Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 167204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 557(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 167204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 557(@300wpm)
He’s well-built, though, that’s for sure. His T-shirt fits snug over his well-worked biceps. He’s tall and lean, with broad shoulders and a square jaw. He doesn’t look like a guy who gets into fights, but he doesn’t look like a guy you’d want to fight, either.
And Sleepy Dude confirms that impression for me when he takes one look at Ryan’s arm wrapped possessively around me, nods, and turns to go find another girl to talk to.
Ryan drops his arm as soon as the guy’s gone.
“Thanks,” I say, flashing him a smile. “Guys are taking this auction way more seriously than I expected them to. You’d think they’re bidding on actual dates with me.”
“They are,” Ryan says, casually grabbing my wrist and leading me through the crowd until he finds a corner free of people. “Why the hell did you agree to this?”
My eyes widen. “I… I don’t know. I wanted to help. What do you mean, they are? Sloane said they’re not really dates.”
“The Zetas do a date auction every year. Not usually under these circumstances, obviously, but it’s a regular event on their social calendar.” He holds up his program bent so the page with all our pictures is facing out. “This is basically an advertisement of who’s available. Your picture on this page tells every guy looking to bag himself a Zeta that you are one, and you’re up for grabs.”
My jaw unhinges, and I can’t even find words.
“Don’t listen to Sloane,” he says, shaking his head. “She’s not going to like you.”
If he hit me with a feather, I’d fall over. “Why? Until this stupid event, I’ve never even met her.”
“There you are.”
I’m still too stunned to hide it, but when Addison stops in front of me, I look over at her. “Does Sloane not like me?”
“Oh. I…” She looks at Ryan uncertainly.
“I shouldn’t have said that,” he says, shaking his head. “But you need to know not to listen to her. Anything she tries to rope you into, just assume she doesn’t have your best interest in mind.”
“Didn’t she tell you to bid on me tonight so I wouldn’t have to worry about other guys bidding on me anyway?”
“The opening bid doesn’t matter. I’m just kicking things off. And with the interest you’re getting, it’s going to be a bloodbath. Think of this auction as guys throwing their ceremonial hats in the ring.”
What?
I don’t know what to say. I feel like the rug has been pulled right out from under me.
“It doesn’t matter,” Addison says, shaking her head. “If things get too heated, I’ll jump out of line and bid on you myself. I won’t let you get roped into a date with any of these handsy pervs.”
I try to force a smile, but honestly, I feel sick to my stomach.
Not seeming to read the room, Vanessa rushes over to us with a bright smile. “Hey, babes!”
I bolster what’s left of the fake smile I gave Addison, but she doesn’t even notice. Her attention only brushed past us to land on Ryan.
“Is Dare here?” she asks him, bright-eyed and hopeful.
“No,” he says flatly.
Her smile dims slightly. “Is he—He’s coming, though, right?”
Sighing tiredly, he looks over at her. “Why would he come to this?”
Her smile droops even more. “Well… I told him I was going to be in the date auction tonight.”
“He doesn’t care.”
“He didn’t say he doesn’t care,” she snaps, and her smile turns into a scowl. “He didn’t say he wouldn’t come, either.”
“He probably thought you were smart enough to figure it out on your own. I’ll let him know he gave you too much credit.”
Vanessa crosses her arms, annoyed. “Why does everybody act like it’s so ridiculous that he could like me?”
“He has a goddamn girlfriend, Vanessa.”
“From high school! Who brings their high school girlfriend to college? Especially a guy like him. He should marry a Zeta like any self-respecting Blue—” She freezes, loses several shades of color in an instant, then turns and leaves without another word.
Addison watches her go, then she looks at me and sighs. “Most Zetas are great. And then there are the legacies,” she says, with a subtle nod in Vanessa’s direction.
“Her mom was a Zeta?”
Addison nods. “Her mom and dad met here freshman year and got married straight out of college. She’s determined to follow in their footsteps, but she got mesmerized by a pouty mouth and dark eyes and set her sights on the very wrong guy.”
Ryan shakes his head. “She has a better shot with Brynn.”
Addison smirks, but before she can comment, I spot Shelby Cunningham waving us over.
“Hey, I think we’re being called up,” I tell her, gesturing toward Shelby.
“Good luck husband shopping,” Ryan tells us.
Addison corrects him, gesturing to herself. “You mean wife shopping.”
His eyebrows rise and he points to his booklet. “This has a pink and blue border around your picture. You don’t go both ways?”