You’re the Reason, стр. 27
Ryan laughed beside me. “Looks like it’s gonna be that kind of night.”
I stared across the table at Chase. “Yeah. The reckless kind.”
Luckily, talk of my virginity ceased and the Tequila shots arrived. We all held them up in the center of the table. “To new friends,” I said.
“To new friends,” Ryan said, tapping my shot glass.
We threw back our shots. Chase and Chantel threw back theirs without even toasting.
I winced as the sting of Tequila burned all the way down my throat.
The waitress returned once our empty shot glasses were down on the table. “Another round?”
“Yes,” I answered for everyone.
“Hey, Sophia,” Chase said. “Are you even old enough to drink?”
“Of course, I am,” I said, shooting daggers across the table at him.
The waitress looked to me and Ryan. “Oh, did I forget to check your IDs?”
Ryan slipped his ID out of his pocket and handed it to her. I didn’t have my fake ID with me, and I couldn’t hand over my license that said I was nineteen—for another two weeks.
She handed him back his ID and looked to me.
“I forgot mine at home,” I said.
“Sorry, honey. No ID, no drinks.”
Chantel laughed beside me.
I glared at Chase, wondering why he’d embarrass me like that. Maybe he and Chantel had more in common than I thought. Maybe they did belong together.
We ordered dinner and the conversation between Ryan and Chase jumped from football to their frat to a rumor about a professor and his student. Chantel and I barely spoke. I wondered why Chase was so worried about me being alone with Ryan if they were such good friends.
Thankfully, dinner came and I didn’t need to speak. After finishing off my pasta, I excused myself for the restroom. Once inside, I stared in the mirror. I almost didn’t recognize myself. Why had I tried so hard to make Chase jealous? Why did I care when he was clearly playing games? I freshened up, then reluctantly returned to the table.
“We’re gonna head to the beach,” Ryan informed me.
“Whose idea was that?” I asked.
“Mine,” Chase said. “I just love a nice drive to the coast.”
It took everything in me not to say I didn’t feel well, but I knew what Chase was doing. And if I bailed now, he won. “Great. I love the coast. Skinny dipping is actually on my bucket list.” I looked at Ryan. “I think you might be the only one here who doesn’t know I have a jar full of bucket list wishes.” I glanced around the table. “Anyone up for skinny dipping?”
I watched Chase’s tough exterior falter under my words. Served him right for suggesting a drive to the coast.
“I’m in,” Ryan said.
“Chantel?” I challenged.
“If Chase does,” she said.
He stared across the table at me. “We’ll see.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
We piled into Chase’s black SUV. Chantel took the front, and Ryan and I climbed into the back. I stared out my window as we drove wondering whose convertible we’d taken to the coast and what the hell I’d gotten myself into. I had no desire to skinny dip with any of them. I just needed them to know they couldn’t make me look like a fool.
“So, Sophia. When was the last time you’ve been to the coast?” Chase asked.
And the hits just keep on coming. “Oh, funny story.” I met his eyes in the rearview mirror. “Some guy thought he could get with me by taking me to the coast. He picked me up in a convertible and everything.”
“I’m glad it didn’t work out. Since I’m with you tonight and not that guy,” Ryan said with a smirk.
“Yeah. It was a total letdown,” I said, holding Chase’s eyes in the rearview mirror.
“How’s your pledge class, Chantel?” Ryan asked.
She twisted in her seat. “Great. Most of them are legacies from wealthy families which is really amazing. How about you guys? Chase hasn’t said much about your new pledge class.”
Ryan shrugged. “Well, they do a nice job cleaning up our shit after parties.”
“That’s how you judge a good pledge class?” I asked.
“Pretty much,” he said.
I shook my head, amused.
We reached the beach in record time. Chase parked in the empty parking lot, pulling up to the dune separating the parking lot from the beach.
“Do you have any towels?” Chantel asked him.
“I may have a couple in the back.” He opened his door, and we were treated to a gust of salty air and the sound of crashing waves nearby. Chase circled to the back to check for towels, grabbing a couple as the rest of us stepped out of the car.
The gusty beach air was such a contrast to the inland air, but I breathed it in, reveling in the scent and feel and wishing it didn’t remind me of my day with Chase. I walked over to him and pulled one of the towels from his hand.
He looked like he wanted to say something, but he didn’t.
Chantel grabbed another towel from him.
We made our way onto the sand. I stopped, slipping off my shoes before following the group down to the water’s edge. The guys slipped off their shoes and socks, while Chantel kicked off hers.
My heartbeat kicked up a notch, and I wondered if the rest of them would be stripping down. “You guys still going in?”
Ryan pulled his shirt over his head. With the moon almost full, the beach wasn’t completely blanketed in darkness, so I could see the cross tattoo across his back. It was always the quiet ones. He slipped off his jeans and stood in front of us in only his boxers. “Give me the towel, Sophia,” he said to me. “I’ll hold it up while you get