Ramblings From Beneath The Sheets: Wait! by Stacey Nash Release Day Blitz

Title: Wait!

Series: Oxley College Saga #2

Author: Stacey Nash

Release Date: April 20, 2015

Synopsis

Jordan Hays knows just how precious life is; that’s why he has his own mapped out. He’ll work to pay his way through university while he studies hard, regardless of the constant distractions. Because when it comes to becoming a nurse, he’s deadly serious. He won’t fail to save someone again.

But Hex Penton is way too similar to the sister he lost, and even though the only thing more fun than stupid dares is the crazy girl who sets them, Jordan needs to make a choice. Hex believes every moment is important; every opportunity must be taken, because you never know when the world will be yanked out from underneath you. With the foundations he’s based his life on shaken, Jordan must discover what’s more important: making sure Hex’s life isn’t wasted, or remembering how to live his.

It’s time to play truth or dare.

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Excerpt

Admiring my nails, which were longer than they’d ever

been, I poured myself a liberal splash of vodka and mixed it with lemonade.

Liquid courage, that’s what this was, and I’d only need one more then I’d be

right to head downstairs to the party that was happening tonight. I didn’t

bother with the stupid meet-and-greet the senior guy said I must to attend. Mum

had only just left by the time five rolled around and I’d wanted to catch a

quick nap since we’d had an early start.

From my window, I could see people filling the

courtyard. The music blared loudly, dead opposite to the voices, I assumed.

Everyone looked a little awkward, standing around, cradling plastic cups as if

they were scared of each other. It wasn’t hard to pick out the seniors. They

all rocked massive smiles and worked the crowd.

I tipped my head back and downed the drink in a single

gulp. Well, only one way to make this crap downstairs bearable. Eeesh. The drink practically stole my

breath. I must have made it a bit strong.

A quick look in the mirror and everything was in

place—my hair looked pretty decent, shorts weren’t riding up my butt, and all

the essentials were tucked away beneath my tank top. Everyone had said it was

going to be freaking freezing here in Armidale, but so far it was like living

in a sauna. The air felt thick and hot, and that sun had one heck of a bite.

Good thing it was sinking now, so my shoulders wouldn’t burn. Again. They

already stung from the rays they’d seen while we lugged my stuff in from the

car this afternoon.

Right. I drew in a deep breath, and squared my

shoulders. This would be a piece of cake. I tucked my room key into my bra and

snuck one last look out the window at the courtyard below. People. Easy-peasy.

Before I could over-think the whole thing, I yanked

open the thick wooden door and stumbled as it caught my heel on the way out.

Good thing my Docs were solid. Those fashionable strappy sandals everyone wore

this summer wouldn’t have saved my bony ankle from certain destruction.

All the doors in the hall stood closed, marking my

dorm floor as dead empty. I’d heard voices earlier this afternoon, but whoever

it was must be down there already. The resident senior had said there were

three first years on this floor. It was a pity there was no way of telling

which rooms were occupied. The other rooms would fill up later in the week when

the senior students returned—right now only the resident seniors were here—so

I’d find out who lived where soon enough.

Good God, I was still stalling—standing here, staring

at closed doors like a freaking lunatic. Before I could conjure any more

time-wasting thoughts, I stepped out of the hall and into the stairwell.

Music from the courtyard echoed all the way up the structure,

bouncing off the concrete walls and tiled stairs as if they were made for this

very purpose. The music wasn’t too bad. Not top forty, but not golden oldies

either. Good party tunes.

As I emerged into the throng of it, I plastered on the

friendliest smile I could muster. It turned out I didn’t need to seek out

someone to make me look less alone, because my block senior, Jason Donagan,

marched up to me with a mock scowl. “Where were you?”

I shrugged. “Sorry.”

“Well, you missed out on meeting the other freshers in

our block.” He waggled a finger in a fake scold.

“Oops.”

“Looks like you need a drink.”

“Ahh, yeah. That’d be great, thanks.”

He disappeared into the crowd, which wasn’t as thin as

it had looked from my window. People were scattered around in small groups,

looking awkward. Some girl caught my attention from over by a wooden picnic

table. Dark hair that almost reached her waist swished as she swayed to the

music, seemingly without notice, since her focus and smile were both set on me.

Maybe she’d be a good one to start with. Before I could make a move, another

girl bounced in front of me, grabbing my arm as if we were best buds.

“I’m-Amber-and-you-have-awesome-hair.”

It took me a second to make out what she was saying,

she spoke so fast. I fingered the blue tips of my shoulder-length brown hair.

