One of Them Girls

  One Of Them Girls

  Cala Riley

  Contents

  1. Xavier

  2. Xavier

  3. Xavier

  4. Cassi

  5. Cassi

  6. Cassi

  7. Cassi

  8. Cassi

  9. Cassi

  10. Cassi

  11. Cassi

  12. Cassi

  13. Cassi

  14. Cassi

  15. Cassi

  16. Cassi

  17. Cassi

  18. Cassi

  19. Cassi

  Epilogue

  Author Bio

  Acknowledgments

  Also by Author

  Copyright© 2021 by Cala Riley All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher, except brief quotes used for reviews and certain other non-commercial uses, as per copyright laws. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Cover Photo and formatting done by: Books and Moods

  Editing done by: My Brothers Editor

  Julie, for being the ultimate cheerleader. We love you.

  Cala & Riley

  1

  Xavier

  “Hey, man,” Jack calls out to someone as we walk through the house party.

  Part of me is surprised that he knows so many people already. We’ve only been here a week.

  “Hey Jack, who’s this guy?” some random guy asks.

  “My roommate, Xavier. He’s new to Texas.”

  I half-wave while looking around, taking in the scene before me. I don’t know why I was thinking a house party here with college kids would be any different. It’s just like any other house party. Well, except the ones back at Brighton. That has more to do with the wealth being thrown around than the actual party itself.

  I follow Jack through the house and into the kitchen where two kegs are on ice and a counter full of liquor.

  “Here’s a beer.” Jack shoves a cup in my hand. “Try to enjoy yourself.”

  I take the beer, making my way to the edge of the room. Finding an open spot, I lean against the wall.

  It’s your run-of-the-mill frat house. Small rooms with furniture pushed against walls to make more room. I let my eyes wander over the dance floor. Mostly women gyrating against one another, casting quick glances to the guys standing around watching. A couple of the guys have joined in on the fun, their hands sliding all over their partners’ bodies.

  One couple breaks off, heading upstairs.

  I shake my head and take a sip of the warm beer. Gross. I set it down on the floor next to me and continue to people watch.

  I suppose this is better than staring at my ceiling.

  A couple of the girls try to catch my eye, but I’m quick to avoid them. I don’t need any drama, and these girls have drama written all over them.

  My phone buzzes in my pocket. Taking it out, I see a text from Tinsley. I had texted her earlier, letting her know I was going out.

  Tinsley: Yay! I’m so glad you went out. Have fun and tell me all about it tomorrow. Finley says don’t forget to wrap it before you tap it.

  I chuckle. Finley would say that. I’m about to respond when a body runs into mine.

  I look up from my phone to tell the person to fuck off, but freeze.

  Her eyes trap me in their gaze. She’s gorgeous. Her head comes up to my shoulders, so she has to lean her head back to look at me.

  Her long, blonde hair is curled, falling down her back, highlighting her bright blue-green eyes looking up at me expectantly.

  What does she want?

  I don’t know, but I sure as fuck might be willing to give it to her.

  My heart beats heavy in my chest. This is the first time since her I’ve felt anything for a woman.

  Fuck.

  “Hey, babe. There you are.” Her hands settle on my chest.

  Absentmindedly, my hands fall to her hips. I stay silent, questioning what she’s doing.

  “This is the guy you’re meeting up with?”

  I glance over her shoulder as I see a guy Jack introduced me to earlier.

  She leans up, kissing the side of my mouth and damn it if I don’t want to turn into her, but I stay still.

  “Yep. This is the new guy I’ve been dating. So as you can see, you can run along.”

  Suspicion lines his eyes, so I pull her closer and whisper in her ear, “Giggle like I’m telling you something dirty. He’s not buying your act.”

  On cue, she giggles, pressing her body even closer to mine. Then she leans up and whispers in my ear, “My name’s Cassandra.”

  “Xavier,” I respond.

  And just like that, we are having our own private conversation in whispers. I glance once more over her shoulder to see the guy stomp off.

  “Your ex just stomped off. I think you’re in the clear.”

  She leans back, rolling her eyes. “He’s not my ex. It’s a long story. I should go home though. I knew it was a bad idea to show up here.”

  She pulls out of my grip.

  “Let me walk you out,” I tell her.

  “No, you don’t need to do that. Really.” I see a faint blush cover her cheeks.

  “What kind of guy would I be if I didn’t even walk my girl out?” I quirk an eyebrow.

  She smiles. “I guess you’re right.”

  I wrap my arm around her shoulder as I escort her to the door. I give a two-finger wave to Jack as we move through the party. He gives me a confused look, but waves back.

  I watch as she gives her own across the room goodbye to a girl, but instead of confusion, she gets a thumbs up.

  Once outside and a few houses down, Cassandra shrugs out of my embrace. I give her a little distance.

  “This is weird,” she says, breaking the silence. “I shouldn’t be going anywhere with you really, let alone let you know where I live. I can hear my brother cursing me for my idiocy.”

