Chapter 6

It was Saturday evening. Teghan and Annabelle were getting ready to go to their first sorority party. Teghan hadn’t stopped thinking about her kiss with Donnie and she’d rambled about it incessantly.

“Please just be careful, Teeg.”

“Why?” Teghan put her hands on her hips and looked at Annabelle. She was tired of Annabelle’s harping on her about Alex. “I’m not going to put my life on hold just so Alex doesn’t get his feelings hurt.” It was a decision she’d made last night after her pool-side talk with Donnie.

“No one is asking you to put your life on hold. But do you have to mess around with his roommate?”

“So it’s okay for him to mess around with my friend, but I’m not allowed to with his roommate?”

“That’s not what I meant, Teghan,” Annabelle said.

“Look, I know you’re worried about Alex, but he didn’t give a shit about my feelings last night when he was hanging all over Beth friggin’ Jansen!” Teghan raised her voice.

Annabelle laughed.

“Why are you laughing at me?” Teghan asked.

“You’re such a drama queen. You know Alex didn’t do anything with Beth. And I’d bet anything, he’s probably feeling pretty guilty about sleeping next to her.”

“That’s really not my problem.” Teghan shrugged. “We’re not together anymore.”

“You’re absolutely right. You’re not together, Teghan. And you can’t have it both ways.”

“I’m not asking to have it both ways.”

“Aren’t you?” Annabelle asked. “You want to hook up with Donnie and not have Alex get mad about it, yet you’re furious about Alex and Beth.”

Teghan sighed. She hated it when Annabelle was so blunt. But she hated it even more that Annabelle was always right.

“You made a choice when you broke up with Alex. No one said it was going to be easy. But you either need to deal with it or get back together with him.” Annabelle shrugged on her sweater.

“I really hate you right now.” Teghan laughed.

“No you don’t.” Annabelle chuckled. “If I didn’t keep you in line who would?”

Teghan rolled her eyes. “You worry too much, Annie.”

“And you don’t worry enough,” Annabelle said as they walked out of their room.

They followed a short pathway that led from the dorms to Greek Row and they easily found the Omega Theta Pi house. It was impressive. A perfectly manicured path led straight to the front door of the house that had a porch running the entire length of it.

“Hello,” said a tall, pasty white girl with jet black hair.

“Hi,” Teghan said. That chick looks like Morticia. Doesn’t she realize she’s in California? Some sun wouldn’t kill her.

“I’m Chrissy. Welcome to OTP. How’d y’all hear about us?”

Y’all? Teghan resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “We saw your flyer in the quad.”

“Well, we’re glad to have y’all. Feel free to look around. Refreshments are in the kitchen,” Chrissy said with a smile.

Teghan was relieved to see that Chrissy’s blinding white smile was missing fangs. She stepped into the house and came face to face with a large staircase that jutted off at the top to both sides. Bedrooms, she guessed. To the right of the entrance was the main sitting room. There was a brick fireplace with a mantle that held framed photographs of the sisters of OPT against the right wall. On both sides of the fireplace were two large windows that extended all the way to the floor. Two full sized couches, several chairs, and three over-sized armchairs were organized in a circle around the outer part of the room. An oval coffee table sat in the center of the circle.

A single small step down from that room led to an area that housed a pool table. Teghan noticed a set of patio doors. “C’mon,” she said to Annabelle as they made their way through the door. A tall wooden fence encompassed the yard which was littered with patio tables and chairs.

“Okay, now that we’ve given ourselves the tour, let’s go get something to drink.”

“I need to use the bathroom first,” Teghan said.

“You go do that and I’ll go get drinks. Meet you over there by the chairs?”

Teghan looked to where Annabelle nodded. “Come with?”

Annabelle shook her head. “I don’t want to spend all night waiting in line for the bathroom. I plan to get very drunk.”

“Fine. But don’t wander off. I’ll be right back.”

***

Teghan knew it was a mistake to separate, especially with the crowd that had formed for the party. Teghan mumbled a slew of obscenities under her breath as she weaved her way in and out of the masses. She managed to cross the yard and reach the group of chairs where they were supposed to meet. Annabelle wasn’t there. Big surprise.

She tucked her hands into her jean pockets and continued to survey the crowd. Teghan couldn’t stop staring at a short, chubby kid with lime green spiked hair. A chain hung across his cheek, connecting the piercing in his nose to the one in his ear. Teghan cringed at the thought of how much it would hurt if someone yanked on that chain.

“Crazy party, huh?” the guy standing next to her said.

“Yeah,” she said with a smile.

“You’re Teghan, right?”

She gave him a quizzical look. “How’d you know that?”

“I’m the resident advisor for the third floor of Whitwood Dorm,” he said. “I’ve seen you around.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.”

“Oh, right.” He laughed. “I’m Logan.”

“Nice to meet you, Logan.”

“Wanna dance?”

Teghan studied him for a moment. He was tall, had dark brown eyes with hair to match, and showed a nice smile. What the hell, she thought. At least he went to the same college and might help get her mind off Donnie. She followed him onto the dance floor and, spacing herself a safe distance, began to move to the fast-paced music.

Logan leaned close to Teghan’s face. “I’ve wanted to ask you out, but every time I see you, you’re with some redhead or on the phone,” he shouted over the music.

“That’s Annabelle. She’s my roommate.”

Logan put his hand on Teghan’s back and pulled her closer. “So, can I take you out sometime?”

Teghan smiled. “What did you have in mind?”

