The Hard Way

by Katie Ashley

  I glanced down at my outfit. “Oh this? It’s just a little something I had in the back of my closet.”

  At Tori’s snort, Cade tilted his head at me. “There is no way in hell you had that in your closet.”

  “I think you underestimate my wardrobe. I mean, I could totally sport this at one of the legal balls on campus.”

  “As what? A hooker someone was defending?”

  “Ha, ha.”

  Cade grinned. “It doesn’t matter to me how you got the outfit, I just like it—a lot.”

  My heart fluttered at his words while lust bloomed below my waist. “Score,” Jack murmured behind me. Thankfully, I didn’t think Cade heard.

  “Okay then. Let me grab my purse, and then we can go.”

  “Have fun,” Jack said.

  “And don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” With a wicked grin, Tori added, “Which means there isn’t an orifice off limits.”

  “Jesus Christ,” Cade muttered under his breath.

  I hustled Cade out the door before they could say anything else humiliating. Just before the door closed, I stuck my finger back in and flipped Tori off. Cade chuckled as we started down the stairs. “No offense, Prescott, but I totally wouldn’t put you and your roommate together.”

  “She’s more than just my roommate. She’s my friend.”

  “Where in the hell did you meet her?”

  “We had a corporate litigation class last year. I was thinking about moving off campus, and she had a room available. The rest is history.”

  “A very perverted history.”

  I laughed. “I guess you could say that.”

  We got quite a few curious stares from the residents as we made our way to Cade’s car. Since it was an off-campus apartment, I supposed they weren’t used to seeing a lot of costumes in the middle of summer.

  “So how did you get the uniform?”

  “My buddy Brandon has a connection to one of those army/navy surplus stores, so he hooked us up.”

  “Us?”

  “Jonathan and me.”

  “Oh, he’s going to be there?”

  “Yeah, he is.”

  “I’m so glad I’ll get to see him again,” I teasingly said.

  Cade clenched his jaw. “Don’t get your hopes up. He’s gonna be there with the chick I was telling you about before.”

  “Good. I’d like to meet the girl who got him to reform his ways.”

  Cade held the car door open for me. “I’m surprised you chicks don’t have a secret club for taking down manwhores and making them commit.”

  “Oh my God. You just gave me the perfect idea.”

  Cade snorted as I slid across the passenger seat. As I worked at fluffing out my poofy skirt, he walked around the front of the car. After getting in, he cranked it up. Instead of his usual Jay-Z or T.I. thumping out from the radio, Aerosmith’s What It Takes came on. I couldn’t help wondering about the reasons behind his change in music and that choice in particular. After all, when the lines Tell me what it takes to let you go. Tell me how the pain's supposed to go came on, I couldn’t help thinking how much they related to Cade and me.

  Tuning out the song, I cleared my throat before turning to look at Cade. “You know it really would have made more sense for me to meet you at your apartment. This is like twenty minutes out of the way.”

  Cade cut his eyes over to me with a smirk. “And run the risk of you bailing on me? Nope. This is fine.”

  As I settled back against the seat, I huffed out a frustrated breath. “I resent the idea that I’m not a woman of my word. I told you I would go to the party, so you should have known I would.”

  “I know you’re a woman of your word, Prescott. It wasn’t a big deal to come pick you up. Just consider it the gentlemanly thing to do.”

  “Okay then. I appreciate your chivalry.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  When we got to Cade’s apartment, he had an Uber driving waiting for us. I knew it was so he wouldn’t have to worry about driving after he had too much to drink. When I saw that it was just an average Toyota, I couldn’t bite my tongue. “What, no chauffeur-driven limo tonight?”

  Cade grinned. “Contrary to what you think, I don’t ride around in limos, or chauffeured cars.”

  “How disappointing.”

  “I’m sorry if I’ve come down in your esteem.”

  I smiled. “It’s okay. I like you more like this—you know, average.”

  With a smirk, Cade said, “We both know there isn’t anything average about me.” His gaze dipped from mine to his crotch and then back to me again. “If anything, I’m way above average.”

