HIS

Chapter 17

Olivia's POV

It's Saturday night, and I'm getting dressed for a party I hadn't planned on attending. But now I'm going because Mia and Tessa are in the mood for something fun. Mia especially needed a break from all the stress, and honestly, I didn't feel like spending the evening alone either.

The party's being hosted by one of the girls from college. Her parents are away on a business trip, so she's throwing it at their house. I've helped her with math tutoring a few times, but she's part of the popular crowd, so we've never really hung out outside of school.

I decided to wear light blue ripped skinny jeans paired with a white cropped top, an oversized denim shirt left unbuttoned, and plain white Vans. It didn't seem smart to show too much skin at a party where frat boys might be prowling around. Earlier, I'd sent Domenico a text letting him know I'd be going to the party. He hadn't replied yet, but he was probably just busy.

I grabbed my small crossbody bag, which held my phone, some cash, my house key, card, and lip balm, then headed over to the girls' flat.

I'm not about to drive under the influence, so we've decided to take an Uber to the party. Besides, no one wants to deal with being parked in when it's time to leave. I was just about to knock when the girls' door swung open before I could.

"Ready to go, girls?" I asked, feeling a rush of excitement—it was our first time going to a college party.

"Yes—and remember, no accepting open drinks from anyone. We stick together at all times, even when going to the bathroom," Tessa reminded us, and we all nodded in agreement.

We'd heard far too many disturbing stories about what happens to girls at wild college parties. That's one of the main reasons we chose to wear pants instead of short dresses or skirts tonight.

"The Uber's already waiting downstairs," Mia announced, and we headed out, making our way down.

We got into the Uber, and the ride to the house took nearly thirty minutes—longer than we expected. Still, we were here now, so we might as well enjoy it. As we arrived, just like we imagined, cars lined both sides of the street. People were scattered across the front lawn, drinking and chatting as we made our way toward the entrance.

Inside, we were greeted by Cassy—the girl who invited us—as soon as we walked through the door.

"Hey guys, thanks for coming! Drinks are in the kitchen, and there are bathrooms all over the house. I'll be around if you need anything," Cassy said quickly.

"Happy birthday, and thanks for inviting us," I said, though with all the noise, I doubted she actually heard me.

"Thanks, doll," she said before hurrying off to deal with a drunk guy who was throwing up all over the place.

I couldn't help but wonder why anyone would host a party on this scale. Drunk people show up, wreck your house, and you're stuck constantly making sure no one gets hurt. It just doesn't seem worth it.

The girls and I took turns mixing drinks, making sure to stick together the whole time. By the time we went back for our third round, I could feel a light buzz setting in—but nothing too intense. We were chatting, laughing, and dancing when a group of five guys approached us.

They introduced themselves as Braden, Jace, Calvin, Tyler, and Sean. We hit it off almost instantly. They mentioned they weren't students at our college but had been invited by Cassy—Braden's cousin.

The guys ended up hanging out with us for the rest of the night. Eventually, it was my turn to make drinks, and Jace offered to come with me. Mia was deep in conversation with Calvin, and Tessa was chatting with Sean, so I didn't want to interrupt—who knows, they might be talking to Mr. Right.