Chapter 11

LILY

“Hey, guess what?” Mason says as I slip a cropped sweater over my head.

“What?” I ask, turning around to look at him.

“We get to tick something off our list tonight.” He smiles and waggles his eyebrows up and down.

“Are we going streaking?” I ask, making the smile drop off his face.

“I really think we should just cross that one out,” he replies.

I throw my head back and laugh. “Sorry, it’s on the list,” I tease, wrapping my arms around his waist.

“So, what are we crossing off tonight, Mason Cooper?” I whisper as his arms automatically pull me closer.

“You are going to do a keg stand.” A cheeky smile spreads across his face.

“Am I?” I laugh, pulling back slightly. “And what about you?” I smile.

“I guess if you are, I have to as well.”

“Maybe you should put something else on for keg stand night,” he murmurs as his hand moves from my waist down to my thigh, stopping at the hem of my dress.

“Just thinking about other guys seeing your panties makes me want to punch them already,” he says quietly as his hand begins to make its way under my dress.

“Who said I was wearing panties?” I tease, grabbing his wrist and stopping his hand. His whole body becomes tense.

“Kidding.” I laugh, stepping out of his grip, walking to Mason’s dresser, and opening “my drawer.”

I pull out a pair of shorts that used to be for volleyball. Now I wear them to bed. I slip them on underneath my dress and adjust them until I’m comfortable.

“Better?” I ask, smoothing the dress out.

Mason is smiling and shaking his head. “You’re going to give me high blood pressure.” He laughs before stepping forward and tucking a loose piece of hair behind my ear.

“You look beautiful,” he says, cupping my face before placing his lips on mine. At first, it’s gentle, but then he deepens the kiss, slipping his tongue into my mouth.

I pull back, but his lips just attach to my neck.

“Liam and Brittany are waiting,” I breathe out.

“I don’t care,” he says against my skin before moving back to my lips.

I kiss him back, gripping the back of his hair and pulling him closer to me before tugging him back away.

“You have to wait until tonight,” I say against his lips.

He groans but pulls back while muttering something about Brittany being a cockblock.

I thread our fingers and lead him out to the living room. Brittany and Liam are already waiting.

***

Fifteen minutes later, we’re walking into the same house as the last football party. I wonder whose it is. Not only is it huge, but it seems to be the go-to place for parties, and I’d hate to have to clean up every weekend after these drunks.

“What are you thinking about, Princess?” Mason asks, squeezing my hand as I look around at the already half-cut college students.

“That I’d hate to clean this place,” I answer honestly, making him burst out into laughter.

“You never fail to surprise me,” he says, kissing the top of my head briefly before he’s pulled away and engulfed into a group of large men.

“Looks like it’s just you and me, kid.” Brittany sighs sadly.

“Our men have been stolen from right under our noses,” she says, pointing to both Mason and Liam, who are in the middle of the group of guys, having beer cans shoved into their hands.

“Looks like it.” I nod, feeling disappointment coming over me. I was looking forward to spending some time with Mason, even if it’s at a party; at least we’d be together. We’re both so busy during the week with class, studying, and training that by the time the weekend comes, we’re both exhausted.

“Come on. Let’s go get a drink,” I say, grabbing ahold of her hand and dragging her to the kitchen.

I pluck two beer cans off the bench and hand Britt one before chugging back my own, not stopping until I’ve swallowed every last drop.

Brittany and I wait around for twenty minutes, thinking the boys will be back any second. But I’ve had enough of waiting. I slam my can down, grab another, and do the same thing.

“Whoa, slow down,” Brittany scolds me as she takes the third can out of my hand.

“I thought we were getting drunk,” I reply, reaching for the can.

“Yeah, but slowly,” she says, shaking her head and not giving the can back.

“Why are you bogarting the beer?” Mason’s voice comes from behind me just as I feel his hands clutch my hips and pull me back into him.

“Because I can,” Brittany snaps at him before she instinctively moves to Liam’s side and then pushes him away.

“Why are you pissy with me?” Mason asks, reaching around to the countertop, grabbing two beers, and handing me one.

“I’m not,” she replies, rolling her eyes.

“Why are you pissed with him?” I ask, confused.

“Because we hadn’t been here thirty seconds before you both ditched us,” Brittany says, giving them both a pointed look.

“You ditched us.” Liam frowns, looking between us.

“Oh well, let’s just forget it.” I shrug, starting to feel the effects of the beer.

“I can drink to that.” Liam smiles, holding up his can, waiting for a “cheers.”

“You ditch us again, it’s over,” Brittany warns, looking at both of them with her dark eyebrows raised.

“Noted.” Mason laughs before clinking his can against Liam’s.

I follow him, and Britt sighs before adding hers.

“Are you okay?” Mason whispers into my ear, turning my body slightly more toward his.

“I’m okay.” I nod, giving him one of my perfected fake smiles—or so I thought.

“What’s the matter, Princess?” he asks softly, tucking a piece of my hair behind my ear.

“I really thought you ditched us.” I half smile, feeling a bit stupid now. His team wants to celebrate with him too.

“Never.”

***

Four beers later, Mason and I have somehow found ourselves in the corner of the living room—just us.

“They’re practically worshipping you!” I exclaim, gesturing toward the party. I’ve lost count of the people who have come up to congratulate Mason on the game and gush over how incredible he is.

