Chapter 10

The first week of classes went about like I expected. Our professors went over the syllabi and started the first lectures, which were all basic review. Some assigned homework. A few of my classmates sat eagerly on the edge of the seats but some looked so zoned out I wondered why they were there.

Nothing was particularly hard, though my chemistry lab promised to be more difficult than I’d anticipated. We’d been given a simple experiment, more designed to familiarize us with the equipment than anything. But my assigned lab partner spent most of his time just sitting on his stool staring into space. I had to ask him several times to pitch in. We still finished on time, but we were the last ones to leave.

After classes, we mostly hung out with some of the guys from the dorm. Len did suggest going to the rec center, and I accepted. We met Julie in the lobby and I realized he must’ve invited her, too. She was serious about her workout, which at first surprised me, but then I remembered she was a hardcore softball player. We ended up working out with her twice that week, but that’s all we saw of her.

We also ate breakfast a couple of times with Liz and Sandy. The conversation flowed but was far tamer than our night at the bar. I did spot Len and Sandy hanging out in the courtyard one afternoon, but they only waved as I headed up to the room.

Then Friday night, Len and I took second showers, put on some nicer than usual casual clothes, and headed out to Joey’s party.

Joey lived in one of the old 1950s houses on The Hill, only a couple of blocks from the stores. As we approached, we heard music coming from the backyard, which was the only clue there was a party going on. I didn’t see a gate, and we could clearly see that the main front door was open and the screen door ajar, so we headed up the walk.

Joey opened the screen door wide. “Hey, Mike!” He pulled me in for a big hug.

I was too shocked to do anything —Joey had never been a touchy-feely guy. But then he’d never been a guy to host a kegger, either. I’d been thinking about it and figured it had to be his roommates hosting it. But maybe people did change.

We pulled apart and Len extended his hand.

“I’m Len, Mike’s roommate.”

“Hey, I’m glad you could come.” He smiled at me. “I’ve got someone I want you to meet.”

Joey led us through the living room where the stereo played Blondie at a moderate volume and a half dozen people sat around talking. I heard laughter from the back, but not the roaring of drunks. We entered the kitchen where another handful of people stood around chatting. Bottles of hard liquor covered a table, but I barely noticed as Joey led us toward the hottest woman I’d ever seen.

I wondered what the joke was, until she broke off her conversation and smiled at him. When he reached her side, he gently touched the small of her back. She turned and he slid an arm around her.

My chin dropped. I quickly closed my mouth, but then my eyes bugged out.

I gave Len a quick sideways glance. He was staring, too.

“Guys,” Joey said, this is Carmen. Carmen—Mike and his roommate, Len.”

“Nice to meet you.” She extended her right hand while her left arm went around Joey possessively.

“You, too,” Len said. Apparently his brain had recovered faster than mine. He took her hand and shook it.

I just tried not to stare. Carmen made Cindy Crawford look plain. A tall, Hispanic brunette, she oozed sex. Her full breasts, covered with a tight scoop-neck top, just drew my eyes to her cleavage. Her hips were perfectly proportionate in a way Marilyn Monroe would’ve envied. Worse, she had one of those smiles that made you want to drop to your knees in worship.

The doorbell rang.

“Ah,” Joey said. “I gotta go. Keg’s in back.” As he reluctantly pulled away from Carmen, she smiled.

“Do you want me to introduce them to Britt?” she asked.

“Yeah,” Joey replied.

Someone called from the living room.

“I’ll catch up with you, okay?” Joey said.

We nodded, and then Carmen led us to the backyard.