Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 122030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
“You’re thinking too hard,” I say when he glances over to acknowledge me.
“What?”
“It’s a party. You shouldn’t look so serious.” I lift a brow. “Something on your mind?”
“Oh.” He smiles to himself, almost bashfully. “Yeah, just going over plays in my head. We’ve got a rivalry game next week.”
“Is that why you’re nursing that beer?”
“Want to know a secret?” Oliver leans in. “It’s soda.” He flashes a conspiratorial wink. “Don’t tell anyone.”
“Cross my heart,” I promise. “Under one condition.”
“Oh?” He licks his bottom lip, smiling. “How much is it gonna cost me?”
“Not much. Just tell me you dance.”
He wraps one muscular arm around my waist and speaks against my hair. “Easy money.”
Oliver walks me toward the other bodies that are dancing in lantern light and casting wild shadows among the trees. Here, the music is louder, and people move with their eyes closed and little space between them. Skin on skin. Sweat.
I don’t think about how I look. I don’t let self-consciousness seep into my good time. Instead, I watch myself reflected in Oliver’s eyes. The way he appears almost mesmerized as we dance. Fascinated, even.
“Who are you?” he asks with a bewildered look.
“A figment of your imagination.” I don’t know why I say it, except I’m not ready for the truth to pierce the fantasy.
“You go to school around here, right? How have we never partied together?”
I only smile and continue moving to the beat that’s almost supernatural the way it gets into my blood. The music is hypnotic, and I want to preserve this sense of mystery I’ve created around myself, even if I know it can only be a fleeting escape.
No sooner do I think it than Mila saunters up. The gorgeous brunette has been known to hook up with Oliver on occasion and was Sloane’s best friend at Ballard, at least before she turned on both of us, just like the rest of them.
When she realizes who Oliver is dancing with, Mila cocks an eyebrow at me like she’s caught me shoplifting. “Well, well. You’ve got to be the last person I expected to see here.”
“Answers at last.” With a triumphant smile, Oliver stops dancing. “You know her?” he asks Mila.
She stares at him as if he’s completely daft. “This is Sloane Tresscott’s sister. Casey.”
“No shit?” His mouth hangs open as he wonders how he hadn’t recognized me. “Damn.”
I dare say he looks almost impressed.
“Get me a drink?” Mila tells Oliver, who takes the hint and walks off with one last charming grin. Her expression turns dry when she aims it at me again. “Not trying to steal my guy, are you, Tresscott?”
There was a time I was intimidated by Mila. She was outgoing and energetic and sometimes vicious, the kind of person who could turn an entire lunchroom against you. And then she did it to me, and my fear of her seemed justified.
Standing here now, I almost can’t remember what convinced me I was no match for her.
“Why not?” I retort. “You’d deserve it for the rumors you spread about me. No honor among thieves, right?”
I expect a biting comeback.
Instead, she deflates.
“Fuck. I should have apologized a long time ago.” She winces to herself. “No, what I should have done is not be such a bitch in the first place. I’m sorry, Casey. For all of it.”
“Save it for Sloane. She’s the one you betrayed.”
Mila sighs, casting her attention at the ground. “I would, if she’d talk to me.”
“What do you expect? You know what she’s like. She takes her grudges to the grave.”
“How is she?” The sad hopefulness on her face is almost embarrassing. I get the impression she misses my sister. Must be a really humbling, crappy moment to realize maybe it wasn’t worth it to blow up their friendship.
“She’s great,” I reply, because I’m not about to pretend that Sloane hasn’t been thriving without Mila’s company. “Lips perpetually glued to her new boyfriend, RJ.”
“Yeah, I met him at the last soccer game.” Her hopeful expression dissolves into one of visible envy. “He’s hot as fuck.”
“Who’s hot as fuck?” Oliver demands, eyes narrowed as he returns with two cups of beer.
“You are,” Mila says innocently, accepting one of the cups. “Who else would we be talking about?”
She winks at me when he’s not looking, and I can’t help a grudging grin in reply.
“Here.” He hands me the other cup. “You were looking a little dehydrated, Tresscott.”
“Thanks.” I take a small sip, feeling Mila’s curious gaze on me while I do.
Oliver holds out his hands, one toward me, the other at Mila. “Come on. Both of you. I’ve decided I need to make all the other dudes here jealous by dancing with the two hottest chicks at the party.”
Laughing, Mila takes his hand and lets him yank her toward him. Then she gives me an expectant look. “Come on.”