“When we’re old and jaded, we’ll regret not having made out till our faces hurt . . . ’cause, like, this is the best it’s gonna be, Annie. These are the best days of our lives!” he’d lectured me one night, when I’d been more interested in talking about the top five artists and writers who’d influenced us than in taking advantage of the fact that my mom was working the night shift and we had my house all to ourselves. When I looked back on it, I knew that had been the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. Peter was cute and a reasonably good kisser, but we had nothing in common. In fact, he was still living in Apple Creek the last I’d heard, maybe because he’d been too busy making out with Brittany Logan to remember to apply to colleges.
I frowned slightly, which I think Harrison misunderstood. Raking his fingers through his perfect Ken hair, he seemed almost apologetic. “I’m sorry—this is probably your first frat party, and it’s pretty laughable, huh? NYU’s Greek scene is kind of pathetic, so I hate to be the one who bursts your bubble if you were expecting Animal House or something.”
If he hadn’t been smiling the whole time, I would have found his words overly self-deprecating.
I leaned against the wall, since there were no chairs in sight. “No, it’s totally fine, Harrison. I’m not a huge party person anyway, so it’s nice to be somewhere that’s pretty low-key.”
“Oh yeah? I mean, sure, low-key is good and all, but you’re a beautiful girl and a freshman at that. There’s no way you’re hitting the books twenty-four-seven. I mean, why else would you go to school in the biggest big city in the world? You aren’t looking for a little more excitement?”
I blushed (again) at the “beautiful” remark but replied like it was no big deal. “Well, yes, excitement would be nice. But I’m a long-term kind of girl. I want to have a good time, as long as it doesn’t give me dark circles under my eyes, or a heroin addiction.”
Harrison laughed at that. “I completely understand. I got a little burned out after all the ragers I managed to survive my first year. It’s good to take things step by step—otherwise, you just end up getting crushed underneath all the pressure. I mean, NYU isn’t small potatoes, but it’s not Harvard, either. Seriously, Annie, it might be a good idea to chill a bit—take in the scenery and enjoy the perks of being in a place like New York City. I’m not much older than you, but trust me, these are the best years of your life, and you’re wasting them if your head’s buried in a book all the time.”
I groaned inwardly. Harrison sounded eerily like Peter did back when I decided that perhaps marrying the guy you lost your virginity to wasn’t such a smart idea.
Harrison may have noticed me bristling at his advice, because he immediately apologized. “Oh shit, Annie. I didn’t mean anything by that. I honestly think it’s amazing you’re clearly so inspired by what you’re doing. I just think it’s a good idea to let loose every now and then—balance out the seriousness with a little debauchery sometimes.” Harrison gave me a disarming smile that made my stomach flip slightly, much to my surprise. “I think Jack Kerouac got it right. Live in the moment, try out excess, let it bring you back to the middle path no worse for wear and with a whole lot more experience.”
I cocked my head slightly. There was more to this guy than met the eye, evidently. He sounded like he knew what he was talking about. “Yeah, I can respect that, but it doesn’t really feel like my speed.”
“Where are you from, anyway?”
“Apple Creek, Ohio.” I immediately felt silly after admitting it. Maybe I should have said Cleveland or somewhere that would at least be recognizable to the average American.
“Whoa, no kidding! My dad’s mom was from Apple Creek!”
I raised an eyebrow. Most of the people I’d met in New York couldn’t locate Ohio on a map. “Are you kidding me?”
“No way! Dad spent summers in Apple Creek with Grandma’s family. I’ve been there a couple times, but it’s been years. Do they still have that funny little water park with singing bumper cars?”
I laughed delightedly. Finally, someone who could cringe at some of the same endearing, albeit provincial, shit I’d grown up with! “MemoLand! That’s so crazy you remember that. Yeah, it’s still there, but it definitely doesn’t get the love it used to. And they replaced the singing bumper cars with motorboats and jet skis, believe it or not.”
“Fancy!” Harrison smiled, and even I had to admit his brown eyes were pretty melt-worthy.
