“Let’s get out of here.” He wraps an arm around Reese and starts leading her off the porch.
And, there they go. I place the stupid jar of marbles on the railing as the moonlight prisms through them like a bunch of dying fireflies.
Reese turns around. There’s a look of longing in her eyes, and I’d like to think it’s because she’d rather be with me.
“Um”—she chews on her lip, not budging a single step further—“I’m not really up for Kennedy’s madhouse right now. It’s a little noisy for me.” She never takes her eyes off mine.
“You want to hang out and watch TV?” I offer. “I could put on a movie. We could eat popcorn—maybe play monopoly.” Warren cuts me a death ray of a stare. “You could hang out, too, if you want.” I extend the offer, and my gut flinches. Fuck. Way to bring the awkward to the table.
“Actually I’m having some people over at my place.” Warren nods me in the direction of his house. “Gavin’s there doing his best to get laid. Who knows, you might get lucky, too.”
Reese gives a little wink. “I’m sure there are tons of girls that would practically beg for you to take them. Come with us.”
Take them? Come withus?
A blistering heat rushes through me, and this time it’s because I’m more than a little pissed—only it’s not at Reese—it’s at me for ever thinking we could be anything more than a summer fling.
“Yeah, sounds good.” I pull out my keys as Reese hops willingly into Warren’s truck. I wait until they’re clear down the street before I even start the engine.
Looks like Neva was right all along.
Suddenly it sucks to be “just friends” with Reese Westfield.
I wish the whole world knew how I felt about her.
Hell, I wish Reese knew, and something tells me it wouldn’t really make a difference.
The last time I was at the McCarthy’s house was over two years ago during another similar socially awkward event I got roped into. And, if I remember correctly, the reason I was there that night was also because of Reese. The only reason I’ve ever gone to any of their parties was to see her. There’s something seductive about Reese in her element. She outshines the crystal, her smile sparkles, her entire person gleams. Only seeing her in Warren’s house tonight is going to be about as pleasant as peeling off my skin. She’ll be far from my arms, and it makes my dick and me both want to weep.
Gavin nods into me as I walk into the great room. His hair is slicked to perfection, and he’s got his trolling for hoes douchebag shirt on. But I’m not interested in Gavin and whether or not his dick is going to find a nice tight place to call home for the night. I’m too busy taking in the mega estate that the McCarthy’s not-so-humbly call home.
“Crap,” I whisper. “I forgot how huge this place is.” From the outside it’s mammoth in size with the appeal of an oversized chalet, but inside, it feels like two solid football stadiums could sit nicely in here.
“Yeah, well, Reese doesn’t strike me as a size matters kind of girl.”
“Watch it.” I turn to find her sitting on the floor with Brylee and a few other girls while Warren and his friends hit the hard stuff at the bar. I’m still not sure what I’m doing here other than helping Reese cover for being on my porch to begin with.
A group of girls bombard us and set in on the small talk. A blonde with a ponytail and pink bikini glides her shoulder up against mine. She’s sending all the right signals, but too bad for her because I’m not in the market for a good time. The only good time I want to have is with Reese, and it looks as if that’s being denied, too.
“So where you from?” She flutters her fake, moth-like lashes and grazes my chest with her boobs. I can feel her nipples right through the fabric, and it feels like I just cheated on Reese, right here in the open.
I take a step back, but she charges at me again. “From here—from the lake. Actually, I don’t live on the lake, I live near it—well, pretty near it. And you?” Shit. I look past her at Reese, and she’s still twisted in the other direction while Brylee glares at me from over her shoulder.
The blonde goes on and on, and I nod politely without understanding a single word that speeds from her lips. I try to revert my focus to Gavin who seems to be holding the attention of every other girl in our circle with a story of a bear.
“All right.” Warren gives a loud celebratory hoot. “Let’s get something on the fucking boob tube.” He cuts out the lights, and the oversized television blinks to life. Everyone finds a spot to sit and relax, and lucky for me, the blonde bounces away with her friends.
“Over here!” Brylee waves at Gavin and me, and we head toward the back where she and Reese are sitting against the wall. Warren is taking up an entire couch on his own while pouring a steady stream of beer down his throat. He’ll be knocked out in less than ten minutes at the rate he’s going. It doesn’t look like he’s all that concerned about where Reese is sitting or if she even has a chair.
“Right here.” Reese pats a spot next to her on the floor, and I readily comply. We lean against the wall as the lights go out.
The movie starts, some stupid sci-fi flick about a town that gets eaten by flying sharks. I’ve already seen it about a dozen times and enjoyed it each and every one.
Gavin reaches behind him and tosses a blanket to us then chucks one over to a group of girls who have been complaining the AC is on too high.
“Suck it up.” Warren barks from the front.
“Nice.” Reese rolls her eyes while covering herself to her neck. “Here.” She throws it over my knees, and I scoot into her, effectively making a tent between us. “Sorry about this,” she whispers. “I bet you had great things planned.” Her teeth graze over her lips as if she were hungry for those very things.
