down on the edge of my bed. “Maybe I’ll stay in tonight. You go without me.” I don’t want her to play matchmaker. This has nothing to do with her opinion of the two of us together. It’s about my choices—how I need things to be for my own sanity.

She pulls me by the arm off the bed. “Oh no you don’t. Now let’s go see Kipton and get you laid.” Shoving me to the closet, she picks up the skirt and sticks it in my hand. “Change.”

“Cara! He’s your brother! You can’t say those things.”

“I told you I don’t care. I’d rather he picks you over some blond bimbo with fake knockers and a nonexistent IQ. Think about it, whoever he marries I’ll have to be around all the time. I refuse to set myself up for torture if I can help it. Now move it, woman.”

“You know I’m a blonde right?”

She shoves me forward again. “Yes, I do. But you’re not a moron and your boobs are small. Keep it moving.”

Looking down at my chest, I sigh. Well she’s right about that. I slide on the jean skirt and am surprised when it hangs off my hips. This can’t be the same skirt as last time. “Cara, are you sure this is the same skirt?”

“Yes, why?”

“Just checking.” I grab a belt from my wardrobe and fasten it around my waist. I’d like to credit the weight loss to my conditioning, but I’m not stupid enough to believe it doesn’t have something to do with getting sick all the time either. I’ll have to start doing a better job of resisting.

I THOUGHT WE’D BE ONE of the early arrivals at the party, but the house is already full. Without question, Caleb is manning the keg, dishing out pick-up lines as fast as the cups fill with beer. Cara stops me near the keg. “Sophie, can you grab my beer. If I don’t pee right now I’m going to explode.”

“Sure. I’ll wait for you by the stairs.”

“Thank you!”

She dashes off and I laugh at her urgency. “Hey, Good Lookin’. You back for more?”

“Nope. Not tonight. I’m getting Cara a beer.” Caleb eyes me appreciatively and slowly fills Cara’s Solo Cup.

“You’re looking extra hot tonight. You sure you don’t want a drink?” he questions.

I shake my head. “Nope. I’m good.” I don’t need any motivation to act like a fool again. This is my second party; surely I’m wiser this time around.

“That’s a shame. You’d have more fun if you drank.” He hands me back the cup, overflowing slightly with sticky white foam. “Sorry about the head.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “The what?”

“Head. The foam.”

That’s a new one for me. “Oh. It’s fine.”

“I forgot you’re new to this party thing. Lick your finger, then stick it in and swirl it around. It’ll make it all better.”

I stare at the cup watching the bubbles slowly pop. I’m not molesting the beer. Cara can do whatever she wants with her cup. “Thanks for the tip.” I roll my eyes and walk away.

“Hey, Sophie.”

Looking back at Caleb over my shoulder, he nods his head signaling me to come back over. “Yeah?”

“You’re overdressed. Let me know when the show starts.”

Scoffing in disgust, I smack him in the chest and walk away. He laughs at my reaction and keeps pouring beer. Nobody is getting a repeat performance out of me.

Waiting for Cara, I lean against the stairwell and sway back and forth to the music. As I scan the room, waiting for her, I notice commotion over by the Tiki bar. As a few bodies part, leaving a small area to peer through the crowd, I’m reminded of the power of alcohol. Lying on the bar is a gorgeous girl with her shirt pulled up, exposing her flat stomach. Taking a body shot out of her belly button, Kipton looks like he’s having the time of his life. Behind him, there’s another girl running her hands up his back underneath his shirt. I wanted to see him tonight, but I never imagined he would be doing that.

I sink into the corner of the room, wanting to disappear into the ancient wallpaper. If I could wash my eyes out with soap to remove the racy image I would. Gone is the reminder of his lips touching mine, of him inside me, kissing around my belly button. As crushed as I am, I know it’s my own fault for pushing him away. Did I really expect someone like him to fight for me? No.

“I’m back. The line was forever long. What’d I miss?” Cara asks.

“Eh. Not too much. Caleb told me to get naked and your brother’s doing body shots off some hooker over there while another gropes him from behind.”

Cara stands on her tippy toes and peeks around a few dancing bodies. “What is he doing! Who are those girls?”

When Kipton helps body shot goddess off the top of the bar, I see it’s her. The girl he was talking to outside of my dorm. The one he touched. The one he said he didn’t make plans with. I should have known better than to believe him. I can’t compete with all of that even if I wanted to. She looks straight off a runway with her chic wardrobe and perfect body. Instantly, my mood shifts from jealousy to annoyance. It’s time to get even.

Looking around the room, I don’t see anyone I know besides Caleb. As much as I don’t want to lead him on, he’s my only option. The fact that Kipton isn’t his biggest fan makes me all the more eager to get to him. “I want to dance, Cara.”

“I thought you don’t like to dance?” she questions.

I smile and shake my ass. “Tonight, I love it.”

“Oh hell. What are you up to, Sophie?”

“Nothing I can’t handle.” Sashaying over to the keg, I tap Caleb’s arm. He finishes filling the cup in his hand and bends down to hear me speak. “Do you have to pour beer all night?”

Looking confused, yet hopeful, he shakes his head. “No. Why?”

“Will you dance with me?”

Smiling from ear to ear, he drops the tap and turns to face me. Towering over my small body, he beams, “I thought you’d never ask.” I take his hand and he leads us into the throng of sweaty bodies grinding on the dance floor. I search for Kipton and see him kissing both girls at the same time—a triple kiss. Gasping, I cover my mouth in shock. Tongues and lips are all over each other. It’s filthy and everything a guy would dream of—it’s everything I’m not.