The Games We Play - Chapter 9: Chapter 9

The threesome and the dude's weirdly bent dick are imprinted in my brain forever as I scurry back downstairs like a basement rat.
It's just...the angle...how?
I find Tasha and Liam standing in the large dining room, talking to some guys Liam clearly knows.
I run to Tasha, wrapping my arms around her and trying to use her as a shield between me and the archway into the room.
"Hey, baby, there you are!" Tasha hugs me back. "You good?"
"I just walked in on a threesome," I whisper, my words slurring slightly as I bury my face in her shoulder.
She grins. "Did you ask to join?"
"Do you think I should've?" I frown before she's giggling, kissing the top of my head.
Tasha and I leave Liam in the kitchen, where he's happily immersed in a conversation with a group of guys debating the merits of canned versus draft beer. She grabs my hand, weaving us through the crowd in search of a seat.
We find one in the living room—a half-empty sofa occupied by a group of girls who are laughing loudly. And naturally, we become best friends with all of them.
I immediately land on Tasha's lap, giggling as she wraps an arm around my waist to keep me steady. The group welcomes us like long-lost friends, introducing themselves between sips of their drinks and throwing compliments around like confetti.
"Love your blue tank top, girly!" one of them says, her voice loud enough to cut through the music.
"Okay—why do I love you already?" I reply, gesturing at her sparkly boots. "I was going to say the exact same thing about those shoes!"
It's the kind of instant camaraderie that only happens at parties—everyone drunk enough to feel like soulmates after five minutes of talking.
We're mid-discussion about the best dance songs of the 2010s when Jude appears out of nowhere, his grin as bright and mischievous as ever.
"Cameron. My beautiful baby," Jude exclaims as he rounds the back of the sofa and caresses the top of my head. But my gaze isn't on him; it's on the cute boy awkwardly standing next to him. "I want you to meet Hudson. Hudson, meet Cam. Isn't she gorgeous?"
Hudson. I know that name...
Oh shit.
My stomach drops slightly as I take in Hudson. He's tall and broad-shouldered, with dark hair that flops slightly into his eyes. He's hot—so very hot—but the way he shifts on his feet and avoids eye contact makes it clear he isn't used to this kind of scene.
"Ah—h—hi!" He awkwardly steps forward with a wave.
The girls on the sofa exchange amused glances, but I ignore them, smiling up at him. "Hi?"
He clears his throat and smiles. "It's nice to meet you."
"You too." I smile softly. "So, you're another unfortunate victim of Jude's matchmaking business?"
Hudson side-glances him warily.
Jude forces a laugh. "Our Cam is just such a little joker."
I frown at him before glancing back at Hudson. "Did he not tell you that I'm not—"
"Oh, hush, hush, hush, child." Jude wraps his hand around my mouth. "I think Cam here is needing another drink. There's some up for grabs in the kitchen. If you want to do the honors of making sure she's watered, Hudson."
"Ah, sure. After you—if you want, that is. No pressure," Hudson says, seeming completely afraid of appearing too pushy or creepy. It's kind of adorable.
I'm also out of alcohol, so I stand up from Tasha's lap and adjust my white mini-skirt.
"Sure." I beam, rounding the corner of the couch and putting a hand to Jude's shoulder. On my way past, I lean toward his ear. "You are so fucking dead, baby girl."
I then keep walking, pass Hudson, and head toward the back of the house where the large kitchen is.
It's not as packed as the rest of the frat house, but it is a complete fucking mess. Solo cups and empty bottles and boxes litter every and any surface in the room. The floor is sticky and wet, and bodies are spread throughout.
I clear some space on the counter, hopping up and swinging my legs as Hudson heads for the refrigerator. He opens the door, and it's packed with a mix of random drinks, most of them cans or half-empty bottles of questionable origin.
Hudson pulls out a can and examines it like he's solving a riddle.
He glances at me. "This one?"
"It's my favorite." I nod as Hudson steps toward me, opens the can, and hands it to me.
He grins. "Yeah? What is it?"
I lift it to my lips, take a big gulp, and wipe my mouth. "No fucking clue. But if it can get me drunk, then it's my favorite."
Hudson laughs gently at me as he leans back against the kitchen island at my side and folds his arms across his chest.
"Look," he starts, and I glance up at him. "I know you said no to Jude about the whole blind date."
"You do?"
"Yeah. Jude didn't say anything—but every time I brought it up, he changed the subject. Plus, I hadn't heard anything from you, so I figured." Hudson chuckles nervously and runs a hand through his light brown hair. "I tried to stop him before he pulled me over, but he just grabbed my arm and dragged me."
"Ah." I nod in understanding. "He can be one strong bitch when he wants to."
He scoffs. "You've known him long?"
"Since freshman year. Same old college tale. We took the same paper and were randomly chosen as partners for a project." I shrug, faintly remembering back to one of my best friends.
