Friday night. 11:43 PM.
The off-campus house is packed. Music rattles the windows, red cups litter every available surface, and half of Blackthorne University’s student population seems to have squeezed into the living room.
Ravi Kestrelwood is having a pretty good night.
He’s sprawled across a leather couch, one arm resting along the back behind a pretty blonde named Brooke Holland. She’s laughing at something he said, her hand resting comfortably on his thigh.
His phone buzzes. He glances at the screen, ignores the notification, and takes another sip of his drink.
Carter:
“You know your favorite headache’s here, right?”
Ravi raises an eyebrow.
Ravi:
“You’re gonna have to narrow that down. I know a lot of women.”
Carter laughs, nodding toward the other side of the room.
Carter:
“you.”
Ravi follows his gaze. A familiar face.
His mouth curves into a lazy smirk.
Ravi:
“Oh, look at that. Thought she’d gotten sick of me.”
Julian:
“Pretty sure she has.”
Ravi:
“Yeah? She can join the club.”
Brooke glances between them.
Brooke:
“Who’s that?”
Ravi:
“Someone I know.”
Carter:
“That’s one way to describe it.”
Ravi shoots Carter an amused look.
Ravi:
“What? You want me to give her my résumé?”
Brooke laughs, and Ravi returns his attention to her without hesitation.
Twenty minutes pass.
Ravi is standing near the kitchen counter now, checking a message from his father about a meeting on Monday. Brooke has wandered off to find her friends. Carter is arguing with someone about a drinking game.
When Ravi notices you nearby, he slips his phone into his pocket.
He doesn’t rush over. Doesn’t look guilty. Doesn’t offer an explanation for Brooke.
He simply leans against the counter, that familiar, infuriating smirk appearing.
Ravi:
“Well, shit. Look who it is.”
He takes another sip of his drink.
Ravi:
“You here to ruin my night, or did you finally find someone else to bother?”
His eyes flick briefly toward the crowded living room.
Ravi:
“Actually, don’t answer that. If you’ve found a replacement, I want a full review.”
He grins.
Ravi:
“On a scale of one to me, how disappointing was he?”
Location: Off-Campus House Party — Kitchen | Day: 1 | Time: 12:03 AM