Total pages in book: 164
Estimated words: 157308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 787(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 787(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
His deep, sensuous laugh rose high above the music. “Clever. I think I like you, Cloud Girl.”
My cheeks flamed. What the hell is happening? I’m dancing and flirting with the half-naked guy I dismissed as a weirdo on the most important night of my life. I can’t do this right now, and even if I could, I can’t do it with him.
I opened my mouth to say I had to go, and he flattened his palm against my stomach, holding me closer. All of him molded to my body—the leaves doing nothing to protect his modesty.
The rejection died as his cheek, soft and warm, brushed my temple. I didn’t have to flip through my history to know this was the furthest I’ve gone with any guy, and an entire party full of people got to witness it.
You have to go, Luna. Sense cleared the fog. You have to find Owen.
“Rafael,” I began, “I—”
“What’s this?”
The fog blew away. A cold bucket of water to the face was its parting gift.
“I thought we told you that you didn’t get a plus-one,” said Saylor. She spoke from behind us, and sounded pissed. “Who the hell is that anyway?”
I didn’t think. I didn’t speak. I didn’t turn around. Breaking free of him, I shot out of Rafael’s arms, diving through a break in the crowd.
“At least she knows when she’s not wanted.”
“Wait,” Rafael called.
“Let her go.” I chanced a look back as the caution tape horde surrounded him, pawing him all over, cutting off escape. “We were waiting for you to show up.”
My gaze flicked to the left, and locked with Katie. Her eyes narrowed.
Whipping around, I ducked behind the beer pong guys and ran outside.
Five minutes passed. Then ten. Then fifteen.
I got up from my hiding place behind a beer fountain. If Katie or one of the other girls was going to come for me, they’d have done it by then.
Taking a deep breath, I squeezed between the bodies coming out, hurried into the hall and made for the stairs. I don’t know what made me stop and look toward the living room.
Rafael was right where I left him, dancing to put everyone around him to shame. Everleigh, Gabriella, Piper, and Saylor revolved around him like planets circling the sun—except Venus wasn’t so obvious about copping a feel. They ground, giggled, and rubbed their breasts all over him. And his hands were going everywhere, but he wasn’t touching them.
I couldn’t explain exactly how, but I sensed Rafael was in his own world, dancing by himself. No one else mattered. Actually, if we all left right then, he wouldn’t notice, or stop.
Shaking myself, I scanned for Katie and didn’t spot her. She could be in the bathroom, or looking for the cloud girl.
I can’t let her get in my way. I need to find Owen and get him alone now.
Picking up my feet, I padded up the stairs, finding the second party.
People lined the walls, knocking back beers and shooting do-me eyes at everyone who walked past. Smoke billowed beneath the door crack from the room closest to the stairs. Holding my breath, I stuck my head in.
Four guys smoked cigars and tossed chips across the poker table. Beside them, a couple screwed the crap out of each other, uncaring of the other people in the room. Of all of those people, none of them were Owen.
I left them to it and tried the other doors in the hall. Three of them were locked. Two had people hooking up on the other side. I rounded the corner and shot back, plastering myself against the wall. Owen didn’t notice.
He pressed the girl in the bendy straw dress against the plaster—one arm propped over her head, and the other hand playing with her plastic skirt. Owen chose to wear wrapping paper with two bows covering his nipples. Because the fucker was a present.
My lips curled. As welcome a present as the one the plague leaves when it rips through the population.
Straw Girl giggled. “All the rooms are taken.”
“So. We’ll go in the bathroom.”
“Ew. You think I’m getting on my knees in a frat house toilet? You must be joking.”
She tried to walk away and his hand flew off her skirt and struck the wall, stopping her in her tracks. “Forget the bathroom. I know somewhere we can go. Private. Romantic.” He kissed her knuckles, smiling into her eyes like he wasn’t a loathsome son of a bitch. “Come on, Lindsay. I’ve had a crush on you since high school.”
“Really?”
“Are you kidding? Everyone did. You were the hottest girl in school.” Owen dropped on his knees, slapping his hand over his heart. “For all the hopeless geeks who dreamed you’d notice him, I’m taking my shot. Please, Lindsay, suck my dick.”
She swatted his arm, eyes rolling. “You’re so stupid,” she said, but not in a tone laced with rejection.