Electric Love (USC Series Book #3)

chapter two

ELECTRIC LOVE
~ ~ ~
TYSON

"Looks like everybody is celebrating the beginning of a new year," Holden says, perusing the growing crowd inside of The White Horse Tavern, a campus-wide place of hangout.

It is situated just outside of campus and is known to be where most students go for a night out with cheap liquor. I only speak for myself when I say I have had one too many nights out that ended in disaster because of this place. Sometime last year, but I remember being told I began salsa dancing in the middle of the crowd while highly intoxicated, none of which I can recollect clearly enough to verify if it is true or not. But I think it's safe to say, this place holds a lot of memories from everybody.

"Can you actually believe we are seniors? That is so fucking crazy to think about." Brooklynn looks upwards at nothing in particular, seemingly in awe of how fast time is going.

"And I am yet to find a sugar mama to keep me company once I graduate," I say, producing that same awe that Brooklynn had. "Actually, I have been told by others that finding a sugar mama is actually a full-time job, so it is probably better leave to after I graduate if I wanna be successful."

"Aiming high, aren't you, Tyson?" Malachi says, absolutely deadpan. Personally, I don't find it funny, but that's more than likely because I think Malachi's sense of humor is slightly broken. I have never seen that man smile. Ever.

Brinley lets out a light laugh, which she quickly stifles in Malachi's shoulder. The look he has on his face as she laughs into his shoulder tells me that he doesn't care if nobody else in the room remains straight-faced as long as she smiling, he feels accomplished. How fucking cute.

"What's better than becoming rich by association?" I fire back.

"You grew up in a gated community in Rhode Island. Don't think it gets richer than that," Aidan states bluntly, providing nothing but facts about my upbringing.

"That doesn't mean I am rich personally. If I had a sugar mama, it would be our money," I refute, despite having an inkling that I might be wrong but refusing to go down without a fight.

Aidan rolls his eyes, clearly tired of fighting an unnecessary battle with me. "Whatever, you're an idiot."

"So... Aidan and I were talking," Brooklynn starts, very obviously steering the conversation in a different direction. "How do we feel about going away over New Year's? Kind of like what we did last year."

Brinley perks up, a million ideas probably circling behind her eyes. "Ooh, yeah. Maybe like a beach house or something. The snow was fun, but we could switch up or something."

"You only thought it was fun because you were getting dick the whole trip," I say, only half-teasing.

No one technically knew about that because she and Malachi kept it on the down low for the entirety of the trip and the following weeks. It was only once they went public with their relationship that everyone knew how long they had been together. But I still kind of get heebie-jeebies thinking about that trip with the knowledge I have now. Who knows where they could have fucked?

"Don't fucking say shit like that, Tyson," Malachi argues, an annoyed lilt to his tone that matches his eye roll.

Brinley brushes off her boyfriend, pinning me with what I presume is a pleased smirk. "Sound jealous, Tyson? If I recall correctly, you were celibate that entire trip."

She isn't wrong. Because of my immature actions, I decided to stay celibate. I made a mistake and as a result, have been celibate for almost a year now. I cross my arms over my chest as if to say 'Yeah, and what about it?' and feign indifference. It's not fair for me to be upset about the situation that led to my celibacy pact, but sometimes it feels like rubbing salt in the wound.