“Holy shit, they went all out this year,” I tell Kieran as we step inside the main Crimson ballroom a week later.
The alumni dinner is already in full swing, and after the past week, all I’m doing is scanning the room for Weston.
We’ve been bad.
All week.
Or, more accurately,I’vebeen bad, texting Weston daily like I’m a fucking school kid secret admirer, except my interest isn’t exactly secret. I’ve stolen kisses from him in the hallways after class. I even snuck up into his bedroom one night, managing to get through Onyx House without being seen by anyone else, just to give him a goodnight kiss.
He sent me a video of himself stroking his cock and coming for me later that night, and it mademecome so hard that I sent him back an even bigger cumshot video.
I only want him, in a way that’s inconvenient and impossible, but every minute I get with him is better than before.
I’m not acting like myself.
I’ve been ignoring other important things, like finishing up my engineering project or preparing for tonight’s alumni dinner.
But I’ve been having too much fun to care.
“Look at that shit,” Kieran says, his eyes wide as he points out an ice sculpture in the shape of a swan at one of the long tables on the far side of the room.
“Lavish.”
The ballroom always looks ritzy, and for our winter formal dance, it’s usually at its peak.
Tonight it’s like something out of a glittering mansion from the 1920s, though.
Every circular table has a massive floral bouquet and multiple flickering candlesticks in silvery holders at the center. The chandeliers above are turned lower than usual, and the low light fills the ballroom with a warm glow along the wood-paneled walls. There’s a live jazz band playing classy music at the front, and caterers in suits gliding around with trays of finger foods.
“I think Noah’s parents dropped a fat load of cash for the dinner this year,” Kieran says, scanning the room. “They have more wealth than certain small countries, I swear.”
“Yes, you can thank Noah’s daddy dearest,” I hear from beside me.
Niko’s there with Ollie when I turn to the side.
“My cousin looks fancier than I do,” I say, reaching over to give Niko a hug, then Ollie.
“That suit isfire,” Kieran agrees, greeting them afterward.
“Drinks, gentleman? Virgin mojitos and Arnold Palmers,” a caterer says, lowering a silver tray of cocktail glasses in front of us.
We each grab a glass and then Noah walks over, grinning at us and pulling out a flask from his pocket. His dark hair is slicked back and looks fancy, but one lock is already falling down, in typical chaotic Noah fashion.
“Hey, boys,” he says, shaking the flask. “The official cocktails all had to be served virgin since we’re in a campus building, but I’ve got the hook-up.”
Noah pours clear liquor into each of our glasses.
“Tell your parents we said killer job on the dinner this year,” Kieran tells him.
I glance at him as he talks to Noah, already getting a little uncomfortable worrying that Kieran is going to start interrogating him.
Please, just be civil for one night, Kier.
At our last Double Daggers house meeting, we expressly decided that we needed to be chill with Onyx House until we saw the results of the alumni dinner. Kieran agreed not to fight, and to be kind to Roman Petrov tonight if they interact.
Noah nods. “They said the theme of the party this year should be silver and gold, and… they sure as fuck accomplished that.”
Kieran nods. “I assume your parents also gifted bricks and bricks ofliteralsilver and gold to some of the CEOs here tonight, too?”