Page 11 of Casualties

Driving out of the parking lot, I can’t help but glance at Ainsley in the rearview.She must sense me looking, because her gaze pulls to look back at me.I try to get some sort of reaction from her through eye contact, but she rolls her eyes and looks out the window again.That eye roll of hers is getting on my last nerve.If we were in a playroom at the club, I would show her just how much trouble she'd be in acting like a brat.Bratty attitudes have consequences.

Dude, fucking stop.You can’t think like that, not with her.She is never allowed in the club…ever!

* * *

As we walk to the stairs of the frat house, I watch Morgan and Cassie walk ahead, talking quietly.Their hushed voices seem light, but their body language gives off a hostile energy.I'm sure he's giving her an earful on their outfits still.

Ainsley walks up the stairs in front of me, and I notice the bottom of her ass poking out of her shorts with each step she takes.Hell no!I quickly pull off my hoodie and walk up behind her.She doesn’t have time to object as I wrap my arms around her waist, turning her to face me.Without giving her a chance to speak, I place my finger to her lips, shushing her.Pulling the sleeves around her waist, I tie them into a hard, firm knot.

"I get it, you have a new wardrobe, but I seriously doubt you want all of Greek Row getting a front-row view of your ass.”My lips curl up into a smirk, because while I know she is making more daring choices, her ass on display was not what she had in mind.She shakes out of my hold and adjusts the hoodie, not making any attempt to take it off.

“Thank you,” she huffs out in annoyance.Obviously she doesn't want to accept the gesture from me, but knows it’s that or be uncomfortable with the catcalls she would receive showing off that work-of-art ass.

I just nod my head at her with a valiant smile on my face.Her cheeks turn a slight pink hue, then she turns and walks away.Ainsley may believe she is going to keep her distance from me all night, and I may let her think that, but I will be watching her every move.

FIVE

AINSLEY

Ugh.Why didn’t I think about my huge ass popping out of these shorts?

They looked fine in the mirror, but I didn’t think about walking up stairs.In any other scenario, I would take Ace’s gesture as sweet, but not in our current situation.It’s overprotective, overbearing, and not his fucking place.At the same time, I’m not going to walk around showing off the goods, so I keep the damn hoodie.I know he feels like he got some sort of win, but he didn’t.I only refuse to show the bottom half of my butt to a bunch of strangers.

The party is packed full of students, with loud music blaring from the speakers.I find what I assume is the bar.It’s really a kitchen counter topped with a bunch of liquor bottles and two large kegs sitting next to it.Someone offers to make me a drink, but I choose to make one myself.I've watched one too many Law and Order SVU episodes and true crime documentaries to get handed a drink from a stranger.Benson and Stabler taught me better than that.

My eyes scan the wide selection of random liquors.I spot a bottle that looks familiar.A tall, frosted glass bottle with mountains and birds flying across the landscape catches my eyes.Grey Goose!My mom and Mrs.Maddox drink this, always mixing it with…aha!I snatch up the club soda I find sitting close by, and lucky for me, there is a bowl of cut limes.

I’ve only watched my mom make this, and hope it’s not disgusting.My eyes widen in surprise at the refreshing taste.It reminds me of a better lime-flavored White Claw.I down my bubbly drink and make another to give me liquid courage at this party.

Two drinks later, I’m pretty buzzed.No surprise there—I’ve never drank vodka before.

To my surprise, this house isn’t bad.Of course it’s obvious only the male species resides here—it's exactly how I picture a frat house would be.In the living room is a large flat-screen TV, and the walls are decorated with swimsuit models and sports memorabilia.The floors are hardwood—probably for the best with the amount of drinks I see being spilled.But surprisingly, the furniture looks very expensive.

Ace hasn’t hovered like I thought he would after walking away from him on the staircase outside.Come to think of it, I haven't seen Morgan and Cassie either.Hmm…I guess they all decided to do their own thing, and that’s perfectly fine with me.I don’t need babysitters.

The song playing isn’t something I would normally listen to, but I don’t hate it.I open Shazam to identify the name of the song, and wait as the pulsating circle goes round and round."Little Girl Gone" by Chinchilla.I quickly add it to my playlist, and surprise myself when I start dancing.Jamming out to rock is not like dancing to this music, but my hips start swaying, and it’s not long before I find the beat.

Drunk students surround me, shaking their asses, as I'm trying to do.A large hand slides across my hip, causing goosebumps to cover my skin.Shocked, I turn around fast to see who this person is that is brazenly touching me.

A man.

I look into the eyes of a tall masculine man with sandy blond hair, brown eyes, and a light dusting of freckles across his nose.He gives me a soft apologetic smile, and I can tell by the look in his eyes, he is asking for permission to dance with me.I nod the okay, so he moves me to where his leg is snuggled in between mine.He is so tall I am practically grinding my downstairs on his thigh.It feels good to be wrapped in someone’s arms, dancing to a song I surprisingly like.

He dances us into a corner of the dance floor, covering my small frame with his large one.From this angle, I can't see anyone else.We continue to move to the beat of another song when he leans in close to my ear, his lips brushing my lobe.

“I’m Jackson… Jackson Davis.You must be new, I’ve never seen you.”His lips are still brushing my ear as a shiver runs down my body.

“I’m Ainsley Copeland, and yes I’m new.Starting my freshman year.”I’m trying to keep my cool, but I can hear the shakiness in my voice.The music is loud, so I’m hoping he doesn’t notice.

This is insane.I never talk to boys, and I find myself extremely nervous.My body starts to heat up from the close proximity.As the song changes, so does the rhythm of our bodies.He seems to know what he’s doing, so I let him lead.

Jackson brushes his lips to my ear so I can hear him.“Do you want to go for a walk and talk more… you know, away from the chaos of this party?”

It’s sweet he wants to get to know me better in a more intimate setting, but if I go for a walk alone with a stranger, Ace and Morgan will throw a fit.On top of that, I need to find Cassie.Ignoring his question, I take a moment to look around for any of the three people I came here with.Where the hell did she go?

“I can’t leave, my brother and best friend are here.I should probably find them.”I pull a slow smile to hopefully ease the rejection.He grins from ear to ear and nods, letting me know he wasn’t offended.

We make our way to the kitchen bar.

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