Summer was talking to me. Her voice came in and out. It was as if I were submerged in deep water, and she was above me, calling my name, while I was fighting to break the surface.

Something bad was going to happen.

Someone else was saying my name, and I frowned. That person…

I tore my gaze from Mason and turned.

Heather was right there. She was right in front of me, and she was waving a hand over my face.

I broke the surface.

I could hear her plain as day.

She said, “She goes into these freaky trances. Don’t worry. She’ll break free. Usually, it just means she needs to jump Mason’s bones—”

I didn’t let her finish. Launching myself at her, I tightly wrapped my arms around her. I hadn’t realized how much I missed my best friend until that minute.

“Are you going to tell me what was up with the weird stare-offs earlier?”

Heather was outside the house party, lounging in the backyard with me. She wanted a smoke, and I wanted some peace and quiet. My head had been full with too many thoughts.

After an awkward dinner with Mason, Logan, and Summer, they’d dropped us off at the dorm. The plan had been to grab some clothes for me, so we could sleep back at the house. It was more comfortable there, but those plans went awry as soon as we stepped foot on the floor. Kitty and Nina were going into Ruby’s room, but they went wild when they saw us. Ruby’s friend, Blaze, was throwing another party, and we were supposed to be the guests of honor. Ruby informed me later that Blaze now considered himself a badass, and he had near idol-worship for Logan. He became a man and wanted to repay Logan in beer and pussy.

Ruby cringed as she said the word pussy, but it was a direct quote from Blaze himself. She added, “Though, I have to be honest, I’m pretty sure Logan’s being used to bring the pussy part. Blaze told me that where Logan Kade goes, pussy follows.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry, but can you guys come?”

“Uh…” I’d glanced at Heather and Summer, the latter had been unnaturally quiet during dinner.

Both gave me blank faces back.

I’d made the decision. “Why not?” The evening couldn’t get more awkward, could it?

When we informed Mason of the change of plans, he planned to drop us off and pick us up later. That hadn’t lasted long. Logan got on the phone, and within five minutes, Mason’s phone was ringing. Drew and half the football team wanted to go to the party, too. Mason’s hand was forced, but I knew he was fine with that. Going to a party with Logan was like old times. The only reason Mason hadn’t originally wanted to go was because he’d thought I’d want my girl time.

That was what I was getting right now. Hanging out in the backyard with Heather while everyone drank, flirted, shrieked, giggled, whispered, danced, and whatever else inside was fine by me.

That brought me back to her question, something that had not been discussed during dinner. I shrugged now, sliding down in my chair to get more comfortable. “It’s Park Sebastian.”

I chewed on my bottom lip. It was obvious Logan had been in a fight with Sebastian. Both were covered in bruises. When we got to the house, one by one, guys poured into the party, and they all had bruises, too. It looked like they’d been in a mass brawl.

Heather took a drag off her cigarette and flicked the end into an ash bowl set between the lawn chairs. The setup was already here when we’d come out. There must’ve been others in the house or at the party who smoked. I was grateful for some privacy, though.

“He’s the current big bad villain?”

I nodded. “He’s an asshole.”

She grunted, taking one more drag. “Aren’t they all?”

I peered at her, pulling my knees up to my chest and wrapping my arms around them. She looked good. Her blond hair had a slight curl to it. She was tanned, toned, and decked out in a simple black tank top. Her jeans were tight with holes and rips all over them. Underneath her ass cheeks were two slits in her pants, and as she had walked through the house before, all the guys had noticed. Her entire demeanor screamed sex and cool.

I sighed, grinning. “You look happy.”

Her blue eyes flicked to mine, and her lips slightly curved down. “Really?”

I sat back up, straightening in my seat. “You’re not?”

“I’m a fucking mess.” She ground out her cigarette and pulled out a second one. Lighting it, she murmured, “I have no clue what’s going on with me and Channing. And—” She stopped talking but glanced at the house for a second. She didn’t say a word. She just stared at the house before her gaze fell back to the cigarette in her hand. “You know I screwed Logan, right?”

I nodded. “I knew that night.”

“You weren’t mad?” She seemed to have been holding in her breath.

I shook my head. “There’s always been a flirtation between you two. I figured it would happen when you told me that you and Channing were on the outs.”

“Oh.” Her head dropped back down. “Fuck me. I’m a piss-poor friend. I’m sorry, Sam.”

“For what?”

“I screwed him on your dad’s wedding night.”

I couldn’t hold back a grin. “I screwed my boyfriend that night, too. It was a good night for some lovemaking.”

A smooth and husky-sounding chuckle left her. She searched my face before putting the cigarette to her lips. “You’re seriously not mad?”