Page 5 of Torrid Little Passion

"Oh, you know. Start of the school year. Cleo's already in panic mode about rush week."

"But it's not for a month." Max was bitching about it at poker the other night.

"Cleo says the university wants to increase student interest in Greek life. They suggested that each house has informal rush the first few weeks, and then we'll have official rush week. I think they're trying to get people to commit before they have a chance to get involved in anything else."

I listen as Mya talks about all the things her and Cleo are planning this year. I have no interest in Greek life. If I did, I would have rushed the Kappa house my freshman year at Max's urging. My anxiety always gets the best of me in situations like that. I wasn't about to make it worse by pledging to be a member of a group I couldn't commit to.

As it is, I can't stay at a party for more than an hour before it starts to feel like I'm crawling out of my skin. I have the choice to leave. If I were a brother of the house, I wouldn't. I'd be expected to be there.

No thanks.

I like being in control of my life. Of when and where I go, not being told where I have to be.

"What about you? Any big plans after graduation? Are you still planning on going to med school?"

This I can talk about for hours. Especially with Mya. She gets it, the need to help people. It's the same reason she wants to be a nurse.

"Yeah. I've applied to a few places. Just waiting to hear back from them. What about you? Where have you applied?"

"I applied to State for early admission and should find out in a few weeks if I got in. I don't want to go too far from home, so that's the only place I applied. Hopefully I'm accepted."

Mya is really close with her parents. Her entire family, actually. She's an only child; her brother died when she was much younger. He's the reason she aspires to be a nurse. Her story is eerily similar to mine. He drowned in the family pool. Only instead of a sibling dying, it was me who died. Thankfully, I was luckier than her brother.

"You'll get in." My words are meant to sound encouraging, but they lack the enthusiasm I was searching for.

I didn't apply to State.

Which means I won't see Mya next year. Maybe ever again.

We'll go our separate ways after graduation. Lead our separate lives.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Mya kicks me under the table, the toe of her sneaker connecting with my shin.

"Sorry. You know you're going to get in."

"Yeah, but you made it sound like it was a death sentence. Did you not apply to State?" Shaking my head, I avert my eyes as I lift my cup to my lips and take a sip of my coffee. "Why not?"

The sultry tone of her voice has my eyes flicking to her. Her stare is locked on my lips, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she continues to stare. When I pull the coffee cup away, she blinks but doesn't avert her eyes.

I know that look.

It's the same one I had when I first caught sight of her earlier. Her eyes are filled with lust, and her hormones are out of control. My dick recognizes the signs, bumping against the zipper of my jeans.

"Mya." My voice is barely above a whisper, her name coming out on a breath. My breathing is ragged now as I stare at her, assessing the way she's watching me.

"Yeah?"

"You have to stop looking at me like that."

"Huh?" Her eyes slowly lift until they meet mine. I see the flurry of emotions in her eyes. The pink in her cheeks deepens when she realizes she was caught starting. "What? I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry."

"I didn't realize I was staring. I just… I was lost in thought, and you're sitting across from me, so it was only natural that I stare straight ahead. I was thinking about going away to school and then finishing this year, and how busy I'm going to be. You were talking at some point, but I didn't hear what you said, which makes me a bad friend—"

"Mya."

I heard it. The word friend. The zone we've been living in since we first met. It's my fault we're here. I never took my shot. By the time junior year rolled around, she was dating some loser, and I'd lost my chance to be with her. I heard they broke up shortly after spring break last year. I didn't have any classes with Mya or a way to confirm. I was at my wits end, about ready to ask Max, when his dad died.