Page 121 of The Golden Boys
Like, taking Joss’s advice and heading to Trip’s room to deal with my West problem. Joss had even stopped by my room on her way to the party, and when I told her I was passing, she gave me her number in case I wanted to talk about everything later.
Of all the members of the dance squad, she’s by far the most tolerable.
As a last-ditch effort to do the right thing, I check in with Scar.
“Are you in bed?” she asks after saying ‘hello’.
“How could you possibly know that?”
“I can hear the lameness in your voice,” she teases. “Isn’t your boyfriend there? Why on earth aren’t you out doing something fun right now?”
I sigh and, apparently, don’t answer quickly enough for her, because she’s on my case again.
“Get up, Blue!” she yells into the phone.
I don’t even bother telling her West isn’t my boyfriend. People seem to believe what they want to about that situation.
“Give me the phone,” I hear Jules say in the background. “Did I just hear right?” she asks. “You’re seriously in bed right now? While there’s an entire football team on the same floor? And I’m guessing very little supervision?”
“You don’t understand,” I whine.
“What Idounderstand is that you’re making the south side look really bad right now. Please, for the love of all that is holy, get up and dosomething,” she pleads.
I glance at the clock. “There’s a party, but—”
“No buts,” Jules snaps. “Get up, shower, put on something cute, and go!”
I’m smiling, although I don’t really believe heading to Trips room is the smartest thing right now.
“We could always watch something together on Netflix,” I suggest next.
“I’m hanging up,” Jules barks. “And when I check in later, you better have your ass out of that bed. Understood?”
It’s impossiblenotto roll my eyes, knowing I’m about to actually go through with this.
“Fine,” I give in.
The next second, the line goes dead and I slither out of bed, making my way toward the shower.
Here goes nothing.
* * *
As soon as I knock, I regret it.
On the other side of the door, I hear chill music and laughter. Surprisingly, despite knowing there are a ton of people inside, they aren’t super loud.
“Sup, Southside,” Dane answers with a grin. He’s leaning on the door and I can’t help but to peer over his shoulder, in search of the one I shouldn’t even be thinking about.
“Hi,” I say flatly, because I’m always leery of him and both his brothers.
“Come in,” he says a little too sweetly for me. So, naturally, I’m eying him as I enter the room. “Grab a beer, get comfortable, and if you spot anything questionable or illegal,” he adds, “just …unseeit.”
I offer an uneasy smile, feeling the vibration as the door closes behind me. Several girls from the dance squad are focused on me, and they’re practically snarling as I pass by them. They don’t even have to worry about me. I’ll be avoiding them at all costs tonight.
Bunch of snobs.
There’s another room connected to Trip and Austin’s. From the looks of it, that one’s packed, too, and I assume it’s where another pair of players are staying this weekend.