The Strings Attached

Chapter 15 - Loni

What is this man doing to me?

***

Tonight, Hadley and I are going to one of her sorority events. It's a social at this country bar downtown with another fraternity. A majority of the girls in her sorority, Kappa Zeta, found dates in the frat to take. But Hadley chose me.

I'm not a fan of the sorority scene. But, I'd do anything for Hadley. I'd even wear a tacky cropped flannel and cowboy boots for her. Which is exactly what I'm doing for her tonight.

Kappa Zeta rented out the entire bar. The Whiskey Bull is a place to get cheap drinks and listen to country music. There's a huge dance floor in the middle of the room and on stage is a huge mechanical bull.

Security guards put wristbands on us indicating who can drink and have a good time and who has to endure the night sober. Luckily I'm twenty-one and can drown myself in alcohol tonight. 

Hadley doesn't seem to have any reservations tonight either because she's been tipsy since we left her sorority house.

Music is blaring as soon as we walk into the bar. People have already taken to the dance floor, grinding on each other.

"Let's get some drinks," Hadley shouts into my ear.

I follow her to the bar and we order a couple of beers before sitting at one of the high-top tables surrounding the dance floor. We people watch and laugh and I get a pretty good buzz after two beers and a few shots of tequila.

"You know, I love taking you to these things, but one day hopefully I can come here with a boyfriend."

"So you can grope each other on the dance floor?" I say, motioning to a couple in front of us. 

The girl has her ass pressed to her date's groin and she's going to town on him. He no doubt has a boner as his hands slide down her hips and around to her— You know what, never mind. I pull my gaze away and laugh.

"Yes, that is exactly what I want," she snorts out a laugh and downs the rest of her drink.

"No, Nathan, get the fuck off me."

I whip my head around to the bar. A girl rips her arm out of some guy's grasp, but he grabs her again.

"Who is that?" I ask Hadley.

Hadley turns around and when she does, the girl gets free again and storms away from the bar. "That's one of my sisters, Malia, she's always fighting with that guy."

"Should we go help her?" As I say that, a pair of security guards grab the guy and lead him out of the bar. Malia is nowhere in sight.

"I think they have it covered."

Malia is back at the bar, ordering another drink, one of her sisters by her side.

I guess that's one of the upsides of rushing. You have a group of girls you can count on. But then there's the drama. And the raging hormones. I think I'll pass. 

Hadley has been begging me since freshman year to rush Kappa Zeta and at first, I considered it. But that idea was shot to hell anytime Hadley would cry to me about how some of the girls would treat her. Part of me feels like she only likes to be in the sorority now because it gets her access to some of the best parties and an endless supply of hot frat boys.

"You wanna dance?" A guy asks. 

Hadley and I both turn around but he's clearly addressing her. His dark blue flannel is unbuttoned showing off his perfectly rippled abs and he's holding a toothpick between his grinning teeth.

Hadley shoots me a look, raising her brows. "Sure." She answers, slapping her hand in his and they walk out to the dance floor.

While Hadley spends her time being fondled by her man on the dance floor, I spend my time scoping out more one-night stand prospects. The Lust Me app is great and all, but if I can find a guy to hook up with tonight, that would be a major score. Quick and easy. That's what I want.

But I couldn't be more wrong.

Every man I approach already has a date for the night. I find a man that's leaning against the bar, sipping on something red.

"Hey," I say following his posture.

His eyes trail down my body. "Hi,' he grins.

"I'll have what he's having," I say to the bartender. "I'm Loni," I say to the guy at the bar.

"Alex." He adjusts himself so he's fully facing me. "Are you a Kappa Zeta?"

"No, but my friend is." The bartender hands me my drink. "I've always had a thing for frat boys, though." For fuck's sake, could I sound more desperate? I suck down my drink, adding to my buzz.

"Well, I have a thing for girls who have Greek friends."

Wow, this is so easy.

I take a step towards him, but as soon as I do, a scoff sounds behind him.

"Alex, what the fuck? I've been waiting for you for like twenty minutes." A petite blonde stands behind him with her arms crossed.

"Nice to meet you, Loni." Alex turns around and slings his arm over the girl's shoulder and walks away.

I curse under my breath and order another drink.

By the time Hadley is done dancing and meets me at our table, I'm plastered.

"I'm going to get another drink," she says, but I grab her hand.

"I want to get out of here."

"You want to leave?"

I nod. "I have another place in mind for us." I'm done with these dumb frat boys. I need real men. And I know someone that's having a party tonight.