Love knows no weight.
Kali has always felt insecure about her body-until Chase, the charming captain of the basketball team, makes her feel like the most perfect girl in the world.
But as their connection deepens, can Kali embrace the love she deser...
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By the time we arrived at the Delta Theta sorority house, the party was already in full swing. The music thumped so loudly that I could feel it in my chest like the bass was syncing up with my heartbeat.
People were everywhere—on the front lawn, leaning against the walls, hanging out of windows, all with red plastic cups in hand. Laughter and shouts echoed over the music, and the air smelled like a mix of perfume, sweat, and cheap beer.
Honestly, I didn't know if it was the alcohol starting to kick in or just the adrenaline of the moment, but suddenly, the nerves that had been gnawing at me earlier were gone. I wasn't the type to dive headfirst into a crowd of strangers, but the alcohol was definitely loosening me up.
I couldn't explain it, but it was like liquid courage was rushing through my veins, replacing the nerves I had earlier with this bold, almost reckless confidence. I wasn't quite me right now, but it wasn't terrible either.
I tried to sneak another sip from Poppy's flask, hoping to keep that confidence going, but Esmi snatched it out of my hand.
"Okay, that's enough," she said, pulling the flask away and tucking it into her bag. "You've had three sips already. I'm not dragging your drunk ass back to the dorm tonight."
I made a face but didn't argue. She had a point. Being the girl who passed out at her first college party? Not exactly the kind of attention I wanted. So, I just shrugged and followed Esmi and Poppy into the house.
The second we stepped inside, I could feel the heat from all the bodies packed into the room. People I didn't know brushed past me, laughing, dancing, shouting over the loud music. It felt like I'd stepped into a completely different world—one where everyone was confident, carefree, and knew exactly what they were doing. Except me.
Poppy, though? She was basically a walking VIP pass—people were waving at her, shouting her name, and giving her hugs as we squeezed through. Of course, she was on the cheer squad and a Delta Theta sister, so it made sense. But still, I felt like an outsider tagging along.
Once we found a semi-quiet corner, I leaned in close to her. "So, why is Chase even invited here? I thought he and Tiffany broke up? Isn't it kinda weird for him to be here?"
Poppy gave me a quick glance before shrugging. "Yeah, they broke up, but Chase is still popular. He gets invited to everything, even if Tiff hates his guts right now. She probably doesn't even care. She's too busy running around, making sure the party goes off without a hitch."
Before I could say anything else, Poppy spotted a group of her sorority sisters across the room and flashed us a quick smile. "I'll catch up with you guys in a bit, okay? Gotta say hi to my girls. Enjoy the party!" Then, without waiting for an answer, she vanished into the sea of people.
Esmi groaned beside me. "I really, really need to pee. Can you stay here? I'll be quick, I promise."
"Wait—" I started to protest, but she was already gone, disappearing into the crowd and leaving me by the wall. Just... great.
