One ten-minute phone call with my mother and my entire night when to absolute shit. I should be downstairs with friends enjoying the party they've thrown for me.

Instead, I'm lying in my dark bedroom alone, with a pounding headache. My mood was officially killed, Claire Heyward has a habit of sucking the joy out of people.

I should've listened to my gut and ignored her calls like I usually do. I know that sounds bad but, if you knew my mother you'll understand why.

Nothing good comes from speaking to her, she only calls when she has an agenda and tonight was no exception.

A small part of me, that little boy inside of me who still craved his mother's love and attention hoped that she was calling to wish me a happy birthday. That she gave a fuck about anyone but herself.

That's the thing about hope though, it sets you up for disappointment. And my mother is still the same self-centered, manipulative bitch she'd always been.

The reason for my mother's call tonight, was the same reason for her more frequent calls lately, Melody Porter.

Melody was the girl my mother deem perfect for me. More like the Porter's were the perfect family to be connected to ours. Like our family wasn't rich and powerful enough being a political family and all.

This summer while I was home she made it her mission to push us together every chance she got. She'd already married off my asshole of an older brother Alex to a person of her choice and now it's my turn.

Even if I was open to the idea of relationships, Melody would be last on my list of potential girlfriends.

She was a spoiled, entitled, swallow, brat who thought the world revolved around her. And you'd think that would have stopped me from sleeping with her, but I still did even though I knew it was a bad idea.

Now I'm paying the price for my inability to keep my dick in my pants. Because she won't leave me the hell alone.

She's been blowing up my phone ever since and when I finally blocked her, she called my mom.

I mean is she fucking five years old? What twenty-two-year-old does that shit? And my mother took great pleasure in calling to remind me of what a fuck up I am.

I should've known she was lying when she said she was okay with it being a one-time thing. Because I don't do relationships ships nor do I fuck the same girl twice. It was more trouble than it's worth.

Melody probably thought she'd be the one to change me as did a lot of girls. That I'll stop fucking around for them.

Like that'll ever happen. I know I sound like an asshole but it is what it is.

The thing time I tried a relationship with the girl I thought was the 'One' and she stamped all over my heart.

Now I'll never change my stance on relationships and love for any girl.

The turning of my doorknob broke me out of my thoughts. My eyes shot open just as the door opened and a figure stepped into my room shutting the door behind them.

From the faint light coming from the bathroom, I could tell the silhouette belonged to a girl.

Great, I was not in the mood for some random girl sneaking into my room tonight. If it was any other night I'd be okay with it, hell I'd even welcome it but not tonight.

I flicked on the lamp sitting on my nightstand casting a warm glow through the room.

"What the hell are you doing in my room," I demanded in a harsh voice.

A loud shriek erupted from her mouth just before she spun around facing me with a hand over her heart and a startled look on her face.

That's when I recognized her as Gen, Mia's roommate she brought to the bar last week.

Gen looked even more gorgeous than I remembered. My eyes slowly raked over her tall slender frame from head to toe. My gaze zeroed in on how fantastic her breast looked pushed up in the crop top she was wearing. She looked sexy as hell.

She was strikingly beautiful, with light brown skin, vivid blue-green eyes, and long, thick, curly hair that fell a few inches shy of her waist.

The moment she entered the bar last week with Mia my eyes found her among the sea of bodies between us. My eyes remained locked on her, as well as half the guys in the bar as she walked towards our table.

A wheezing sound broke me out of my perusal of her body. My eyes shot to Gen's, whose eyes were wide. Her hand dropped from her heaving chest as she opened the purse hanging on her shoulder her movements a little frantic.

I jumped off the bed and rushed towards her, gripping one of her slender shoulders with my

hand.

I bent my head looking down at her as I spoke. "Holy shit, are you okay?" I wanted to slap myself as soon as the question left my mouth. Of course, she's not fucking okay you jackass she looks like she is about to fall over.

Ignoring my question she dipped her hand into her purse pulling out an inhaler. Removing the cap, she shook the inhaler before bringing it to her mouth and breathing in the medication.

Keeping one hand on her shoulder I guided her toward my bed. Sitting down she dropped the inhaler on my navy blue duvet cover as she steadied her breathing.

"Fuck, Gen, I didn't mean to frighten you," I said to her as I frantically ran my fingers through the messy black strands of my hair pulling at the roots. "Shit, I'm so fucking sorry," I apologize taking a seat next to her on the bed.

Lifting her head our eyes connected. "I'm fine," she said softly her voice sounding a little raspy.

"Do you mind if I use your bathroom?" she asked looking away as she got to her feet.

