Into the Stars (USC Series Book #2)

chapter thirty-six

INTO THE STARS
———
BRINLEY

The air in the room is thick, with a layer of grime and sweat coating my skin—the norm at every college party—along with the stale smell of beer and people throwing up their guts on the lawn; I feel fantastic.

Music overwhelms my ears when I walk past the speakers and through the throngs of people drunkenly dancing. My ears finally receive a reprieve when I enter the kitchen, the music dulling down ever-so-slightly.

It is a Friday night and, like most non-school nights, there is a party somewhere taking place on campus. Tonight, it just so happens to be that the party I am attending houses some very infamous soccer players. Holden, Malachi, Tyson, and Aidan, to be exact.

From what Brooklynn told me, as an end of semester celebration and summer soon approaching next week, the soccer team wanted to throw a party to celebrate an outstanding season and even better year.

I have yet to spot Malachi, but I don't doubt that I will see him shortly. Sooner rather than later, if my suspicions are correct.

All eyes fall on me when I stride into the kitchen. Gathered around the large kitchen island are Tyson, Holden, Aidan, and Brooklynn, as well as a few vaguely familiar faces I assume belong to their teammates. A beer-pong game—between Tyson and someone unfamiliar, and Brooklynn and Aidan—in the midst, on the island bench.

I sidle up beside Holden, a quiet onlooker on the current game. Tyson throws the plastic ping-pong ball through the air, clearly not having excellent aim because instead of landing in a cup, it rolls off the edge of the table, missing the cup by a couple of inches.

Aidan tries to hide his amusement, muffling his laughter behind the palm of his hand.

Tyson shoots a glare to the other side of the table, bemused. "Shut. Up."

That only furthers Aidan's laughter momentarily before he retrieves the ping-pong ball from the ground, silently placing it into Brooklynn's awaiting hand.

The game passes with Camron—whose name I quickly learned—and Tyson throwing a child-like fit anytime they miss the cup or Brooklynn and Aidan get one in. I volunteer to play next, with Holden by my side.

I go to throw the ball when the room around me silences, my body suddenly alert and stiff. I visibly pause, not daring to glance because I know what I will find. Or more like who I will find. Fixating on the cup I am aiming for, I throw the plastic ball, only narrowly making it.

Of course, the minute I look up, it travels to him. It always will. He has that effect on me. Malachi looks the same, but there has been a shift in him since the last time I saw him. It is like the surrounding air is almost lighter, strangely.

His gray eyes are already on me, heat coursing through every nerve in my body. I haven't seen him this close in person since our last conversation, which resembled more of an argument, if anything.

A gentle hand resting on my shoulder pulls my focus away from Malachi and back to the beer-pong game in front of us. I turn to face Holden, finding his understanding gaze. "Go." He motions his head toward Malachi. "I have it from here."

Gratefully, I nod, thankful for the excuse to escape. As casually as I can muster, I make my way over to Malachi at a leisurely pace. His mesmerizing eyes stay on me the whole time I cross the short distance. He leans against the wall behind him, a small grin pulling at the corner of his lips when he looks me up and down.

"I was expecting to see you tonight," is the first thing I say when I approach him. He crosses his arms, his tongue finding his cheek when he tries to withhold a smile. But he fails. Miserably. A blinding smile breaks free, showing his straight, white teeth.