"How'd you do?"
"Oh, fucking terrible. But we became best friends because of it, so it didn't matter." I say this after taking another sip, and it makes him laugh. "What about you?"
"Ah, I worked with him at the Peninsula Yacht Club over the summer," Hudson explains. "I was a lifeguard."
"Hm, I like a man in uniform," I say before I can stop myself.
Shit—I forgot that Drunk Cam is also horny as hell.
But Hudson just laughs it off and nods. "So did all the wives."
"No way," I gasp. "They must've tipped well."
"Oh, hell yeah," Hudson nods, and it makes me laugh. "They were either giving me the security codes to their houses or their daughters' numbers."
I tilt my head back and laugh. "That's actually crazy."
"It made the shifts go by faster, at least." He shrugs casually, and I take another glance at him. "You flash them a little smile, ask if they need help with their sunscreen, and you're suddenly getting enough tips to put a deposit on a house."
Jude was right. Hudson was cute—real fucking cute. Sunkissed, clear skin and wavy brown hair and dark brown eyes. He's got a crooked smile, but it's kind of endearing, and it's clear he works out.
Hot nerd. Totally my type.
For a moment, the chaos of the party fades into the background. He's easy to talk to—kind of quiet, but not in a bad way. And he's got this way of looking at me like he's trying to figure me out, but he's not in a hurry to do it.
"Cam!" a voice shouts, cutting through the moment
I look up to see one of the frat guys racing through with an open floral shirt and pointing at me. He's familiar, and I recognize him.
It's Matt—a guy I always seem to run into at parties, and he always challenges me to a—
"Beer pong rematch!" he calls, pointing at the table. "Outside. Now."
He then flies through the kitchen, leaving both me and Hudson in silence.
Hudson slowly turns to me. "You know that guy?"
"Unfortunately." I sigh, placing my drink at my side and lifting a hand, which he instantly takes. "Here, help me down. I have to go kick his ass again."
☆☆☆☆
The crowd erupts into cheers as Hudson sinks the final shot.
It was his only successful shot of the whole game, but it doesn't make it any less amazing. I'm bouncing up and down, clapping my hands as Hudson turns to me. I throw my arms around him and squeal excitedly.
"That was so fucking good!"
He exhales heavily and smooths a hand through his hair when I step back. "Shit—I thought that wasn't going in."
"Neither did I!" I exclaim truthfully, turning to the other side of the table to see Matt and his teammate licking their wounds.
Matt's crouching at the table, his face buried into folded arms on the surface, and I giggle at the sight.
It was a close match—Matt had clearly improved over the summer.
At the end, we both had one cup left, and Matt and I both missed our first shots. Matt's partner then stepped up and also missed, meaning it was all down to Hudson.
And he pulled through like the champ he is.
"I've never won a game of beer pong before!" Hudson is still in disbelief as he too stares at the table.
"Never admit that out loud," I advise as the crowd around us begins to congratulate Hudson for his amazing shot.
I take all the cups to the side and begin to stack them up as Matt rounds the table with his hand out.
"You beat me again, mi amor," he says as I grab onto his hand and he lifts it to his lips. "Who's your new partner?"
I narrow my eyes. "Why? Jealous?
"Hell yes."
"You can borrow him sometime," I say with a small smirk, knowing that's not what he's jealous about.
He rolls his eyes, tells me he'll see me later, and heads back into the house.
Two more pairs step up to the table, preparing it for the next game, and I step over to Hudson, who's talking to two other guys about the game.
I put my hand on his shoulder and have to go on my toes to get closer to his ear. "I need to use the restroom."
"Do you need me to walk you?"
My heart squeezes at his gentlemanly offer. "I'm a big girl—but thanks."
I'm only a few feet into the house when I hear my name again.
I turn, ready to berate the person for forbidding me from peeing, but I find Jude in an absolute state. He has tears streaming down his face, his perfect mascara smudged under his eyes, and a drink sloshing over the sides of a Solo cup as he nears me.
"Fuck—what happened?" I ask as I gravitate toward him.
"It's over," he says, dragging a hand over his coiled buzzcut. "It's all over."
"What? What's over?"
"Carter!"
Oh. Carter.
President of Sigma Chi and future Calvin Klein model. He and Jude have had a thing all summer, and I had to hear every raw and unfiltered detail every time we video-called. Each time it felt like I had slept with Carter.
I sigh. "Oh god! What did he do now?"
"I—I—I—" He stutters. He pauses to let out a sob. "I—I—"
"You what?!"
"I just found out he has a girlfriend! She's here—I just saw them making out on the porch!" Jude exclaims with a gasp. "They got together in the middle of summer."
I gasp dramatically, both hands slapping over my mouth, fully aware that Jude has probably almost doubled his body count over the past two months.
"No!" I frown. "But didn't you two fuck like last week?"
"And yesterday morning!" he sobs louder. "Fucking lying traitorous whore! Closeted asshole!"