Each time, he would give them a quick and polite thank you before making up an excuse to leave, clearly hating the attention.

“It makes me tired.” He sighs, leaning his back against the wall.

“Are you ready to leave?” I ask, noticing the dark circles underneath his eyes.

“Not yet.” He shakes his head as I gently trace the dark circles.

“Not until after we do that.” He nods his head across the room.

I look over to where he gestured and start laughing when I see the keg, where a footballer is currently doing a keg stand.

“Come on, Princess. Our turn,” Mason says, pushing himself off the wall and grabbing my hand all in one swift motion.

I watch closely as the footballer gets dropped back to his feet. He stumbles for a moment before drunkenly pointing his finger at one of the guys holding him.

“I fucking love you,” he slurs.

“My turn,” another guy says from behind me, pushing between me and Mason.

“Cooper, come help us lift this fat ass,” one of the holders says, making the new guy flip him off.

“I’ll be right back,” Mason tells me before placing a kiss on the side of my head.

I bite my lip, watching Mason’s biceps flex as he helps lift up the giant dude.

“Looks scary, huh?” a familiar voice says from my left, drawing my eyes away from Mason.

“Oh, yeah. Sure,” I say, nodding and wondering how long Cameron had been standing next to me.

“If you want to give it a go, I’ll help lift you,” he offers with a smile that makes all the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

“Mason will,” I decline, hoping the giant guy is finished soon.

“Oh right, he’s your ‘boyfriend,’” he says, making air quotes with his fingers.

“What?” I frown. Does he think Mason and I aren’t actually together? We literally had a whole conversation about it this week.

He doesn’t get a chance to answer, though, because the giant has been put back on his feet, and Mason is at my side again.

“You want to go first?” Mason smiles down at me, not even noticing Cameron, or maybe he does and is choosing to ignore him. I wish I had. There’s something about him tonight that makes me want to run away from him.

“Promise not to drop me?” I ask, fluttering my eyelashes.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Mason says before placing a gentle kiss on my lips.

“This is Clarke. He’ll hold the other side,” he says, nodding to a lanky boy standing next to the keg. “I promise he’s not a creep,” he whispers in my ear, his hand going to my lower back.

“Let’s do this.” I nod more to myself than anyone else. I’m actually petrified that I’m going to embarrass myself. As long as I don’t fall over or vomit everywhere, I should be fine.

“Ah, so you’re the famous Lily Bennett.” Clarke smiles down at me. “My cousin went to Ridgewood.” He winks before looking over my head at Mason.

“Ready?”

Both their hands go to my hips, and Mason counts down as I grip the sides of the keg tightly. Suddenly, my legs are up in the air, and I’m upside down. Mason and Clarke are now gripping my ankles.

All the blood rushes to my head, and hard plastic is being shoved into my mouth. I automatically start swallowing the fizzy and surprisingly ice-cold beer. Soon enough, my throat and nose begin burning from the bubbles, and I’m slowly lowered back to my feet.

I can’t believe I’ve just done a keg stand! I let out a hiccup and look up at Mason, who is smiling down at me.

“How was that?” he asks, gently brushing away some fallen hair out of my eyes.

“That was so fun!” I exclaim, taking a step forward and stumbling a bit. “How have we never done that before?” I ask, leaning my body against his to keep my balance.

“You have to do it!” I exclaim, trying to stand up straight and only stumbling a little bit.

“You sure you can manage without me holding you up?” He laughs.

“I’m good.” I nod and take a step to the side. “See? I’m good.” I smile widely, only swaying a tiny bit.

“Come on, Cooper. Don’t be a bitch,” someone teases him, making me frown, and Mason throws his head back in laughter.

He raises his middle finger toward where the voice came from. “I’ll be quick,” he tells me before turning around to face the keg.

I watch as Clarke and the giant lift Mason up, mainly at his arm muscles flexing as he holds his weight. The crowd all starts cheering for him and chanting his name. I’m getting pushed from side to side.

I try to push back, but I don’t know if it’s because I’m still a bit dizzy or I’m just not strong enough, but somehow, I’ve ended up at the back of the crowd all alone.

“Is he seriously your boyfriend?” Cameron asks from my side, making me nearly jump out of my skin. I guess I’m not alone.

“He is,” I reply in a monotone voice, hoping he’s sober enough to get that I don’t want to talk to him.

“Why him?” he asks, bumping his shoulder against mine.

I choose to ignore him, but he doesn’t get the hint.

“I could make you feel things you’ve never felt before,” he whispers gruffly in my ear, making all the hair stand up on my neck and arms again.

“Leave me alone,” I snap, taking a step forward. But the second I do, he has a tight grip on my wrist and pulls me back into him.

Before I know what is happening, his hands have grabbed my cheeks, and his cold, disgusting lips are on mine, his tongue trying to push past my clamped lips.

Without thinking, my hand comes up, and I slap him as hard as I possibly can, making him release his grip and step back.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” he yells, wiping a little bit of blood away from his lip.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I yell back, feeling disgusted and like I need to wash my lips in bleach.

Cameron’s eyes darken as he takes a step toward me, but he stops in his tracks when I get pulled back into someone else, which somehow my body knows is Mason.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Mason snarls, moving me behind him.

“She’s just a worthless whore,” I hear Cameron spit out.

Mason lunges at him.

“Mason!” I yell out, not wanting him to get hurt.