Page 8 of Wild Love
Vanilla falls in behind him, and he presses closer against me.
I lean in so he can hear me over the music. “I’m going to get some air.”
“Want some company?”
A light laugh escapes my lips as Vanilla glides her fingers around his stomach. No Johnny sandwich for me tonight.
“I’m good,” I say and step away, letting her have him. I blow out a shaky breath. It’s probably time to switch to water.
When I reach the kitchen, Adam’s pulling on a T-shirt, and Reagan has her purse on her shoulder.
“There you are,” she says. “Are you in for one last late-night game of sardines?”
I nod. The fresh air should help the heat coursing through my veins.
“Have you seen Mav?” she asks, looking around.
“I don’t think he’s going anywhere except to his apartment for a repeat with the chick from last night, and I’m pretty sure Sienna and Rhett are off somewhere having sex.”
“I’ll grab everyone,” Adam tells us and drops a kiss to Reagan’s lips. “Meet you outside.”
I run into my apartment to grab my phone. I left it earlier tonight when I headed to the party because I don’t have any pockets and couldn’t wear a bra either to stick it in.
I’m scrolling through notifications as I walk back outside. In the short time I was gone, Adam’s managed to gather everyone. Even Maverick.
The eight of us walk toward campus in the dark. We’ve done it a hundred times before. It’s sort of our thing. Late-night parties often led to some combination of us and whoever we were talking to at the time playing sardines on campus. But tonight, as the school year is coming to a close, everyone is paired up except Mav and me.
“I’m surprised you came,” I say as I fall in beside him. It’s a short walk, but we wander slowly. The happy couples in front of us spend as much time hugging and kissing as moving their legs forward.
“Are you kidding? This was my idea. One last time.” He stares straight ahead, and his jaw flexes.
“What about Vanilla?”
He shrugs. “Maybe she’ll still be around later.”
Of course she will. The party won’t stop without us, and when we get back, he’ll have a selection of girls to pick from.
“Besides.” He moves closer, and his arm brushes mine. “You’re my favorite partner, and we get to hide tonight. I have the perfect spot. Been saving it up for this.”
When we finally reach campus, Maverick leads me to his perfect hiding spot while the rest of the group gives us a head start. Over the years, we’ve set some boundaries to where we can hide, but we’ve never lacked creative ways to play the game. Inside fountains, under tables, behind trees and columns. It’s so much more than finding a good hiding spot. Staying quiet and still, things Maverick always struggles with, are what usually get people caught.
Tonight, staying quiet isn’t a problem. I’m lost in my thoughts, wondering what next year will be like. Will those of us still at Valley come here? No, probably not. It won’t be the same. I can’t believe I’ve fallen into the same bout of melancholy my friends have. It isn’t sadness that they’re all leaving. I’m happy for them. They’re all going to do incredible things. The problem is, I’m not.
“Everything okay?” Mav asks as we approach the library. They’re doing construction on one side. Heavy, translucent plastic hangs down, covering the work area.
“Yeah.” I force some pep into my tone. “Yeah, I’m good.”
“Not sad we’re all leaving?” He sticks out his bottom lip into a pout.
“I am, but I’ll still talk to Sienna, and she’ll fill me in on Rhett, and Adam isn’t going anywhere.”
“And me?”
“I’ll miss Charli,” I say with a cheeky grin. “Will you send me pictures of her occasionally?”
“Babe, if you want dick pics, then you just gotta ask.”
I laugh despite myself, and he holds back the plastic to let me go ahead of him. A light hangs above me, casting a soft glow on the area, but otherwise, the space is open.