"Oh, that is just fucking wrong," I say as I point at him. "No one fucking does my best friend like that."
"Mmm-hmm." Jude stumbles back, his eyes fluttering closed, before he swallows and they open. "No one."
"We need to do something. You need to be avenged, my sweet." I put both my hands on his shoulders. "Jude, baby, look at me."
He does so, and his eyes roll in his head, completely unfocused, but he eventually finds me.
He sobs. "Whaaaaat?"
"We're stealing the lion."
His jaw drops. "The mascot?"
I nod slowly. "Hell yeah. Let's hit 'em where it hurts."
It takes all of two seconds for Jude to go from pathetic bitch to petty bitch.
He grabs my hand, and we quickly make our way upstairs.
Jude is behind me, tugging at my arm. "Wait—how the hell do you know where it is?"
"When I went exploring earlier," I say and guide him down the hall. I come to a stop in front of a closet, spin around to face him, and then slowly open it to reveal the interior. "I found it in here."
Jude gasps, covering his mouth, as we both look inside. It appears as though all the Sigma Chi brothers had placed everything in here that they didn't want to get broken or stolen. I mean—they're smart.
But clearly not smart enough to lock the damn door.
Sitting pretty atop the pile is the mascot for the fraternity. A massive stuffed lion that looks like it's seen many better days and is dressed in a vintage Colts football jersey.
It's their pride and joy, and everyone on campus knows about the fraternity and the lion.
For the first few weeks, pledges take turns carrying it around campus and to classes, having to treat it like an actual baby. It's in all their photos, all over their social media, and is a massive icon for Sigma Chi.
Jude wipes at his eyes. "She's beautiful."
"She's yours," I tell him, holding onto the dark wooden slab. "Not only are we taking the lion, but we're taking your dignity back with it. Carter's an asshole for what he did to you, and he deserves to be punished."
"You are my ride-or-die bitch, and I love you," Jude says, squeezing my hand before diving into the closet.
I'm on look-out duty, keeping my eyes laser-focused on the top of the stairs for any intruders.
I feel like Tom Cruise from Mission Impossible—I mean, I've got the height for it. Cut my hair and I'm his stunt double.
With my gaze fixed on the staircase landing, I completely forget about the rest of the hall behind me.
That is until I hear a door open and male laughter.
It suddenly stops, and I brave a glance over my shoulder.
Two frat brothers are frozen halfway out of a bedroom, their confused stares locked on us across the dimly lit space, the colorful string lights hanging on the walls casting strange shadows. Jude steps back from the closet with the lion in hand and comes to my side.
The guy at the front asks, "The fuck are you doing?"
I blink, and Jude's gone.
He's already turned and sprinted back toward the stairs, leaving me standing in the middle of the hallway all on my own.
We stare at each other in complete silence.
"CAMERON!" Jude's scream pierces through the moment, and my brain finally kicks into gear.
I spin instantly and hightail it to the staircase.
"Shit! Get her!" one of the guys screeches, and I hear their heavy footfalls as they chase after me.
I hop over the chain across the stairs and sprint the rest of the way down so fast I'm surprised I don't trip and break a damn ankle.
Eyes trail behind me slightly, and that's how I know the guys are right behind me.
"FUCK! Stop them!" they shout, and suddenly everyone is turning to look at us.
But I've already latched onto Jude's hand, and the two of us are out onto the porch and down onto the sidewalk. We take off in one direction, having no time to stop and pull out Google Maps on my phone.
"Why didn't you warn me!?" I scream at Jude, my voice raising over the shouts of frat brothers in pursuit behind us.
"Never hesitate, bitch!" Jude cackles into the night, and the two of us laugh as we continue to race through the otherwise quiet neighborhood.
Streetlights whip past overhead, illuminating our way to freedom. I'm thankful for my navy and white Adidas Spezials. While not the best running shoes, they're a hell of a lot better than the other pairs of footwear I own.
Eventually, the shouts of the frat brothers cease, and we slow to a walk when we realize they're no longer behind us.
We're both panting, our breathing labored, and Jude asks for a minute to rest, collapsing onto the curb and hugging the lion to his chest.
"Fuck, that was fun," he grins up at me like a child.
"It was." I smile back, smoothing a hand over the top of his head while glancing around us. "Do you have your phone?"
"I gave it to Tasha to keep safe," Jude answers. "Where's yours?"
"...Also with Tasha."
"Damn, we have got to stop giving our shit to Tasha and then ditching her," Jude shakes his head while kissing the cheek of the lion. "So what? You think we're gonna have to sell our perfect bodies for a free ride home?"
"What? No. Just..." I shake my head at him as I continue to glance around. Familiarity begins to set in.
The houses. The streetlights. The familiar warmth of the neighborhood.
I've seen it all before. Not recently though. Maybe a few months ago...
Oh, no.