Page 16 of Best Things in Life

“Don’t worry,” Dools says. “If it’s any consolation I think Bigs and Sarina are saying their goodbyes, calling it an early night.”

“Fuck no—don’t tell me that. They’re not staying at BMOC House together? Not under our roof?”

“That would be awkward,” Dools says. “Talk to Bane. Maybe he can ask Bigs nicely to cut you a break and stay together elsewhere. It would be the sensitive thing to do. He might owe you this one.”

“Sure,” Summer says. “But that just means they’ll go to Kappa Kappa Gamma house, right?” She sounds defeated.

“Maybe we can talk to Emily,” I say, a half-serious, evil smile curling my lips, making me feel like a super villain. Dooley laughs.

“I love it. A double cockblock,” he says. “Let’s go do it.”

“Since when are you so eager to cockblock?” I say as we walk back inside. Maybe I’ve had just enough whiskey to see this through. The band is playing a slow song and Bigs is on the makeshift dance floor with Sarina and a few other couples. I push Dooley past the main room through the hallway to the kitchen and out to the back deck where I know Bane will be monitoring the kegs, making sure there’s no underage drinking. Helluva job.

Spotting him, I push past Dooley and head right for him.

“We need to talk.”

“That’s the kind of line I usually hear from a girl,” he grins.

“You’ve been dipping into the kegs, I see.”

“I’ve had a few beers.”

“Good. You look happy for a change of pace,” I say as Dooley and Summer join me to surround him. His eyes go to Summer.

“Summer.”

“Bane.”

“Now that we’ve identified ourselves, listen up, Bane.” I command his attention, which isn’t easy to wrangle away from Summer. Shit. Don’t fucking tell me we have another love triangle? Doesn’t he know that Summer’s stuck on Bigs? And Emily’s stuck on him? Shit. I shake my head and Dooley exchanges a look with me.

“Nate needs a favor,” Dools says.

“What’s that?”

“Ask Bigs not to have Sarina overnight here. It’s kind of rubbing it in his face. Very unsporting.”

He laughs. “That’s a big ask. Sarina’s his girl. Of course he’ll want to--.”

“Yeah?” I say, feeling sick listening to them discuss Bigs and Sarina together. I can’t even think about them… that way. “Well Bigs can stay over at Sarina’s room.” I slide an apologetic glance at Summer and she sighs. At least she doesn’t live at Kappa Kappa Gamma house anymore and doesn’t have to run into Bigs in the hallway. Like I ran into Sarina earlier and my dick nearly jumped her barely covered by a towel.

Bane’s gives me one of those sympathetic looks like Bigs has been doing and I want to smack it off his face too. But I suppose if I don’t want the sympathy I need to stop acting so pathetic and not lose my shit at the thought of Bigs and Sarina sleeping together. He nods. “I see what you mean.” He pauses a few beats like he’s thinking it over.

“Just this once. I... I’m still getting used to them…” I take a deep breath like I’m jumping into ice water. “sleeping together.” I finish

“I get it. Fuck.” He takes another few beats and a gulp of his beer. “You have to promise on your fucking bottle of Jameson that you will behave at all times, that you won’t go near Bigs girl?” I nod and swallow down the acid rising from my gut.

“Say it,” Bane demands.

“I’ll behave whenever I’m in their company no matter if they’re making out or fucking in plain sight.”

“Then you can have your fucking night—tonight only.” He smirks. “After tonight all bets are off and I won’t ask him again so you’ll be at his mercy.” I don’t know if I want to smack him or hug him. “I’ll talk to him later.”

“How about now,” I say automatically and want to bite my tongue off.

“You can talk to him yourself any time, you know.”

“You’re fucking house president. It’s your job to keep the peace.”