Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
I hang back until I hear the sound of plates clanking together and sliding across the expo window that tells me their order is ready. Grabbing a tray, I load it up and head over to Jesse’s table.Once everyone has their food, I look back to Jesse.
“You sure you don’t want anything?” My voice is unintentionally softer than it was just a minute ago, and his eyebrows pull together, assessing. “The kitchen is about to close,” I add, forcing indifference into my tone.
As if he senses that I can see through his little charade, he curls a hand around the back of my thigh, his fingers burning a hole through my thin black leggings. “I’m not hungry for food.”
I scowl, slapping his hand away. “Asshole.”
“I asked for lemon with my water,” the girl next to him snaps, seemingly upset that Jesse’s attentions have shifted from her to me.
I huff out a sardonic laugh. I pause, looking at her, but my words are for Jesse. “I’m not interested.”
I spin around before either one of them can respond and Jake’s already armed with a side plate with a couple of lemon slices, heading in their direction.
“Does the offer to leave early still stand?”
“Get out of here. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
* * *
“DID HE SAY ANYTHING ELSE?” Halston asks, wrapping my hair around the thick barrel of a curling iron.
“He just asked how you were,” I tell her for the third time.
“And you just said ‘fine’?”
“What was I supposed to say?” I shrug as she lets a hot curl fall onto my shoulder before scooping up another piece.
“I don’t know,” she admits. “But something better than that.”
“What’s up with you guys?”
She frowns, looking perplexed. “I think I like him.”
I arch a brow. Halston loves boys, but she doesn’t usually like any of them for more than a couple of seconds. “So, what’s the problem?”
“He’s texted me a few times wanting to get together.”
“And?” I hedge.
“He wanted to do daytime things. He invited me to lunch. What the hell am I supposed to do with that?”
I laugh, rolling my eyes. “I don’t know, maybe date him?”
“Boys like him don’t date. At least not exclusively.”
“So, we’re going to this party because?” She runs her fingers through my hair, breaking up the loose waves and shaking them out.
“Because I’m a glutton for punishment,” she answers matter-of-factly.
“Same,” I say, standing to inspect myself in the mirror attached to her dresser.
“Think he’ll be there?” Halston asks, and I know she’s referring to Jesse.
I shrug. “He lives here now. Anything is possible.” I told her about running into Jesse and Sullivan at Blackbear, which led to me telling her a very watered-down version of the events that took place that night.
She stands next to me, checking us both out in the mirror. “We look hot,” she announces. “We’re going to go to this frat house, get drunk, have fun, and pretend they don’t exist.”
“You’re the boss.”
This party is much bigger than the last one. It’s dark as hell, the only lights coming from the black lights that cast a purple glow around the house.
“I spy Jell-O shots!” Halston shouts over the music. We make our way toward the kitchen through the neon-painted bodies, and she plucks two glowing blue cups off the counter. I toss one back, the lukewarm consistency wiggling down my throat.
“Did you know this was a black light party?” I ask Halston. I never seem to know about these parties, but she’s always in the loop.
“Nope.” She shrugs. “But I’m into it.”
The sliding glass door leading to the backyard opens, and even in the dark I can tell it’s Jesse walking through it, Sullivan and a pack of hot chicks right behind him.
“Fuck,” I mutter. Halston, however, has a different reaction. Her eyes light up with mischief as they approach the kitchen. When Jesse notices me, his face splits into a wide smile, his teeth glowing white against the black lights.
“Miss me, Allie Girl?”
“It’s Allison. And not even a little.”
“You wound me.” He clutches his chest dramatically, bringing my attention to the illuminated words written there. Kylie was here is streaked across his skin with an arrow leading down his well-defined abs, past the cut V of his hips, all the way to his crotch.
“Classy,” I remark, peeling my eyes away.
“It’s a gift.” He shrugs unapologetically.
“Hey, Halston.” Sullivan looks her up and down with heat in his gaze.
“Oh. Hey,” she says nonchalantly, barely sparing him a glance before catching my hand in hers. “I love this song! Let’s dance.”
I snort out a laugh as she pulls me into the crowd of bodies. She throws her arms around my neck, glancing back toward Sullivan behind me.
“I thought you wanted to see him.”
“I’m not going to let him know that,” she shouts close to my ear. “Trust me. I know what I’m doing.”