Campus King | 18+

Chapter Thirty-Six

Hannah

"What do you mean you won't be able to come this weekend? You've already delayed our family dinner by a week. I only get to see you once a month. You can't take that time away from me." My mother's voice whined through the phone and I hated the guilt it induced.

Last weekend had been Diego Ramirez's annual Halloween party, and Tristan had invited me along. Because I couldn't resist seeing him in the French maid costume, I'd agreed and pushed back dinner with my mom and brother. And it had been... wild, to say the least.

When we arrived, the party had already been in full swing — but soon got out of hand when the zombie waitresses started handing out purple nurple jello shots instead of candy. It wasn't exactly my scene, but after running into Adrian and Nadia dressed as barely-wrapped mummies, I let go of my reservations and decided to enjoy the night.

It didn't take long to see why Diego's parties were legendary. I witnessed so many things that were impossible to unsee. My short Sleeping Beauty costume felt tame compared to the endless sea of angels, devils, bunnies, and cats that flooded the mansion. Then there were the three guys dressed as Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates, who went around arguing philosophy with anyone who'd listen, nearly starting several fistfights — while a coked-up Jesus made out with two slutty nuns and a she-devil in the blood-red hot tub. Sometime during the chaos of the night, a homeless man named Raul stumbled into the party and proceeded to have the time of his life. Apparently, he was still sleeping on Diego's couch, serving as his makeshift butler by day.

And let me just say, having Tristan Beckett try to feel you up in a French maid costume was certainly a unique and memorable experience. But I couldn't bring myself to regret it. These last three weeks, even amidst the stress of midterms, had been the best three weeks of my life — filled with laughter, fun and mind-numbing sex.

"But I'll see you next weekend, so it's not like it won't happen," I replied with a weary sigh.

"But I told all my friends you'd be attending the annual children's charity event at the church. Cheryl was going to introduce you to her son. He's an engineer, you know. And very involved in the church. He's a lovely gentleman."

Well, in that case, I was really glad I wasn't going. If there was anything worse than choking down my mom's terrible cooking — it was going to all those church events that inevitably became a way for my mom to try and hook me up with one of the members or their kids. I wasn't super religious, and she believed that all I needed was a devout partner to guide me back to faith. I respected her beliefs, but they just weren't for me.

"It's your dad, isn't it? You're visiting him this weekend, and you just don't want me to know," her voice was laced with hurt as she threw the accusation at me.

"Not everything's about Dad. I'm just going out with a few friends to this... thing," I winced, knowing that was the wrong thing to say.

She immediately assumed the worst. "What 'thing'? That sounds dangerous. Will there be drinking or drugs?"