Daddies Brat

Book Title: Beneficial Roomates

Leslie

It was just supposed to be a fun night out. Blowing off some steam at a college party before the fall semester started on Monday. I certainly didn’t intend to hook up with anyone.

But fate-or the randomness of the universe, or whatever you wanted to call it-had other ideas.

“Oh, I’ve missed you, Leslie!” my best friend Erin said, putting an arm around me as we walked to the party. “What was the big disastrous news you wanted to tell me? Were you not able to enroll in all the classes you need?”

“It’s my living situation,” I told her. “The dorm office totally fucked me over.”

“Oh no!”

“Back in March, I signed up for student housing,” I explained. “Usually, it’s reserved for underclassmen, but I was able to get a senior exemption. They assigned me to Franklin Dorm, third floor. Everything was great.

Well, a week ago I emailed the office to ask about getting a parking pass. The asshole on the phone says I’m not registered at Franklin Dorm. I’m not in the system at all. Long story short, a month ago they took my room away and gave it to some freshman.”

“Those motherfuckers!”

“They kicked me to the curb a week before classes start. And this asshole lectured me on the phone about dorms being reserved for freshmen and sophomores, as if I didn’t already know that. If they had just denied my senior exemption back in March, I would have had time to get an apartment. But now I’m basically homeless.”

Erin squeezed me into a sideways hug as we walked along. “I would let you stay with me, but it’s already too crowded. I can talk to the other girls and see if they’re cool with you crashing on the couch, but it would only be for a few days…”

“Hopefully, I won’t need that,” I replied. “I found a room for rent on Craigslist. It’s a big house with three other girls living in it. I got lucky, I guess. It was the only option I could find.” I paused. “Well, there was one other option. An older couple was offering a room to a college student. But their vibe was weird when I talked to them on the phone. They asked what I

look like, if I had a boyfriend, weird stuff like that. I think they’re swingers looking for a third.” Even though the night was pleasant, I shivered.

“Hey,” Erin said with a grin. “That doesn’t sound too bad.”

“They’re in their sixties!” I shot back at her. “The man is retired! He said he would be around the house all day in case I needed help studying.”

“Don’t kink-shame,” Erin teased. “Some of us are into freaky stuff.”

“I’m into plenty of stuff, freaky or otherwise. But I have zero interest in hooking up with a couple that is old enough to be my grandparents.”Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

“So you moved in with those three girls?”

“Dad’s driving up to help me move in tomorrow. I’m staying at a hotel tonight.”

“Do the girls seem nice?”

“I guess. I haven’t met any of them. But Harper, the girl who posted the ad, seems really sweet, based on her texts.”

Erin shot me a sideways glare. “You better not replace me as your bestie.” “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

The party was in a residential neighborhood a few blocks from campus, close to all the sorority and fraternity houses. Thumping music drifted from most of the houses we passed; everyone was throwing a party tonight, the Saturday before classes began.

When we reached our party, we had to stand in line to get in. That was weird; most of these parties had the front door open and anyone could waltz right inside. But when we got to the front, we soon realized why.

“Let’s see some IDs,” a guy in a frat shirt said.

I blinked. “Seriously? You’re carding people?”

“Cops have been cracking down lately,” he replied simply. “If we get busted again, we’ll lose our charter.” He held out his palm.

Erin glanced at me. “What if she flashes her tits?”

The pseudo-bouncer flicked his eyes between us. “You serious?”

“She’s joking,” I said, reaching into my skirt pocket. “Here’s my ID.”

Erin’s eyes were wide and fearful as I handed it over. The guy scanned the ID. “Lauren Bloomfeld?” “In the flesh,” I replied.

He paused a little longer to examine it, and I held my breath. I didn’t think a frat guy checking IDs at a house would make any trouble for me, but things hadn’t gone my way lately…

“Cool,” he said, handing it back to me. Then he checked Erin’s ID. “Keg’s in the back. Bottled beer is in the garage fridge.” I hurried past him before he could change his mind.

“When did you get a fake ID?” Erin whispered as we walked inside.

“My brother’s friend got it for me this summer. I don’t turn twenty-one until November. I am not waiting that long to drink.”

“Atta girl. Speaking of which…” A guy was walking by with two red solo cups of beer in his hands. Erin took them from him and said, “That was so sweet of you!” She leaned closer to him. “Come find me later and maybe

I’ll repay you.”

He gave a nervous laugh as we walked away with his beers.

“God, it feels good to be back on campus,” Erin said. “Even if it is our last year here.”

In my three years here, I had learned that most college parties were the same. Someone blasted music from too-loud speakers on the first floor, while people danced in a few of the nearby rooms. Beer pong tables were setup in the garage, while the backyard was reserved for cornhole and other drinking games.

Erin knew one of the guys who lived here, which was how we got invited. We’d been coming to parties here for the past year, and tonight was one of the biggest crowds we had ever seen. Everyone was back from summer break and ready to let loose.

I liked it here at Coastal California College, or The Three-C as everyone called it. And it felt good to be back after a summer spent slinging scoops at an ice cream shop in Flagstaff, where I was from. I didn’t party as much as Erin, or even as much as your average college kid. But every now and again, it was nice to go wild. Especially before my life became overwhelmed with term papers and exams.

“So,” Erin said as we finished our first beers and got a refill at the keg. “You looking to hook up tonight?”

“Not the first night back,” I replied. “I just want to get a good buzz and enjoy the college vibe.”

“Girl, you need to get laid,” she said, handing me a refilled cup of beer.

“Why do you say that?” I asked as we moved away from the keg line.

“Your last boyfriend was way back in March. You only hooked up with three guys on Tinder this summer, and I suspect you’re lying about the number and it was actually just one guy.”

“Okay, I did lie,” I admitted. “But it was two guys.”

“You’re a twenty-year-old woman, Leslie. According to internet pornography and creepy old swingers, you’re the ideal sexual age. You should be getting stirred like a jar of natural peanut butter every day.”

I laughed at the stupid metaphor. “I’m homeless. I don’t even have a place to bring a guy back to.”

“You have something better: a hotel room. Hotel room sex is the best sex, Leslie! That’s where you can get as dirty as you want and then both of you walk away the next morning!”

“I’m good, Erin. Not everyone has the same libido as you.”

“You’re no fun.” She glared at me. “But while we’re on the topic, yes, I need some good dick tonight.”

“In other words, it’s a normal night for you.”

She took a long gulp of beer and shook her head. “I want something different tonight. Not nice-guy dick. I want, like, cocky asshole dick. Fuck you so hard your toes curl, and then never call you again dick.”

“Good luck with that endeavor. I’ll spend tonight living vicariously through you.”

“Then I’m glad I brought my A-game.” She pushed her tits up in her bra. “I’m going to find Jason and say hi. I’ll be back in a few.”

I watched her maneuver through the crowd, then I returned to nursing my beer while swaying gently with the music. I was telling the truth when I told her I didn’t want to hook up tonight. It wasn’t that I disliked sex. On the contrary: I enjoyed it very much. But I didn’t need it as often as Erin did. She was twitchy like a meth addict if she went two days without her fix.

My vibrator is good enough, I thought. Most of the time.

I was nodding to myself at that thought when I saw him.

Over in the corner of the room, talking to another dude, was a tall guy who immediately drew my eye. He was a tall viking of a man, lanky and muscular at the same time. He had a strong jaw covered with a few days of a beard, and his thick blond hair hung down to his shoulders, swaying as he shook his head to his companion. Something primal stirred inside me at the sight of him.

Okay, I thought. My vibrator can’t compete with a man like that.