  My face flushed at what he was referring to. I jerked my chin at the driver. “I can’t believe you just said that in front of him.”

  “Like he cares.” Lowering his voice, Cade added, “Unless the comment made him feel inferior about his own equipment.”

  I crossed my arms over my chest in a huff. “Why is it that men always have to turn a perfectly innocent conversation into something sexual?”

  “It’s just our nature—that along with adjusting ourselves, burping, and farting.”

  I laughed in spite of myself. “That sums it up perfectly.”

  The driver pulled up in front of what you would imagine a Southern fraternity house would look like, complete with antebellum columns. I got out and was smoothing out my skirt, trying to quiet my nerves when Cade joined me.

  As we walked up the front walk, Cade asked, “Do you ever listen to Runaway Train?”

  “Sometimes. I like the band Jake Slater’s wife is in better.”

  “Jacob’s Ladder?” Cade suggested.

  I snapped my fingers. “Yeah, that one.”

  “Well, it just so happens that the lead guitarist, Brayden Vanderburg, got his start playing in a band at this frat house.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  Cade grinned. “Pretty cool, huh?”

  “Yeah, it is. Was he in your fraternity back then?”

  “No. Brayden went to Georgia State instead of Tech, but Jake Slater and AJ Resendiz lived in an apartment building down the road from mine while they were at Tech.”

  “I’ll have to start listening to their music more.”

  “They have some great rock songs, but knowing you, it would be the ballads you would go for.”

  “I love Jake and Abby’s duets.”

  With a groan, Cade said, “Why am I not surprised you go for the mushy stuff?”

  “Because you know me too well.”

  Cade’s eyes locked with mine. “Yeah. I guess I do.”

  I refrained from adding that I would love to listen to some of Runaway Train’s love songs with him, that some of the feelings and emotions they sang about rang true with the two of us. I wanted to say that maybe once or twice when I’d heard one of the songs, I’d imagined listening to it with him.

  But I didn’t.

  Since the front door was open, Cade motioned for me to go inside. A thumping bass from the DJ hit me the moment I stepped into the foyer. I’d only been inside one other fraternity house. My ex, Hal, belonged to a much more sedate one that had members who were way more serious and studious than Cade’s. I half expected something out of the movie Animal House, but surprisingly, the house was in way better shape than that, and things weren’t quite so crazy inside.

  Of course, we’d barely gotten through the door before someone was shoving a red solo cup in my hand. “Don’t drink that,” Cade instructed.

  “I’m not a total idiot, you know.”

  Cade laughed. “It’s not so much about the fact that it’s roofied, but about the fact that the good alcohol is stashed in the back of the pantry that only frat brothers know about.”

  He took the solo cup from me and set it down on one of the tables then grabbed my hand and started leading me down the packed hallway. My image of Cade being one of the “big men on campus” was confirmed by the way everyone spoke to him. Guys high-fived him a
nd did the bro hug while girls fluttered their eyelashes and pushed up their cleavage. Cade took in all in stride, and thankfully, ignored the female attention. I couldn’t help wondering if he was just ignoring them because I was in the room. Would he have done the same thing if he had been alone? Was Tori right that he was really serious enough about me to give up the opportunity for a hookup? Jeez, with all the questions swimming in my head, I definitely needed a drink.

  When we got the kitchen, I noticed several beefy jocks standing in front of what must’ve been the secret pantry Cade had referenced. They fist-bumped Cade before allowing him behind the wooden door. I waited anxiously for him to return.

  Finally, he reemerged with two solo cups. “A vodka and cranberry for you,” he said as he placed the cup in my hand.

  “Is there like a bartender in there?”

  Cade laughed. “No. There are some things I can mix on my own.”

  “I see. I’ll remember to tip you later.”

  He waggled his brows at me. “I’ll be happy to be of service to you.”

  “Oh please,” I murmured before taking a large gulp of my drink. Immediately the vodka seared my chest, and I succumbed to a coughing fit. When I finally recovered, I narrowed my eyes at Cade. “Is this basically vodka with a splash of cranberry?”