“I don’t know. Maybe lunch or something?” He inched closer to her and straddled her leg, swaying his hips back and forth, grinding his body against hers.

“We’ll see.” Teghan pushed him away and continued to dance, hoping that Logan didn’t notice how uncomfortable she was with his forwardness.

“Oh, come on, it’s just lunch,” he said, closing in on her again.

“Maybe.” She had barely said the word as he roughly pressed his mouth to hers. Teghan couldn’t physically open her mouth wide enough to accommodate his eager kiss. His breath stunk of cigarettes and tasted like beer. And his tongue was all over the place; in her mouth; tracing her lips; back in her mouth; on her chin. Seriously? Her chin? This was the single worst kiss she’d ever had. Not to mention it was unwelcomed. Teghan pulled away and faked a smile. “I need a drink,” she said.

“Hurry back,” he said.

Teghan ignored him and made a beeline for the house. No friggin’ way, buddy. I’m going to need a napkin to wipe the slobber off my face. And to hell with that lunch date. There’s no way I’m going to give him another opportunity to lick my face. I should’ve slapped him. Or bit his tongue. That would’ve shown him.

Preoccupied by her own thoughts, she didn’t notice the guy leaning up against the side of the house smiling, until he called her name. Her mouth fell open in surprise at the sight of him. “Donnie?”

“You work fast,” he said. A twist of amusement curved his lips.

“Are you stalking me?”

“Why were you kissing that guy?”

Teghan grinned. “What are you doing here?”

He stood next to her, one elbow propped against the wall, the other tucked by his side; a beer bottle was pinched between his fingers. “You didn’t answer my question.”

“And you didn’t answer mine. Hey, where’d you get the beer?”

“In the house. First room at the top of the stairs. Now stop avoiding the question,” he said, his voice turning dark and angry. Then he added, “Trevor overheard you and Annabelle talking last night. We decided to come check things out.”

Teghan tilted her head to one side and grinned. Why did he sound angry? “So, you are stalking me.”

“Yes. No!” Donnie shook his head. “Will you please just answer my question?”

Teghan grabbed the drink out of his hand and sipped from it. “Jealousy suits you,” she said with a smile. “The way your muscles tense and your eyes turn dark. It’s really very sexy.”

“Damn it, Teghan.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m not jealous.”

Teghan’s smile didn’t waver. What the hell was wrong with her? It wasn’t like her to tease a guy like this. Something deep in her gut told her to stop, but she was just having too much fun. “I wasn’t kissing him,” she finally said. “He kissed me.” She noticed the tension in Donnie’s body ease a little. “Now answer my question. If you’re not stalking me, then why are you here?”

Donnie shrugged. “To meet girls?”

Teghan tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and sipped from his beer, fighting to hide her disbelief. Okay, so he wasn’t here for her. Why did this upset her? “Looks like you’ve come to the right place,” she said, glancing at the crowd before turning to walk away.

He grabbed her elbow before she could get away. “Where do you think you’re going?”

I knew it! He did come here for me. She smiled to herself before turning around.

“Dance with me,” he said.

“Are you going to kiss me?” she asked, her voice a taunting whisper. Please say yes. Please say yes.

“Only if you ask me to.”

Taking several deep breaths to calm her rapid heartbeat she allowed him to lead her to the dance floor. The music slowed and he pulled her close. She put her arms around his neck, laced her fingers behind his head, and rested her cheek on his chest. Being in his arms felt right—righter than anything she’d ever experienced. She felt him tighten his grip on her as they swayed to the beat of the music. They stayed like this, holding one another, for what seemed like a millennia, but in reality was just mere seconds.

She looked up when Donnie gently lifted her chin, her hazel eyes interlocked with his dazzling green, and she wondered what he was thinking. Did he want her to ask for a kiss? Because she damn well wanted to. But she wouldn’t, unless she knew that he’d oblige. Talk about embarrassing—to be turned down cold like that. She suppressed a shudder as he positioned his mouth next to her ear and whispered, “I want you, Teghan. More than you’ll ever know.” His lips curled around her earlobe giving it a soft kiss.

Teghan inhaled sharply and bit her bottom lip. She felt Donnie smile against her neck as he showered her with light, feathery kisses. “Teghan?” His husky seductive voice was dark, and wolfish with hunger.

“Hmmn.”

“It could be this good all the time, you know.” He nuzzled her neck, trailing the tip of his nose from behind her ear, down the curve of her neck, and across her collarbone.

“Hmmn.” She felt like an incoherent idiot, unable to say or do anything other than moan at him.

“If you were mine, I’d never let you go,” he said, cupping her face in his hands, caressing her cheeks with his thumbs.

“Donnie.” His name fell as an invitation from her lips, rather than the plea for him to stop, as she’d intended.

He let his lips hover just above hers. “Ask me,” he demanded. She stared up at him, lost for words. Stop being a spaz and ask him!

“I won’t kiss you until you ask me,” he said, his tone softening.

Teghan licked her lips. “Kiss me,” she whispered. Before she finished speaking the words, his mouth came down over hers in a hard, demanding kiss. What was with guys kissing her mid-sentence? At least this kiss was one she wanted. Oh, how she wanted it. She felt his hands work into her hair, holding her still as he kissed her. Teghan closed her eyes and for the first time since she’d met him, she simply let herself feel. Solid and warm. Demanding, yet generous with his touch. He was everything she wanted and nothing Alex ever was.

One moment Donnie was kissing her and the next she was on the ground, looking up in horror as Alex punched Donnie in the jaw.