Page 4 of Risky Little Affair
Alexis
“Areyou sure you can’t skip?” I plead with Piper.
I know it’s a long shot and rude of me to ask, but I need my sidekick this weekend. We do everything together. I love Kendall and Lo, but Piper is my other half. I’m more comfortable when she’s around. More confident. More myself.
“I wish. This party has been nothing but a pain in my ass the last few weeks. I’m not sure how it happened, but my aunt barely did anything and I ended up picking up the slack. Between the party and classes, all I want is a nap. Camping sounds way more relaxing than entertaining my family and all my parents’ friends.”
Piper continues stripping her bed, her movements more forceful than necessary, letting me know exactly how irritated she is. I’ve heard bits and pieces of her conversations with her aunt over the last week. I knew something was up when she let out a sigh of frustration after hanging up the other night, but it was clear she didn’t want to discuss it.
“All your hard work will be worth it when you see the look of surprise on your parents’ faces,” I say, trying to sound encouraging while I’m dying a little on the inside.
“And you’re going to have fun this weekend without me because you’re going to promise me to try and let loose a little. Leave the baggy clothes behind. Act like a normal college student. Have a few drinks. Don’t think about school for once, and then tell me all about it so I can live vicariously through you. Deal?”
When I don’t respond right away, Piper throws her pillow at my face.
“Deal,” I state begrudgingly, tossing the pillow back at her, both my voice and my throw lacking enthusiasm.
“I know Lo and Kendall are coupled up now, but Evie will be there. I guarantee she’d love to hang out with you.”
Evie is the sweetest. She’s easy to get along with and her personality shines brightly. What I love most about her is her sense of humor. That girl can turn anything you say into a dirty joke. She claims it’s from growing up around so many boys.
The Graham brothers to be exact.
You’d never know it by looking at her—perfect hair, perfect body, perfect smile—but she’s a bit of a spitfire. At least when her brother is not around. Max has a way of tamping down her bubbly personality. It’s like he wants her to stay a little girl forever. His overbearing attitude has only amped up since their dad died a few months ago.
Lo told us all about how he threatened Evie’s prom date, the poor kid.
It’s a family tradition, I guess. Finn got the same speech from Lo’s dad when they were in high school even though Finn and Lo weren’t dating at the time.
“I’m sure Evie and I will stick close but that doesn’t mean I won’t miss you while you’re gone.”
“Trust me, I’m the one who’s going to be missing you. After the party, I’m stuck with two whiny little dogs for a week.”
What am I going to do without my best friend for two weeks?It’s going to be so quiet here. I’m going to miss our study sessions. I’ll have no one to make fun of the crappy cafeteria food with. Not to mention, I’ll be trapped on campus until she comes back unless someone volunteers to come pick me up.
Which sucks.
And I hate asking. Even though my friends don’t seem to mind.
I help Piper finish packing and loading her car. Once she’s gone, I stare at my own unpacked bag sitting on the end of my bed. Kendall and Declan will be here to pick me up in a few hours and the only thing I have laid out at this point is a sweatshirt in case it gets chilly at night.
Rummaging through my closet, I’m about to start pulling out clothes when I remember my promise to Piper.
No baggy clothes.
Well, that eliminates half my wardrobe.
Heading into her room, I scan the contents of her closet... what’s left of it anyway. We loaded up all her laundry so she can wash it while she’s home, including her bedding and some blankets. I spot two shirts that will be tight but should fit me. After trying both of them on, I hang one back up and return to my room. After tossing Piper’s shirt in my bag and a few of my own that I think she would approve of, I start to focus on what I’m going to wear today.
This shirt rides higher than I remember, resting just above my navel, showing more skin than I’m normally comfortable with. My jean shorts are... well, short. They were a pair of jeans at one point. Piper helped me cut them off last summer, and I swear they shrunk in the wash. Staring at myself in the mirror, I’m about to change when my phone chimes.
I rush into the living room, sliding my finger across the screen as I pick it up from the table.
KENDALL: Out front. You ready?
ME: On my way.
Without giving my shirt a second thought, I pull my bag high on my shoulder and slip into my flip flops. My toenail polish is starting to chip, making me wish I’d taken the time to repaint them before this weekend.