  I chuckle. “You’re right. You shouldn’t be out walking with a stranger and leading him back to your place. It’s dangerous. You know what else is dangerous? Rescuing a damsel in distress only to find out she’s luring me to her den. Maybe I should be the one worried.”

  She lets out a full-body laugh, shaking from the intensity. Making me laugh with her.

  “That’s a good one.” She reaches out to pat my arm.

  “You can never be too careful. I mean, you have a crazy ex that I had to save you from. Who’s to say he isn’t following us, waiting to beat my ass then rob me?”

  This time she lets out a small laugh, looking a little uncomfortable. “He’s not my ex,” she repeats. “He’s my brother’s best friend. It’s a really long and complicated story I’d prefer not to get into.”

  Baggage.

  She has a lot of emotional baggage. I get that. I don’t really want to get into my shit either, so I change the subject.

  “Ah. I see. Little sister has guards. Guess I should be more careful around you. They could pop out from anywhere.” I jump as if I saw something in the shadows, pushing her in front of me as a shield.

  She lets out another genuine laugh. “How chivalrous. Push me in the way.”

  I hold up my hands in surrender. “Hey. They’re your bodyguards. They’re unlikely to hurt you. I’m trying to preserve this pretty face.”

  As she laughs, I watch as the last bit of sadness leaves her body.

  “No bodyguards. Just trying to get him to realize I’m a big girl. I can take c
are of myself. He’s having a problem seeing that.”

  “Ah, that I understand,” I reply, thinking of Tinsley and her brothers.

  My phone buzzes in my pocket, but I make no move to look at it.

  “You can answer it, you know. It might be important.”

  I pull out my phone and see a video message from Tinsley.

  Speak of the devil.

  I swipe the screen, starting the video.

  “It’s so beautiful here. You would love it. Wish you were here.”

  “But kinda glad you’re not.”

  “Finley! Love you, X! Have fun!”

  The video stops and I laugh, shoving my phone back into my pocket.

  “Girlfriend?” Cassandra asks, side-eyeing me as we walk.

  “Nah, not my girlfriend. It was my best friend, Tinsley, and her man Finley.” I shrug.

  “Anything ever happen between you two?” she asks, looking forward.

  “Nah, not really. Her heart always belonged to Fin, and it was obvious to everyone but him.”

  “So a guy can really be friends with a girl without falling in love with her, huh?”

  “I guess so.”

  We fall into silence as we walk side-by-side. I think about the girl I lost.

  Can you really lose someone when they were never yours to begin with?

  “So, tell me something about yourself Cassandra?” I say, breaking the silence.

  “What do you want to know?”

  “How old are you? Have you figured out a major yet? The typical stuff.”

  “Well, I’m eighteen. I’m from a small town nearby and I’m not completely set on a major yet. You?”

  “Eighteen, from New York but moved from the Chicago area, and I’m majoring in education.”

  “Long way from home,” she teases, making me laugh.

  “Yeah, it’s a little different here than what I’m used to.” I rub my jaw.

  “Well.” Cassandra slows her pace. “This is me.” She points to the building next to me.

  “Then it looks like I got you home safe.”

  “You did, such a gentleman.” She smiles. “Maybe I’ll see you around sometime,” she says, walking backward toward her building.

  “You probably will.” I shove my hands into my pockets and nod at the door. “I’ll walk away once you’re inside.”

  “Nice meeting you, Xavier,” she calls over her shoulder, stepping inside the building.

  “Nice meeting you too, Cassandra,” I murmur to myself.

  As I walk home, I think about the pretty blonde girl and not once do I think about the one who usually consumes my thoughts.

  Cassi

  “Where did you disappear off to last night?” Rebecca, my roommate, asks as soon as I come in from my classes.

  “Jared was being an asshole, so I left,” I tell her.

  “From what I hear, you have a new boyfriend you left with,” she teases.

  “More like some poor sap that got sucked into my drama with Jared.”

  “Tell me everything. Jared was pissed when you left. Then Samantha said she saw you leave with that yummy guy from out east.”

  I roll my eyes. Of course, Samantha knows about Xavier. She’s always on the hunt for her next great romance. The hotter, the better, and Xavier’s the embodiment of hot as fuck.

  “Jared was on my case about dating again. I told him I was seeing someone else. He didn’t believe me and I was just so sick and tired of his bitching, so I told him I was meeting my date at the party. That turned into me walking up to a stranger and pretending he was my date. Thank goodness he was kind enough to play along with it.”

  She laughs. “So Mr. Hottie agreed to pretend to be dating you. Maybe he is interested in dating you.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me.

  “He probably thinks I’m crazy or a loser after last night,” I grumble.

  I don’t hate the idea of dating Xavier, but after last night, I’m sure he finds me certifiable.

  “He left the party with you right?”

