Score (Skin in the Game Book 1) by Christine Bell Read Free Book Online Page B

keg.
    “Hello, ladies,” I said.
    Bee’s friend looked at me and smiled like a cat that got the canary. She nudged Bee and said, “Well, that’s what I call a Bee-line.”
    Bee blushed. “Hi. Um. Cal, this is Flora. Flora, um, Cal.” She pointed to her friend, making awkward introductions.
    “I’m glad you guys could come,” I said. “Can I get you a beer?”
    Bee’s eyes widened as if she’d never had a beer in her life. She opened her mouth to say something just as Johnson hip-checked me. “Well, who do we have here?” he said, eyes glued on Flora. “Introduce me to your friend?”
    I introduced both of them, even though it was pretty clear he was only interested in Flora.
    He grinned. “Flora. Love it. You are indeed a beautiful flower. We need a fourth for Beer Pong. You up for it?”
    The two girls exchanged looks, and Bee nudged her on. “Go ahead,” she said. “Have fun.”
    She smiled at Johnson. “Okay. Yeah. But I warn you, I’m pretty much a pro.”
    He led her away, leaving me alone with Bee.
    “Hey,” I said, handing her my full beer. “Here. Take this one. I’ll get another.”
    I swiped a full beer off the bar and we navigated to a corner, away from the keg.
    “I gotta admit, I’m surprised you came,” I admitted.
    “I’ve never been to a frat party, actually,” she said, taking in the sights like a wide-eyed tourist. “Is that lame?”
    I shook my head. “You haven’t missed much. See all these people? A lot of them think they’re missing out on life whenever they miss a single party, but it’s not true.” I pointed toward the door. “What happens out there, that’s life. This is just…something to fill the time.”
    She wrinkled her nose. How did I not notice she had a cute nose?
    “If that’s what you think, why are you here? Why aren’t you out experiencing life ?” She made little quotes with her one hand, and the other lifted the beer to her lips. She took a sip and winced.
    “Biding my time, I guess,” I said. I didn’t want to tell her that my bum knee was well on its way to changing my life in a dramatic way, but she probably guessed that, anyway. Change the subject. “You don’t seem to be a fan of the beer. Are you telling me you’ve never drank beer before?”
    “Oh, no, I have. This is just particularly…bad. Can this even be classified as beer?”
    I nodded in agreement. “You’re right. It’s more like warm piss. You get used to the taste, though.”
    She grimaced, but that didn’t stop her from taking another sip. “I don’t think I want to.”
    I laughed and looked up at the staircase, just in time to see Renee Clayton stroll in.
    Shit. Just what I needed.
    Renee was another serial frat-bunny. I’d dated her sophomore and part of junior year. At first, it was just hooking up, but we did that so much we eventually became a couple. We never attempted to define it, really, so when she started hooking up with other guys and I found myself not really giving a shit, we kind of just drifted. But Renee was used to getting what she wanted, when she wanted it. Lately, she’d been coming by my apartment, texting me more, showing up at parties she knew I’d be at, looking killer hot. I’d been putting her off for weeks, knowing I needed to focus on my recovery, but she wasn’t getting the hint.
    “Tasting better?” I asked Bee as she downed another gulp.
    I’d managed to guide her so that I was facing the wall, hoping Renee wouldn’t see me. It didn’t work. A second later, two soft hands covered my eyes, and her overly sweet perfume filled my nostrils.
    “Guess who?”
    I tugged away from her as gently as I could. “Hey. How are you?” I said in a monotone, hoping she’d get the picture and scram.
    She snaked her arms around my back and pulled me to her so that her tits rubbed against my chest. “Hi, Baby,” she cooed.
    I untangled her arms from me, trying not to cause a scene but the way Bee’d suddenly started looking at