Filed to story: Katy and Brayden Cooper Novel
To the right, a cluster of International Relations majors I recognize are already half-drunk and arguing politics like anyone cares. To my left, sorority girls are shrieking along to the music, tossing their hair and dancing. A group near the kitchen is locked into a drinking game, and a few guys are going at it over beer pong.
Basically, the frat managed to squeeze the entire campus into one house and still give everyone something to do.
Braydon doesn’t seem to notice the stares as he steers me through the crowd, his hand firm on my waist. I can’t tell if people are staring because he looks good, because my n*****s are showing through this top, or because this is officially my first appearance at a frat party. Not like I’m that big of a deal for anyone to notice.
By the time we make it across the room, the attention fades, and everyone is back to their beer pong, screaming, or making out against walls.
“Cap!” A ginger guy smacks Braydon’s chest, grinning as we walk up to a group of jocks. I recognize most of them from his team and then Justin, who’s currently busy trying to swallow a girl’s face whole. Gross.
His tongue is practically spelunking down her esophagus. And thankfully, he hasn’t noticed me yet which is honestly a blessing, because watching my brother make out like that is nothing short of traumatizing.
“Happy birthday, man,” Braydon says, clapping Ginger on the back.
“Thanks, bro,” the guy Zach grins before his attention shifts to me and his eyes widen. “Well, damn.
And who’s this?”
“Katy, right?” another one pipes up. “You let Cap drag you to this madhouse?”
“You’re one hot chick!” someone else blurts, earning a round of cackles.
“What’s the deal, Cap? You’re seriously whipped over her, huh?”
“She’s too good for him anyway.”
They tumble over each other with laughter, shoving and teasing like frat boys do, and I feel heat creeping up my face.
“Peach, this is Zach,” Braydon says, cutting them off.
Right, Zach is still waiting for a response.
“Once a quick smile. “Happy birthday, Zach. Braydon tells me you’re the best goalie on the team.”
Zach bursts into laughter, and the rest follow like it’s the funniest thing they’ve heard all night. My brows knit. Why are they laughing?
“I’m the only goalie,” Zach says finally, still chuckling as he takes my hand. “But it’s nice to have you here, Katy. I’ve heard a lot about you from J already.”
I feel my cheeks warm. “Thank you,” I murmur, trying to ignore the fact that I just congratulated the guy for being the best goalie when he’s literally the only one. Smooth, Katy. Real smooth.
Braydon slips his hand into mine and guides me closer to the rest of his friends lounging on a sofa that’s been shoved against the wall. None of them are drinking, but most have girls perched on their laps-girls who size me up instantly and flash me nasty looks, like I’ve trespassed onto their turf.
“This is Luke,” Braydon says, nodding toward a guy with messy blond hair and a mischievous smile. “One of our top defensemen.”
“Hi, Luke,” I say.
He grins, leaning back from the girl currently licking his neck. “Hello Katy. You’re so pretty I’m considering being a nerd right now.”
“Shut up, Luke,” Braydon snaps, and just like that, Luke’s mouth shuts. The authority in Braydon’s tone is so natural it almost startles me.
He goes on to introduce me to Martin, another forward, then Jiho, and Jack. One by one, they nod or offer a casual hello. It’s subtle, but I notice how they all respect Braydon, listening when he speaks, and doing what he says. This must be why he loves hockey. With them, he has a family. As the introductions wrap up, Justin finally tears himself away from the girl attached to his mouth. When his eyes land on me, they widen, and his lips part like he’s about to blurt something.
But before he can get a word out, someone else steps out of the kitchen and instantly hijacks my attention. Bryan.
He stops dead in his tracks, his eyes bulging like he just saw a ghost in a crop top. The red cup in his hand almost slips, hanging loose at his side and his gaze sweeps over me slowly from head to toe, like he’s double-checking I’m actually standing here. And then his eyes cut to Braydon at my side, and just like that, they darken.
KATY’S POV
Before I can look away, Braydon slides his arm around my waist again, tugging me close. The muscle in Bryan’s jaw ticks, and I have to bite back a smirk so I don’t make it obvious that this little performance is entirely for him.
“Want something to drink?” Braydon leans close, his breath brushing my ear over the music.
“Water. Or any soft drink,” I reply quickly.
His brows shoot up. “Soft drinks aren’t really the memo at parties like this.”
“Then water.”
He nods. “I’ll be right back.”
He presses a quick kiss to my forehead before heading off into the crowd, and I notice Bryan’s not standing there anymore.
“Cap does forehead kisses?” Luke asks, grinning at me like he’s discovered some big secret.
“Katy’s got him acting like a gentleman,” Martin adds, earning a few laughs.
Heat creeps up my neck, and I almost blush…almost, until I spot Justin’s expression. He’s not amused.
He rises from his seat, steps over, and plants himself right beside me. “Let’s talk.”
“Not now,” I whisper, glancing around nervously.
“Now,” he counters.
I let out a sigh and trail after him to the side of the staircase, folding my arms tight across my chest.
“Since when do you come to frat parties?” he fires off, barely giving us time to stop.
“Since tonight.”
He scoffs. “Seriously, what is wrong with you?”
“What’s wrong with me?” I shoot back. “For what, showing up at a party you’re already at?”
“I know this isn’t you, Katy,” he snaps.
“Oh, really? And you picked up this atrocious piece of wisdom inside the mouth of the girl you were hooking up with?”
His lips part like he’s about to fire something back, but nothing comes out. Then his fingers clamp around my wrist. “We’re leaving.”
“The hell we are.” I rip my hand free. “Allie’s here. Everyone’s here. You’re here. Why do I have to be the one to leave?”