"Sure," without looking back or saying a word she turned and scurried off into the bathroom shutting the door behind her.

"Fuck," I said audibly my head dropping into my awaiting palms.

This night is turning out to be a fucking disaster.

I wasn't sure how much time had passed when the sound of the bathroom door opening caused my head to snap up. Dropping my hands flat on the bed my eyes locked on Gen as stepped out of the bathroom.

"Thanks, I thought I was going to pee myself for a while back there," she chuckled lightly sounding much better than before like that last few minutes never happen.

Coming to a stop at the edge of my bed she shot me a small smile. "Happy birthday by the way."

"Thanks," I replied. "Again, I'm really fucking sorry, I didn't mean to scare you, I taught someone was sneaking into my room," I explained.

She waved me off. "I'm fine, seriously, you just caught me off guard. I thought the room was empty," she shot me a sheepish smile before she continued. "I'm sorry for invading your space, the downstairs bathroom had a long line, and the one down the hall was occupied," she explained.

"And by occupied you mean someone was having sex in the bathroom?" I asked grinning at her.

She chuckled lightly. "Yup, from the noises I heard coming from outside that door I'm sure."

"Couples are always fucking in there, it's a regular occurrence whenever we throw a party," I laughed and relaxed a little feeling the tension slowly leaving my shoulders.

"Are you okay?" she asked her smile fading as her expression morphed into one of concern.

"Yeah, I'm good why'd you ask," I questioned a little confused by her abrupt change in topic.

She shrugged her shoulders. "Well, you're the birthday boy this party was thrown in your honor. Shouldn't you be downstairs partying with everyone else? Instead, you're lying in the dark, alone like some kind of creeper," she said teasingly.

"And I know you weren't downstairs with your friends because I've been here for an entire hour and I haven't seen you."

"Were you keeping an eye out for me Gen? You were hoping to see me?" I asked her a wide smile spreading across my lips.

"No, I wasn't," she answered quickly, licking her pink lips nervously.

From the quick way she responded, I knew she was lying and that pleased me more than I cared to admit.

"Yes, you were," I teased a smirk curling at the edge of my lips.

She rolled her eyes but from the way her lips twitched I could tell she was suppressing a smile. "Wipe that damn smirk off your face." she huffed glaring at me playfully.

I chuckled, deciding to let it go. For now.

I sighed as scooted further up on the bed leaning my back on the headboard and stretching out my legs. "I had a migraine, the light makes it worst. Hence why I'm lying in the dark like a creeper as you put it." I said leaving out the part about my mother being the reason for my migraine.

Nodding her head as if she understood but she didn't comment any further. We stared at each other in silence for a few moments.

She was the first to look away. Clearing her throat, she glanced over her shoulders at my bedroom door, then back to me, before pointing her thumb over her shoulder. "I should go, Mia's probably wondering where I am."

The last thing I wanted was for her to leave and go back downstairs. Don't ask me why that suddenly bothered me, because I don't have the answer. All I knew was that I wanted her to stay here with me. But I didn't say that, instead, I said, "Yeah, okay."

Without another word she turned on the heels of her sneakers and took a few steps towards the door before peeking at me over her shoulder. "Maybe I'll see you later?"

"Nah, I'm going to chill out here for the rest of the night."

She nodded. "Bye, Brooks, I guess I'll see you around," she said before striding towards the door just as she lifted her hand gripping the doorknob I found myself blurting out.

"Hey, Gen," at the sound of my voice her hand paused, lifting her head she peered at me expectantly over her shoulders.

"Stay and keep me company?" I asked I could see the hesitation on her face. Fearing she'd reject me I rushed on. "Come on, you're not going to let me spend my birthday alone are you?" I questioned flashing her a charming smile hoping she took pity on me.

With a sigh, she dropped her hand and turned around to face me. "If I stay I'm not having sex with you," she stated bluntly.

My eyebrows shot up at her statement. "I'm not saying this to sound like an asshole but if I wanted to have sex I could easily go downstairs and many girls will happily volunteer to have sex with me. That's not why I asked you to stay," I said honestly.

Well, that's not a complete lie. Do I want to fuck Gen? Hell yes, she's sexy as fuck but that's not why I asked her to stay and hang out with me.

I enjoy talking to her albeit our conversation was short, I want to continue talking to her, and get to know her. It's been a long ass time since I just wanted to have a conversation with a girl.

She rolled her eyes but swore I saw a flash of disappointment in her eyes before she covered it up.

She rolled her eyes. "You're a pig," she said playfully before stepping away from the door and making her way towards the bed.

Maybe tonight isn't a disaster after all.