The colour had been freshly applied this morning. “Thanks.”

With her arm hooked through mine, she piloted me

toward the largest group of people, which held the dark haired girl. She gave

me a massive smile; her and Amber must already be friends.

“Hey everyone,” Amber cooed, “meet my new friend …”

“Hex,” I answered.

“Hex,” she mimicked. “Where are you from?”

“Umm …” It wasn’t a trick question, so why was I

stumbling? “North.”

“Ahh, a coastie.”

“Not quite, it’s more inland—”

The other girl extended a slender hand. “McKenzie.

Second year applied science. I’m on the social committee, so I could crash

o-week.”

Jason reappeared and passed me one of the plastic cups

everyone else seemed to have. I shot him a grateful smile and swallowed its

contents in two gulps.

Jason whooped. “Looks like you’ve been here before,

Hex.”

The evening wore on much the same, meeting new face

after new face. With so many names I’d be lucky to remember two or three come

morning. Amber remained glued to my side, and after only an hour in her company

I was certain we’d wind up good friends. The girl sure was fun and seemed to

draw in a crowd with her bubbly voice.

The drinks flowed steadily, but there wasn’t so much

that people got plastered. The music lulled and a song I knew well blared to

life. I grabbed Amber’s hand and pulled her up onto one of the long wooden

picnic tables in a corner of the courtyard. She squealed the second she

realised what I was up to, and in three seconds flat had her hands above her

head, her eyes closed, as she shimmied her body like a pro. I’d definitely

found a new friend. Someone wolf whistled below us, but I drowned them all out

with my singing.

When the music ended a chant filled the air.

He-ex. He-ex. He-ex.

I grinned as I took a plastic cup some guy held up to

me. Amber joined in the chant and it was obvious they wanted me to drink. I

yelled, “Bottom’s up,” and tipped the entire contents of the cup into my mouth.

Amber’s name came next and she followed my lead, giving the people what they

wanted.

My legs felt the effects of my earlier drinks, but it

was all good. Until Amber decided it was time to climb down. She stumbled to

the side, and we both grabbed hold of each other at the same moment, me saving

her from falling. She laughed as if it were the funniest thing ever. A laugh

that was the most contagious I’d ever come across. I burst into a fit of

giggles as we both stood there, clutching each other by the arms.

Another cup of beer appeared in front of me. The hand

holding it, attached to a random guy I hadn’t met. I accepted the drink with

thanks, a giggling Amber still clinging to my side.

It took a good few minutes before we finally pulled

ourselves together. Sucking back a lungful of hysterical laughter-stopping air,

I stepped down off the table and right into the personal space of a

six-foot-odd hunk of solid muscle. My drink splashed out of the cup, its cool

liquid trickling down my arm. Blue eyes regarded me with a deadly seriousness

that shouldn’t be seen in a face that handsome.

I held his stare for a long minute.

There was no way I would back down to a guy. His jaw

clenched and my god, it was as chiselled as any A-grade movie star’s. A

peppering of jet-black stubble gave him a rugged edge, or maybe that came from

his shaggy hair. But boy, he needed to give it up already. He continued to

stare as if he were waiting for me to apologise. God only knew how I’d offended

him. A quick check proved my feet weren’t stomping his toes, nor had my drink

landed on his shirt. He wore low-slung jeans and a plain grey T-shirt, both of

which fitted his toned body perfectly.

I raised my right eyebrow.

That made both of his dip.

I held out my free hand and he took it. “I’m Hex.”

“Hex?” His nose screwed up.

“Yes, Hex.”

“Weird name.”

“No weirder than your attitude.”

“You should slow down.”

“Excuse me?”

He dipped his head toward my almost-empty plastic cup.

“With the drink. You should slow down.”

“And you should piss off.”

Who did this guy think he was? Probably some member of

the anti-fun brigade, and that was too bad, because damn, his whole look was

amazing.

A laugh burst from him so suddenly, I flinched, and

realised our hands were still clasped. “Jordan,” he said, as if he’d remembered

he hadn’t given me his name.

“Well, the pleasure

was all yours, Jordan.” I retracted my hand. “Don’t party too hard, now.”

Author Bio

Stacey Nash writes adventure filled stories for Young Adults in the Science Fiction and Fantasy genres. She loves to read and write books that have a lot of adventure, a good dose of danger, a smattering of romance, and KISSING! Hailing from the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, she loves nothing more than immersing herself in the beauty and culture of the local area.