Page 21 of If You Dare

If I hadn’t fucked everything up.

So I sigh and tell her, “Fine. I’ll go.”

Chapter12

Before

Violet

At the Sigma Chi party,I adjust my too-short skirt. Everything I’m wearing tonight belongs to Chloe. She went through my entire dresser and decided none of my clothes were suitable for my first frat party.

When she snaps a selfie of us, I hardly recognize myself. She curled my hair and covered my face in concealer, foundation, eyeshadow, liner, mascara, blush, and cherry lipstick. The crop top she threw at me plunges so low, my bra almost peeks through the top. When I complained that my bra was showing, she simply told me to take it off.

Though I feel like I’m wearing a costume, I’ve got a new sway to my hips, and even next to the radiant beauty that is Chloe, some of the guys check me out.

In the crowded living room, she digs her nails into my arm.

“Ow!” I try to shake her off, but there’s no getting rid of Chloe once she sinks her claws in you.

“I’m not normally into redheads,” she whispers, “but look at that guy. He is so cute.”

“I thought we were here for Luke.”

“Iam, but we’ve gotta find you a man too.”

My stomach twists at the thought of forcing myself to try to fall for a guy who isn’t Wes.

But it’s just a silly crush. Once I find some other guy, a nerd from the library like he suggested, I’ll get over him.

I follow where Chloe is blatantly pointing at a redhead, tall and reedy with thick glasses. “Oh, I know him. That’s Maxwell. He’s in my Intro to Fiction Writing class.

Chloe gasps. “A fellow writer? Oh my god, you have to go over and flirt with him.”

“What?” My body temperature spikes. “I’m not doing that.”

She pinches me. I’m starting to learn her love language is violence. “Why the hell not? He’s cute, and I bet you two have a ton in common.”

“Because I have to see him in class every week, and I don’t want things to be awkward between us.”

“I’m not telling you todatethe guy. Just flirt with him. Get some practice in. I bet he’s the type of guy who would be flattered you even looked in his direction. Give him a compliment and he’ll be begging for your hand in marriage.” When I fold my arms and make it clear I’m not budging, Chloe adds, “I dare you.”

Shit. I dared her to flash a guy at a crowded hockey game and she didn’t even bat an eye. If she can do that, surely I can flirt with a cute classmate for five seconds.

Chloe and I grab drinks for the three of us as an icebreaker. When we reach him, she bursts out with a loud “Hi!” I shove a red plastic cup wordlessly into his hand.

His eyes widen, frightened. “Uh. Thanks.”

“Violet.” Chloe’s voice comes out artificially high. “What were you just saying about his hair?”

I’m going to kill her for this. “Oh, yeah. It’s...nice.”

Chloe manages to hide her cringe, but Maxwell slips into an easy smile. “Thanks. You’re in my fiction writing class, right?”

The tight knot in my chest starts to loosen. “Yeah, I am.”

“How did you do on the last assignment?”

Chloe squeezes my shoulder. “I’m going to get another drink!” she shouts over the pulse of the music and the cheers from the kitchen.

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