Read Hope for Her (Hope #1) for Free Online

the street. It was the hottest party in town.
    As we entered, the smell of sweat hit me in the face, and the dim lighting made it hard to see through the fog. With the music thumping and lights flashing, it gave the impression of a rave and not a house party. When I surveyed the crowd, faces blended together along with swaying bodies. The loud music vibrated in my chest, and I suddenly regretted taking my last shot.
    I grabbed Jessica's shirttail, put my head down, and followed her into the center of the house. We approached the steps, which led to a loft over the back part of the grand room. Halfway up the stairs, I spotted Josh coming down. I hid my face and turned and found Jackson, hanging over the railing, scanning the crowd. I lowered my head and hid behind Jessica before he spotted me. Jessica continued up the stairs, and I froze. Jackson’s megawatt smile appeared and disappeared a second later, when Josh reached out and pulled me into his arms.
    ***
    Joshua Elijah Griffin, IV
    I decided not to stress. Our first conversation ended in disaster, but she was right. Inviting a girl on a first date to a party smelled of insecurity. She intimidated me. No, if I was completely honest with myself, dating Carrington scared the shit out of me.
    I helped the other brothers prepare for the party and somehow my date became the pre-party topic of conversation.
    "You have dated a girl, before," Kevin said, grinning from ear to ear at his own joke. Kevin went to Brentmore, too. Graduated a year before Jackson and me.
    "Shut up, man." I pushed him away and moved the table into the other room.
    The brothers had gathered in the main room, putting away the fragile stuff and clearing out the furniture in preparation for the party. During rush, the parties started at crazy. If by the end of the night the police weren't called, it was considered a good night.
    "Guys, wait until you see her. She's beautiful." I smiled when I thought about her.
    "She's just a girl, Joshua," Kevin said. "Flash her your family crest, and she'll drag you upstairs herself."
    "It's not like that. I like this girl."
    I was a little apprehensive about bringing Carrington here since PKP was a predominately white fraternity. We’d had minorities pledge in the past, but there were not any in the current class. Jackson's teammates hung out at the house a lot, and our parties welcomed everyone, but I wasn't sure how the brothers would respond to someone dating an African American girl. There was also the possibility that one of them would want her for himself—after all, Carrington was hot.
    "Come on guys, stop teasing our boy here," Jackson said putting me in a headlock.
    "Jackson, which unsuspecting freshman do you have your sights on?"
    “I decided not to make a claim until next week. Give you guys a chance.”
    "You jealous, Kevin?" I asked.
    "Jealous of you?" he said and scoffed.
    "More like envious," Jackson said. "He tries so hard and still can't get a girl to go upstairs with him."
    “Fuck you, Jackson Latre." We both stopped and glared at Kevin. Jackson hated to be called Jackson Latre. His mom named him after a character in a chic flick that took place in Louisiana where she grew up.
    Kevin was a royal prick, but personality was never taken into consideration during the selection process. His father was a senator.
    "Brothers, please. Must we participate in this juvenile ‘mine's bigger than yours’ game all the time?" Randolph walked into the main room carrying one side of the keg.
    "Sorry brother," we said in unison.
    "Besides, everyone knows I get first dibs on any female who enters this house. It is my right as the president." Randolph slapped me on the back, and the guys laughed.
    I could tell already; this was going to be a long night.
    #
    I tried to enjoy myself at the party, but my mind kept wandering. I kept one eye on the front door, waiting for Carrington to arrive, and the other on the bar.
    I planned to take her for a walk as soon as she