The Hazards of a One Night Stand by Alyssa Rose Ivy Page B

cool, refreshing liquid. “A mojito. Nice. I think I’ll see you again.”
    “Glad I passed the test.” His lips tickled my earlobe as he leaned in.
    Tanner looked up, like he’d just remembered Colt. “This is a mixer, pledge. Why don’t you go mix?”
    “Yeah. Sure. See you later, Mal.” Colt didn’t appear interested in mixing.
    “I wouldn’t wait up for her.” Tanner used his hand to lead me away.
    “Getting cocky, huh?” I teased. “Anyway, what happened to you wanting meaningful sex?”
    “Sex with you would be very meaningful.” His fingers gently stroked my hip.
    “For who?”
    “Both of us. I mean I already know your favorite color and middle name. What else do I need to know?”
    I laughed. “Yeah, if you’re looking to get lucky, you should probably do some mixing of your own.”
    “Trying to ditch me already? We just got here.”
    “I need to find my friends.”
    “And we can’t find them together?”
    Man, he was clingy. I always complained about going to parties alone, but at least I didn’t have to worry about a guy following me around. I caught sight of Juliet talking to another one of my sorority sisters, Claire. “I’ll catch up with you later.” I tried to slip away.
    His hand tightened slightly. “Is that a promise?”
    “Maybe.” I pulled away and rushed off. Either he was hard up or we had very different definitions of how casual couples acted at these things.
    “Mallory, hey!” Juliet waved.
    “Hey, girls.”
    “How was dinner?” Claire asked. Pretty much my entire house knew about the date. I guess Tanner’s return had been noticed by a lot of people.
    “It was all right.”
    Juliet made a strange face, and I was prepared to explain when I heard Colt’s voice from behind me. “All right? What happened to great?”
    I groaned. “Eavesdropping on other people’s conversations isn’t cool.”
    “Yeah? Well, neither is listening to you flirt with a jack ass.”
    All three of us looked at him with surprise. Claire spoke first. “Are you really saying that about an active?”
    “Like you girls never complained about actives when you were pledging?”
    “Not in public.” In private, we did it tons. Especially when it came to our pledge mom, Amanda. That was one senior I was glad to see graduate.
    “This isn’t public.”
    “A bar isn’t public?” I gave him a disbelieving look.
    “No. It’s a fascinating conversation with three beautiful women.”
    Claire giggled. A wave of jealousy hit me, and I didn’t like it.
    “Aside from the jack asses, how’s the pledging life going?” Juliet asked.
    “Your boyfriend isn’t a jack ass, by the way.”
    “No, only the ones who hit on Mallory are, right?”
    Colt smiled. “Exactly. But it’s been okay. Keeping me busy.”
    “I bet. It’s only for a few months though.” There went Juliet with all the glass half-full stuff again.
    “Yeah, and it’s nice that I still have time to see my favorite girl.” He winked at me.
    “See me? If you mean bother then sure.”
    “I’m not bothering you.” He took a half step toward me. “I notice the way your eyes light up when you see me.”
    “Are you sure they’re not lighting up with anger?”
    Juliet and Claire both laughed.
    “Nah, they light up the same way during sex.”
    I took in a sharp breath. “It happened once, Colt. You’re not an expert on how I am during sex.”
    “On that note, we’re leaving.” Juliet tugged on Claire’s arm and walked away. She was in so much trouble.
    I turned to follow, but Colt put a hand on my shoulder. “Afraid to talk to me alone?”
    I shook my head.
    “You sure?”
    “Why would I be afraid?” I crossed my arms.
    “I don’t know. Maybe you’re afraid you can’t control yourself around me.”
    I cough-laughed. “Ah, no. That’s not an issue.”
    “Oh?”
    “Are we really going to do this?”
    “Do what?”
    “Play this game.” I dropped my arms to my sides. “I’d like to stay friends with