“I can’t believe you know Apple Creek. Most people around here seem to be too cool, or at least think they’re too cool, to have set foot in any of the podunk places of my childhood nostalgia.”
He waved his hand dismissively, and for a second, it looked like he was dismissing the gaggle of well-dressed college students parading through the Parthenon-like interior of the frat house, beer bottles and plastic cups in hand. “Don’t take it personally. NYU students are stuck-up as hell, but most of ’em don’t hail from prep schools. I’d say at least sixty percent of the kids here are from the same podunk places, but they have just the right amount of entitlement to act like their shit doesn’t stink.”
I had to admit I was somewhat impressed. Harrison was more gorgeous than Ryan Gosling and probably just as attentive and endearing. And despite how obviously privileged he was, he seemed to be conscious of not letting it go to his head. Honestly, he was kind of blowing my mind.
“You pinned the tail on the donkey, Harrison. I guess I don’t always like to admit it, even if it’s just to myself, but there’s a big part of me that feels out of place here.”
“How so? You’re beautiful and smart—you totally belong here.”
I couldn’t help but return his grin. There he went with the “beautiful” again. Who was this guy?
“Don’t sweat it, Annie. You’re going to be working in the gallery world, right? Why worry about relating to others?”
I would have taken his comment as a deliberate swipe if it hadn’t been accompanied by dimples. Settle down, Annie—you barely know this guy, I warned myself.
“What I mean to say is that you’re doing all right. You’ll find yours, especially if you’re adventurous enough to recognize that campus life is kinda lame and look out for what’s going on in other places—maybe even Brooklyn.”
I raised an eyebrow. “If campus life is so lame, why are you the president of Sigma Phi Kappa and the captain of the crew team, Harrison?” I smiled slightly to sugar the challenge.
“The fraternity thing runs in my family. The guys are nice enough, and there are a lot of perks as far as getting connected to people in high places.” He cringed a little. “I know, I sound like a total corporate bastard, don’t I?”
“No, not at all . . . I just thought you were more interested in having fun than in getting overly entangled,” I explained.
“Well, I’m only on the crew team because I have long arms . . . and you know what they say about guys with long arms.” His smile grew a little wider, and I blushed more furiously. Even Harrison’s sexual innuendo felt sweet rather than predatory, and, as silly as it was, I couldn’t help but feel the slightest crackle of lightning underneath my skin. Even his awkward jokes made him seem . . . well, sexy.
“Listen, I’m all about living for the moment, but I’m also well aware that I have responsibilities that transcend it. If there’s one thing in life I’m passionate about, it’s my family. My dad and his dad sacrificed a lot to get me where I am today, and I feel I owe it to them to curb some of my less practical appetites and pay my respect to their hard work. So maintaining the family legacy isn’t a sacrifice to me—it’s an honor. I guess in some ways, that’s spared me the grief of figuring out my path—I’ve always known what it was going to be, so, instead of stressing over it, I try to enjoy life and not get too caught up in the details. There’s already so much pressure to be awesome and live up to the family name—why pile more shit on top of that?” He shrugged and smiled, as if to say that was all there was to it.
Harrison’s clear lack of ambition, despite his pedigree, was a little bit irksome, but I had to admit I sometimes wished things were that simple in my own life.
Harrison leaned in a little closer, which caused me to take a too-large gulp from my bottle. “Has anyone ever told you that you have incredible eyes? Seriously, I could fall into them and lose myself.” I was a little embarrassed, and the line was a bit hokey, but getting attention felt good. I could sense in my peripheral vision that other people were looking at us, probably wondering who I was. It was a strange feeling to be so conspicuous around all these upperclassmen.
Before I could respond, a dark-haired girl in a vintage chiffon dress sidled over. “Harrison! Where the hell is the open bar? You know why I never come to your parties? They’re drier than the Sahara Desert!”
My heart sank when the girl turned her head to acknowledge me. It was Elsie.