  “Hey, I said I could mix drinks, I just never said whether or not I was any good at it.”

  “I guess I better remember to sip slow.”

  “Hey, there’s Jonathan,” Cade called over the music. He threw his arm over his head and waved. After leaning forward and peering into the crowd, he busted out laughing.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Apparently you and Presley have the same taste.” He pointed to the girl standing next to Jonathan. She was also dressed as Madonna, except she had on a black bustier and black crinoline skirt. As she and Jonathan started over to us, I couldn’t help feeling intimidated by her. She was the epitome of a sorority girl: tall and willowy with a fabulous tan and long blonde hair. She was the kind of girl I imagined not only Jonathan liking, but Cade as well. She reminded me a little of Elspeth, which didn’t help my unease as I recalled how she’d assaulted me in the bathroom.

  “Avery, this is Presley,” Cade introduced.

  While I expected Presley to turn her nose up at me, a warm smile lit up her face. “Oh my God, I love your costume,” she said enthusiastically.

  I laughed. “I love yours, too.”

  She grinned. “We have great taste, don’t we?”

  “We sure do.”

  “Presley is Evie’s mom,” Jonathan commented.

  That remark made me like Presley even more. “Oh, she’s amazing. I got to meet her a few weeks ago.”

  “Thanks.” She turned her beaming gaze to Jonathan. “She loves spending time with her Uncle J.”

  Jonathan grinned. “I never thought I would admit this, but she has me totally whipped.”

  “I could see that the other day,” I said.

  For the next few minutes, Presley and I made small talk over the loud music. I found out she was starting at Kennesaw in the fall and wanted to be a nurse. Although she should have been a sophomore, having Evie had derailed her a year. At nineteen, she was the baby of our group.

  The music changed over from a Beastie Boys song to Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance with Somebody. The moment I recognized the song I squealed and jumped up and down on my feet. “Oh my God, I love this song!”

  Presley’s eyes widened. “Me too. I love just about every Whitney song. I hated when she went off the deep end.”

  “Crack is whack.”

  Presley swept one of her hands to her hips and then wagged a finger. “I wanna see the receipts.”

  While Presley and I laughed hysterically, Cade and Jonathan exchanged looks. “Do you have any idea what the fuck they’re talking about?” Jonathan asked.

  “Nope, and I don’t think I want to.”

  “We’re talking about that infamous Whitney Houston interview,” I explained.

  When they both still looked clueless, Presley took me by the arm. “Come on, let’s dance.”

  Although I pretty much never fast-danced in public, I let Presley lead me over to the dance floor. Each time we got to the chorus, we would belt, “Oh I wanna dance with somebody. I wanna feel the heat with somebody,” at the top of our lungs. Cade and Jonathan didn’t join us. Instead, they just stood off to the side, laughing at our antics.

  Once the song ended, we rejoined the guys. “Want something else to drink?” Cade asked.

  “No. I think I’m good nursing my vodka.”

  Jonathan clapped his hands together. “I wanna do some shots.” He looked at Presley. “You up for some?”

  I could see the internal battle raging within Presley. “No. I better not.”

  Jonathan’s brow creased. “Really? You know you’re off mommy duty tonight since Ev is with my mom all night.”

  “I know. You go ahead. Then I can be the designated driver.”

  “Okay. If you say so.” Jonathan slapped Cade on the back. “What about you?”

  “Oh yeah. I’m down for some,” Cade replied.

  Jonathan grinned at me. “What about you, Avery?”

  When I opened my mouth to say no, Cade beat me to it. “Don’t bother with Prescott. She isn’t much of a drinker.”

  His comment fueled something within me. “As a matter of fact, I would love to do a shot, Jonathan.”

  Cade’s eyes widened. “You have to be joking.”

  I jerked my chin up at him. “Make that two shots.”

  Jonathan laughed. “Two it is.” He then started making his way through the packed crowd to the kitchen.

  “Do you even like tequila?” Cade questioned.

