Free For Real (Rules of Love, Book One) by Chelsea M. Cameron Page A

happened,” I say, and push past them and go back to the kitchen.
    A few minutes later, we all pile into Jett’s hunk-of-metal-that-tries-to-pass-as-a-car.
    “Are you sure this thing is a car?” Daisy says, trying to put her seatbelt on without much success.
    “You never insult a man’s ride,” Tanner says, slinging his arm around Jordyn. I love the girl to pieces, but she’s got a fetish for men who treat her like crap. Ironic, considering the speech I just got in the bathroom. At least Hazel had stayed out of it this time, but maybe only because she’s at work.
    “She’s a good girl,” Jett says, patting the dashboard. What is it with guys and their vehicles? Not that I can talk. I’m crazy attached to my collection of used books. I have them on a special shelf in my bedroom and I sometimes talk to them. That’s not weird, right?
    I’m in the front seat with Jett and everyone else is squished in the back. Javier is already at the party.
    “He’s probably wasted enough for two people already,” Jett mutters to me.
    “Oh, that should be fun.”
    “We’ll see.”
    Finding a parking spot anywhere near the frat house is nearly impossible. Yes, it’s a weeknight, but that’s not going to stop anyone from getting their drink on.
    We finally find a spot on the side of the road and pile out of Jett’s car. I make sure my cardigan is pulled tight in front of my boobs.
    The two guys have their hands full of us trying to walk in our wobbly heels on the shoulder of the road. Talk about dangerous.
    “Who knew walking was a full contact sport?” Jett says, practically carrying me as the heels of Hazel’s boots sink into the gravel and I keep stumbling.
    “We girls just like to make things complicated,” I say with a laugh as his arm comes around me and hauls me out of a hole. We finally make it to the house without any major incident.
    The party is in full swing when we walk in. The beer is flowing, the music is loud and I’m pretty sure they’d bought out an entire Sam’s Club’s worth of red plastic cups. There’s even a pyramid of them along one wall. They must be glued together, because that’s the only way those things are staying up with all the bodies banging around in front of it.
    Jett spots Javier on the other side of the room. He’s at one of the kegs, filling up people’s cups.
    “Is he even a member of this frat?” I yell over the music.
    “Uh, no. He’s sort of an honorary member of, like, every frat. His minor is in keg tapping.” I don’t doubt it.
    Javier waves us over and shoves cups at us as he keeps filling. Jordyn goes off with Tanner when he spots some of his friends, and Daisy flirts with Javier a little bit before another guy comes over and steals her away.
    “Be safe,” I yell as she gives me a little wave over her shoulder.
    “You can dress them up, but you can’t take them out,” I say to Jett as we find a corner where we can stand without being in the midst of the insanity. Jett reaches for my hand and I twist our fingers together. Then he pulls them up to his mouth and kisses the back of my hand.
    It makes butterflies start banging together in my stomach like the dancers that are grinding together near the speakers.
    “You look great, you know that?” He swings our joined hands back and forth and I have an almost irrepressible urge to giggle like a little girl.
    “Compliments aren’t part of the Rules, but they should be,” I say, squeezing his hand.
    “Why are you losers over here?” Javier says, finally leaving his post at the keg.
    “Just admiring this lovely lady,” Jett says with a wink.
    “Stop it,” I say, turning away.
    “So, you two together now?” Jett just holds up our hands and I try to giggle like a girl in love. It comes off sounding a little bit crazy, but no one seems to notice.
    Javier just shakes his head.
    “Keep drinking.” And he walks away.
    “That’s his usual advice,” Jett says, taking a sip of his beer. I take a sip too.