I was both irritated and surprised. When did she ever let up? Presumably, Elsie should’ve been at home only with other rich and snooty hipsters, but her social life seemed to run the gamut from dumb jocks to preppy frat brothers.
“Oh, hey, Elsie. I didn’t recognize you with all those storm clouds covering your pretty face,” Harrison said wryly, as he reached out to give her a hug.
From the way the hug lingered just a bit too long, it was clear that they knew each other more than in passing. My heart sank a little deeper.
“Oh, have you met Annie Green? She’s a first-year art buff, just like you, in fact,” he said, apparently oblivious to the venom in Elsie’s expression.
“Uh, yeah, we’ve met before,” she said curtly, then turned back to Harrison. “Are you seriously starting to invite just any people off the street to these things? For real, your parents would be disappointed. Sigma Phi Kappa has a tradition to uphold, and you want to be mindful of what kind of elements you’re introducing to the ecosystem.”
Typical Elsie. “Gee, I didn’t know I was in some kind of endangered rain forest,” I muttered under my breath.
Harrison frowned but didn’t seem taken aback. “Jesus, Elsie, don’t be such an elitist bitch. We’re not at a cotillion or something.”
I was surprised at his language, but Elsie wasn’t fazed. “Whatevs, Harrison, I’m just being honest.”
Harrison was about to say something to me, but then another boy—burly, blond, and slurring his words ever so slightly—came up to us and grabbed Harrison’s shoulders in a bro squeeze. “Hey, man! I’ve been looking all over for you!” He looked at Elsie and me and offered a low whistle of appreciation. “Oh, I see what’s up, bro! Don’t mind me—I won’t spoil your fun.”
Harrison shook his head in mock disgust. “Ladies, allow me to apologize on behalf of Chip. Introductions not necessary, because he was just leaving.”
Chip guffawed. “Nah, man, I’m just messing with you. Some of the trustees are here, and they want to talk to you. Don’t shoot the messenger!”
University trustees at a frat party? I was starting to get an idea of just how influential Harrison was on campus, as modest and blasé as he came across.
Harrison groaned. “Shit, I totally forgot they’d be coming by.”
Chip leaned over and leered at Elsie and me. “I’m more than happy to fill in for my man Harrison here. You might find it’s even better than the real thing, ladies.”
Harrison rolled his eyes, clearly too accustomed to Chip’s malarkey to take it seriously. “Imitation Harrison meat you could never be, my dear boy. Besides, you’re vice president, so you’re coming with me.”
“Ugh, duty calls,” Chip said, visibly distressed at the fact that getting his drink on was being interrupted by official frat business (not that I’d ever known there was such a thing). “Meet me in the blue room?” he said to Harrison, who nodded in response. Chip ogled us one last time before walking off.
“Harrison, you really need to do a better job of ensuring your fraternity isn’t bursting to capacity with Neanderthals,” Elsie said, as she applied more lip gloss.
“He was . . . interesting,” I offered lamely.
“Don’t mind Chip—he’s a giant teddy bear who, unfortunately, is missing a critical filter whenever he gets a buzz,” Harrison apologized.
“You’re actually apologizing for him? Rapey much?” Elsie’s eyes widened, and she crossed her arms.
Harrison ignored her as he fished around in his pocket for his phone. “Annie, in case you’re not around later, I’d love to hang out—maybe catch a movie in Washington Square Park one of these days? Splendor in the Grass is next Friday, if you’re not busy. Give me your number, and I’ll text you.”
“Uh, yeah,” I said, as I gave him my digits. Elsie fumed next to me, and I had to admit, as exhilarating as it was to see her in this state of displeasure, it was also a little weird to be asked out on a date in front of my arch nemesis.
“Awesome. If I don’t see you around later, I’ll definitely be in touch. It was my utmost pleasure to meet you tonight, Annie Green.” He drew his arms around me, which made me catch my breath a little, but the hug was somewhat awkward, almost like he was intentionally trying not to feel me up. But at the very end, he leaned in a bit closer and whispered, “I’ll be seeing you soon, I hope.”