I slid over to the other side of the bed making room for her. Stopping at the edge of the bed she bent over removing her sneakers. The position caused her breast to look like they were about to spill out of her top.

"Fuck, are you trying to kill me?" I said through gritted teeth.

"What?" she asked, confusion marring her pretty face as shifted her focus to me.

"You said no sex but you're bending over wearing that how I'm supposed to resist."

"Well that's simple have some self-control, I'm sure even you can manage that," she teased climbing onto the bed she sat in the spot I made for her. She stretched out her long jeans-clad legs while she leaned her head back on the headboard her gaze falling on me.

"What's that suppose to mean?" I asked.

"It means that I've heard stories about you floating around campus, you're a manwhore."

"Everything you heard about me is lies" I joked, but I'm sure everything she heard about me was true I do fuck around a lot.

"Mhmm," she hummed. "I bet," she said obviously not believing a word coming out of my mouth.

"So, I'm surprised you came tonight, Nate said you rarely go out," I told her.

"You can thank Mia for that, strong-armed me into coming tonight," she said smiling at me.

"I could see that, she's bossy as fuck." I answered returning her smile.

"You're telling me," she replied.

"So how long have you guys known each other?" I inquired.

"We grew up together actually she's like the sister I've never had," she said smiling fondly.

"How about you and Nate?" she asked.

"We met in high school, at football tryouts our freshman year," I told her.

"So, if you didn't come tonight what would you be doing right now?" I asked breaking the silence.

She shrugged. "Reading or maybe binge-watching criminal minds." I scrunched up my face at the mention of that creepy show.

"That show is creepy as hell," I remarked causing a laugh to escape her plump lips.

"No it's not," she grinned at me. "Not you too, you sound just like Mia she hates it."

"I saw an episode, where this lady was kidnapping women, drugging them up with something to cause paralysis, and dressing them up like dolls so she can have tea parties."

I looked at her with a lifted eyebrow. "Now tell me that's not creepy," I challenged.

She lifted her thumb and index finger leaving a tiny space between them. "Okay, maybe it's a little creepy" she conceded.

And that was how the next forty minutes passed. We joked, laugh, and talked about our favorite shows and the music we like to listen to.

We talked about any and everything. The conversation flowed so seamlessly between us, it was like we'd known each other for a long time. And every second that passed I like her more and more and that scared the fuck out of me.

"What's Gen short for?" I asked her out of the blue cutting off whatever she was saying.

"Who said it's short for something. Why can't it just be Gen?" she challenged.

"Is it just Gen?" I asked, albeit I highly doubted it was.

"No," I blew out an exasperated breath at her response causing her to laugh. "Okay, make a guess," she amended.

"Genevieve, Geneva, Genna umm that's all I could think of," I admitted.

"All wrong, it's Genesis." Huh, Genesis, I would've never guessed that.

"Genesis," I said her name testing it out. "I like it, it suits you."

"How, so?" she asked curiously.

"It's different," I responded.

"Are you trying to say I'm different?"

"Yeah," I confessed. Gen is different she was the first girl to pique my interest since Brielle.

My eyes slowly traced over her features admiring her thick neatly shaped eyebrows, long thick eyelashes, high cheekbones, and her button nose that had a scattering of cinnamon-colored freckles across the bridge.

But her most stunning feature was her eyes. Pale green with a ring of deep ocean blue circling the edge.

"Are you done staring at me?" she asked breaking me out of my staring. Her eyes were lit up with amusement when I looked up at her.

"Shut up," I grinned as I lifted my finger poking at the sliver of bare skin showing above her jeans.

A high-pitched noise that sounded like a mixture between a screech and a giggle fell from her lips, at my touch.

My eyes widened. "What the hell was that?" I asked looking down at her as I attempted to swallow my laughter.

"I'm very ticklish in that spot," she confessed a faint blush spreading across her cheeks as our eyes locked together.

Her eyes were looking a little glossy from laughing the blue-green color brighter than ever. Fuck I wanted to kiss her. Before I could stop myself I ran the pad of my thumb across her plump bottom lip causing her to suck in a sharp breath.

"Brooks," she exhaled against my thumb. The breathy sound of my name on her lips caused my dick to stiffen beneath my jeans.

I brought my gaze back to her eyes waiting for her to stop me when she didn't. I sat up resting my hands on both sides of her head caging her in. Lifting one of my hands to the side of her face I gently cupped her cheek brushing my thumb over her cheekbone.

Just as I leaned down to press my lips to hers. My bedroom door flew open. "Hey, fucker you're missing the party," a familiar voice shouted behind me.

Fuck, I'm going to kill him.