From those I recognize, it’s mostly the members of the Blue and White Squads, the basketball team, and a sprinkling of others.
The knots in my shoulders loosen a tad at the realization. For as bad as my history is with cheerleaders who aren’t from NJA, JT certainly fell in with a good group here.
“KayKay, play pong with me.” D reaches out to pull me toward the table.
“Hells no,” I say with a laugh. “The last place I’m playing beer pong is in a basketball house.”
“Why?” D gives me a pout and bats his unfairly long lashes at me. Naturally, I roll my eyes at him.
“You guys drill free throws for a living.”
“That’s big talk coming from a football queen.” D may be teasing, but it doesn’t prevent me from checking to see if that raised any interest. No one is paying us any mind, but it’s a hard habit to break.
D goes full-on puppy-dog-eyes on me to convince me to play. Not gonna happen.
“What about a game of flip cup?” I point toward the kitchen.
He looks over my head, an easy feat for him, scoping out the empty table sticking out into view. “Works for me.” He drops an arm around my shoulders and turns back to the room. “Anyone who wants to help me kick KayKay’s ass in flip cup, we’ll be in the kitchen.”
Enough people break off from various rooms at D’s bellow to play a game of eight-on-eight.
With each flip of the cups, my earlier apprehension drains like the beer down my gullet. It’s a good thing beer is such an appetizing beverage because it should pair well with the crow I’m going to have to eat when I admit to JT he was right to drag me out tonight.
We trash-talk and laugh almost more than we actually play, and it’s the most fun I’ve had in two weeks.
Our teams are pretty evenly matched, trading off who comes out the victor. Rei and I fall onto each other in a fit of giggles at the guys’ attempts at victory-dancing in such a confined space. Let’s just say a man closer to seven feet than six should not try to running-man without warning his neighbor.
I roll my eyes as JT shoots me an I told you so grin and reaches for the blue pitcher to refill for our next game. I’m concentrating on making sure the beer hits the fill line two inches from the bottom of the cup when the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
#Chapter31
By the time my flight lands in Lexington, Grayson has come through for me with a text saying his brother is at a party at the basketball house. Personally, I have my doubts that Kay will be at this house party, but Grayson seems more than confident.
He had to guesstimate the address from an old visit since asking Dante for it would raise suspicion. If Kay is in attendance, I don’t want anything to spook her before I get to her.
Thankfully, it’s easy to ascertain it’s the correct house by the handful of people milling about and drinking on the front porch.
My hands worry the strap of my duffle as I pause on the sidewalk, staring at the house as my Uber drives away. I made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t leave here without Kay. Looking down, the gray cotton of my U of J football hoodie mocks me. My attire sure isn’t going to help me stay incognito, but I didn’t have anything else to work with since this was an unplanned trip.
I sure hope Grayson is right and Kay is here, because I’m unsure how my presence will go over otherwise.
“Aw, shit,” says the guy closest to the door as I make my approach. “You’re Mason Nova.”
I’m used to strangers knowing who I am, and it’s not from ego—it’s fact. I’ve had more plays on the ESPN highlights reel than any other college player in the past few years and have been featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated with other players speculated to go in the first round of this year’s draft class.
“Hey, man.” We exchange the typical dude hand-clap-shake-bump. I have a reputation for always being gracious when meeting fans, and hopefully this time I can use it to my advantage.
“What are you doing down here?” His own hoodie declares his status on the basketball team, so I’m even more certain I’m in the correct place.
“My girl is down for the weekend. I decided to come and join her.” I point to the door behind him. “Is it cool if I just head in?”
“Oh, yeah. Door’s open.” He steps to the side and motions to the strap across my chest. “Everyone drops their shit in the room to the left if you wanna ditch your stuff. It’ll be safe.”
Offering my thanks, I head inside and take him up on his suggestion.
A smidge less recognizable without my sweatshirt, I proceed unimpeded as I make my way through the downstairs. This party is a lot more low-key than Alpha parties and reminds me more of how things are in the den with a few people dancing and others playing video games.
Not seeing a familiar rainbow-streaked blonde in the mix, I continue through the house and into the dining room. Kay also isn’t among those playing beer pong, and I decide to add Dante and JT into my search. Between the former’s towering height and the latter’s red hair, I’m hoping one of them might be easier to spot. Kay is so short she tends to get lost in the shuffle.
A cheering sounds from the next room, I hit pay dirt, seeing Dante and JT among those playing flip cup. I don’t see Kay yet, but she can’t be far if