I blushed yet again. I was probably redder than the autumn leaves outside. Elsie frowned as Harrison gave her a hug.
“Be good, El,” he said as he walked off.
“Why? Because you’ll tell my mom if I’m not?” Elsie crossed her arms.
“Aunt Kate wouldn’t believe my stories about her little princess anyway,” he yelled behind him, giving me one last wave.
He left Elsie and me standing in tense silence. I would probably have just walked off, but Harrison’s final words made me curious. “Aunt Kate? Are you and Harrison . . . cousins?”
Elsie rolled her eyes. “Not that it’s any of your business, but yes. And that’s the only reason I’m here, not because I’m some kind of fraternity-ho groupie.” Elsie gave me the once-over. “You really outdid yourself tonight, didn’t you, Blondie? Did you come here expecting to get some kind of handout from my cousin?”
I felt like someone had slapped me across the face. “A handout? Listen, Elsie, I didn’t even know who Harrison was until tonight, so you’re way out of line.”
Elsie’s eyes narrowed. “He and other people may not be hip to the Miss Country Dairy Maid game you’re running, but mark my words, if you mess with Harrison, you’ll have me to answer to.”
I almost laughed at the intensity of her words. “Seriously? I didn’t know I was stuck in a Brat Pack movie. Your cousin’s a big boy. I think he can take care of himself.”
“You don’t get it. I’ve seen him fall for your kind—doe-eyed innocents from the heartland. It makes him morbidly nostalgic for his childhood—don’t ask me why—but these little bitches who seem sweet as pie at first glance always end up fucking him over, because he’s actually nice enough to want to make them feel ‘at home.’ My cousin’s pathetic in his sentimentalism from time to time, and I don’t like being his shoulder to cry on.”
I rolled my eyes. Somehow I couldn’t imagine Elsie’s being anyone’s shoulder to cry on. My blood was boiling. Who did this bitch think she was? I’d never done as much as look at her cross-eyed. I couldn’t understand her hatred of me, and, frankly, I was sick of turning the other cheek.
“You know what, Elsie? I think you need to do a better job of holding your liquor. Now, if you’ll excuse me, this conversation is boring me.”
I turned on my heel, ready to leave.
“I’m warning you, Annie!” Elsie said, loudly enough for people to turn and look at us. But I just left her standing there, slack-jawed. The image was priceless, and I couldn’t help but laugh to myself as I huffed off. I was on so much fire that I barely noticed Kendra until I almost barreled into her.
“What the hell, Annie? I was looking everywhere for you! Were you talking to Harrison this whole time? And by the way .
. . ow!” Kendra rubbed her arm and glared at me.
“I’ll tell you all about it later, but can we leave now?”
“I guess so.” Kendra scowled as she looked around. The open, Spanish-style balconies on the second floor were teeming with more stuck-up-looking preppy types. While the company wasn’t exactly what I’d call scintillating, I was still relieved. I had more studying to do later that night, after all.
“This party is a total bomb,” Kendra complained. “I thought there’d be more people here, but apparently a bunch of the fraternity brothers are at some bar called the Hi-Dive. You wanna head over there and check it out?”
“No, thanks. I’m really not in the mood for it.”
“What is up with you, Annie? OMG, is that Elsie standing over there? Why the hell is she staring at us?”
I sighed. “Fine, Ken, I’ll give you the CliffsNotes version. Harrison Waters and Elsie Donegan are cousins, apparently. So the world I live in just got more incestuous!”
Kendra gasped. “Shit, are you kidding? The plot thickens! Why didn’t I know this?”
“I didn’t know it either, until after Harrison asked me out and Elsie had a conniption about it. You’d think she was his jealous ex-girlfriend, the way she reacted.”
“Oh my gosh, Annie! You and Harrison hit it off? That’s fucking rad, especially considering you were pooh-poohing this party before we got here. What’s he like? What’s his family worth? And is he really going to go into tobacco farming after graduation?”
So Damn Beautiful (A New Adult Romance) Page 4
