Chapter 6 – First Party Invite

Chapter 6 – First Party Invite (Dante POV)

The bass rattled the walls before we even reached the door. Typical Friday night—cheap beer, sticky floors, some idiot trying to impress with half-broken speakers. I should’ve been used to it by now. But this time was different.

This time I had Eli trailing behind me.

He looked like a deer about to bolt, clutching the strap of his bag like someone might swipe it the second he let go. Too neat for a party like this—collared shirt buttoned all the way up, curls fighting gravity, eyes darting over the crowd already spilling onto the lawn.

“Relax,” I muttered, shoving my hands into my pockets as we crossed the porch. “No one’s gonna eat you.”

He shot me a look, wide-eyed, half terrified, half offended. “You didn’t tell me it would be… this.”

“This is college.” I smirked, pushing open the door.

Heat, beer, perfume, sweat—everything hit at once. A couple made out against the hallway wall. Someone screamed with laughter from the kitchen. Music throbbed through the floor. Eli stiffened beside me, and for some reason I felt a twist in my chest.

Maybe dragging him here wasn’t smart.

But I’d told myself he needed this. Needed to loosen up, meet people, stop hiding behind Shakespeare and essays. That was the excuse, anyway. The truth? I wanted to see what he’d do in my world.

“Cruz!” someone shouted, and a teammate clapped me hard on the back. “You made it!”

I nodded, went through the motions—fist bumps, half-smiles, the usual performance. But my eyes kept flicking to Eli, who lingered just behind me, scanning the room like a soldier in hostile territory.

He was out of place, yeah. But God, he was noticeable.

Not because he was flashy—hell no. He stood out because he wasn’t trying.

And that’s when it happened. A guy I vaguely recognized—business major, frat leech—drifted too close to him. Leaned in, said something I couldn’t hear over the music. Eli gave a polite smile, shoulders tightening.

I felt my jaw clench.

It wasn’t my business. Eli wasn’t mine. Still, the sight of someone else leaning into his space lit a fuse I didn’t even know was there.

I cut in without thinking, sliding between them with a practiced grin. “Hey,” I said, slapping the guy’s shoulder like we were old friends. “You good?”

The guy blinked, read my stance, then raised his hands. “All good, man.” He backed off quick.

Eli blinked at me, startled. “What was that?”

“Nothing.” I shrugged, trying to play it off. “He was annoying you.”

“I wasn’t—” He stopped, his lips pressed tight. Then he tilted his head, studying me like I’d just exposed something I didn’t want seen.

Dangerous.

“Come on.” I grabbed two cups from the counter, shoved one into his hand. “Drink. It’ll help.”

He frowned at the cup like it contained poison. “What’s in it?”

I laughed, shaking my head. “Don’t worry, it’s just beer.”

He sniffed it, grimaced, and muttered, “You people drink this voluntarily?”

I almost choked on my own sip. “You’re unbelievable.”

But the corner of his mouth twitched, like he was fighting not to smile.

That small flicker hit harder than it should’ve. In the middle of chaos—music pounding, people pressing in, voices blurring—Eli’s reluctant almost-smile cut through like it was meant only for me.

I had to look away. Had to distract myself with the game of beer pong starting nearby, the call of my teammates, the crowd chanting names. Anything but the fact that my stupid roommate was messing with my focus more than a championship game ever could.

He didn’t belong here, but somehow he was the only thing I saw.

And that scared the hell out of me.