  “Yeah. He offered to walk me home.”

  “See, maybe he was into you.”

  “I don’t know, the whole thing was crazy. And I can’t even blame alcohol because I hadn’t even drunk anything.”

  She whistles. “You know how to go big, babe.”

  “I know, right? Now Jared is going to be hounding me about him, and what can I even say? Pretend I’m still dating him when I’m sure he will turn the other way anytime we meet?”

  “I don’t know why you put up with Jared’s bullshit.” Rebecca shakes her head.

  My heart pangs. “You know why.”

  She rolls her eyes. “I get it, but eventually that conversation needs to happen.”

  “I know,” I sigh loudly. “Not yet though. Change of subject, what kind of trouble did you stir up last night?”

  -

  2

  Xavier

  I can’t get her out of my head.

  Cassandra.

  It was refreshing to meet such an honest girl so comfortable with herself. I’m kicking myself for not asking for her number, but I thought that would be creepy.

  It’s probably for the best. She has some unresolved issues with the asshole from the party, anyway. Best not to get myself caught up in that drama. Been there, done that.

  “Hey man, I saw you leave the party with little Cassandra Davis,” Jack says as he comes back into our shared room.

  I let her name roll around in my head. Cassandra Davis. It suits her. I wonder how many Cassandra Davis’ there are on social media.

  Shaking my head. “Yeah, I walked her home,” I say noncommittally as I continue reading my textbook.

  “She’s been marked off-limits by Jared. You might have some issues there.”

  I glance up at him. “I can handle myself. Besides, there’s nothing there.”

  “Uh-huh. She’s not some smoking hot blonde with legs for days, an ass that you could live off of, and a chest that makes grown men weep.”

  I chuckle. “She’s hot, but I don’t think any woman’s worth the drama.”

  “No matter what you say, he thinks you’re hitting that. He was beyond pissed after you left with her.”

  I shrug. “Not my problem what he believes.”

  “Right,” he says. “We’re going to Saddle Up Saloon tonight. You in?”

  “Sure. Why not?” I tell him.

  Last night wasn’t overly exciting, but I can’t keep cooping myself up in this room. Jack’s been a good friend so far.

  Or maybe Cassandra will be there.

  “Great. We are leaving at seven. If you’ve got a fake ID, bring it. They won’t serve you without it.”

  I shake my head. “How about I drive and be your DD?”

  “My brother. We can take my car though in case I need to get my dick wet, which we both know I will.” He smirks.

  “With a mouth like that, I can’t possibly see how a woman can turn you down,” I deadpan.

  “Right? The ladies love them some Jack.”

  “Whatever, man. Now shut up, I need to finish these assignments if you want me to go anywhere.”

  “Man, you study too much. You need to lighten up.”

  I don’t respond as he grabs a couple of things before leaving.

  He doesn’t get it. He doesn’t have parents like mine. His mom calls him on Sundays and fusses over him and if he’s happy. His father talks football with him and asks how his training is going, but never once asks him about his grades.

  My parents? I’m lucky if I hear from my mother outside of holidays and my father would kill me if I got anything less than an A.

  There are only a couple of routes you can go as a Walsh man. Lawyer, doctor, or businessman. He was pissed when he found out I wanted to teach.

  I haven’t heard from him since I declared my major. I don’t give a fuck though.

  At least that’s what I tell myself.

  I haven’t forgiven him for trying to push me o
n Tinsley last year or the deal he made with her father, but the need to impress him is ingrained in my system. The thought of disappointing him still makes my skin itch.

  Hours later, Jack comes back, finding me in the same position I was in with a different textbook when he left.

  “Okay, man. Studying is done. We’re going to get food, then I’m going to get blitzed. You ready?”

  “Yeah, man.” I shut my textbook, getting up to pull a T-shirt on.

  I slip on my shoes and grab my wallet.

  We make our way to his truck, a single cab old Chevy that has seen better days.

  Another big difference I’ve seen in Texas. No one drives the flashy cars I’m used to. Even if they have money to buy a new one, they stick with their old trucks instead.

  I asked Jack about his truck once. He said it was a family heirloom, passed down from his grandfather, to his father, and now to him. He said he wouldn’t dream of buying a new one.

  “Run it ‘til the wheels fall off,” were his exact words.

  It’s such a different mentality, but one that’s slowly growing on me. I don’t feel the pressure to prove my worth based on what I wear or drive. Or how much is in my father’s bank account.

  It’s refreshing. No one cares who I am or who my father is. Jack isn’t friends with me because of the perks he can get from me.

  He’s just a chill guy who has taken me under his wing because I’m his roommate.

  He thinks I’m the poor one.

  He said that to me once, actually. I tried to buy him dinner, and he said that I didn’t have to do that around here. No one cares what money I have. That I might be rich beyond my wildest dreams, but if I didn’t have good friends and a good family life, then I was the poor one.

  Then he paid for my dinner.