  “It’s not my preferred drink, but I don’t mind having some every once in a while.” The truth was I hated tequila. I’d made the mistake of doing shots with Tori once, and I’d been sick as a dog the next day. Of course, I had done five shots that night. I figured if I stayed at two, I would be fine.

  Jonathan returned with a tray full of shots and before I could talk myself out of it, I took one of the glasses and downed it. As soon as I put the empty glass back on the tray, I downed the other. The alcohol burned a fiery trail down my throat to my stomach and caused my eyes to water.

  “Damn, girl,” Jonathan murmured from behind his shot glass.

  Cade also gave me a disbelieving look. “Who knew you had it in you, Prescott?” he mused before smiling at me.

  With the two shots of liquid courage pulsing through my veins, I was ready to dance again. A stone-cold sober Presley and a slightly tipsy me burned up the dance floor through several fast songs. I would have kept going, but Cade pulled me to the side to get me to drink some water. While I cooled off, the four of us chatted as best we could about college, Evie, and football over the loud music.

  Cyndi Lauper’s Time After Time came on, and Presley sighed and swept a hand to her heart. “Oh man, I love this song.”

  I nodded. “Me too. I love everything Cyndi Lauper. I must’ve been born in the wrong era. I love all ’80s music and movies.”

  When Presley started swaying back and forth to the beat, Jonathan cleared his throat. “Wanna dance?”

  A shy smile swept across her face. Instead of replying, she nodded her head. Jonathan held out his hand and she slipped hers in it. He then led her onto the floor. They stood there for a few seconds, just staring uncertainly at each other before he finally pulled her into his arms.

  Cade and I stood watching them dance. More than anything, I wanted to be out there with Cade, but I didn’t have the balls to ask him. I was just about to ask him to get me some water when Cade did something that shocked the hell out of me. “Come on, Prescott,” he said as he took my hand. I didn’t argue with him. Instead, I followed him onto the dance floor.

  Our bodies melted effortlessly against each other. It didn’t feel like any time had passed between us. We were righ
t back in that moment at Rose’s Garden when he taught me how to waltz.

  After dancing silently for a little while, I knew I had to get my mind off the emotions swirling within me. Pulling back from Cade, I jutted my chin in the direction of Presley and Jonathan. “So what’s the deal with them?”

  Cade winced. “They’re complicated.”

  I laughed. “Aren’t we all? I mean, people in general.”

  “That’s true, but let’s just say they’re extra complicated.”

  “Because of Jonathan’s brother?”

  With a nod, Cade said, “Jonathan won’t make a move because he’s not only afraid he’d be pissing on Jake’s memory, but that it would make things weird in the family if things didn’t work out between them.”

  “Hmm, that’s a tough one.”

  “Since Jonathan’s really never done relationships, he’s worried about trying one with Presley and failing.”

  “What about Presley? It’s clear she has feelings for Jonathan, too.”

  “Presley’s deal is she’s sworn off men. She was a mega slut in high school—”

  “Don’t call her a slut!”

  “She’s the one who told me that.”

  “Oops, okay, I’m sorry. Keep going.”

  “Anyway after Jake died, Presley decided to swear off men. Since Evie was born, she’s really changed her ways. She doesn’t party any more—tonight is probably the first time in a year. She’s also not hooking up with random guys. She moved in with the Nelsons so they could help out with Evie while she goes to school.”

  “What about her parents?”

  “She never knew her dad, and let’s just say her mom was an enabler of the life Presley wanted to give up. Moving in with the Nelsons helped not only her, but them too. I don’t think Jake’s mom could have survived losing him if it hadn’t been for Evie.”

  “Poor woman, losing a son so tragically like that.”

  “Jonathan lucked out. Evelyn is the type of mom I wish I could have had.”

  “Why is that?”

  “She was the stay-at-home PTA mom who was around to make you something homemade for your afternoon snack and helps you build the volcano for your science project.” Cade shook his head with a smile. “The woman knits for Christ’s sake; you can’t get more motherly than that.”