“Really, Keith? Like I loved seeing you with other girls, and, by the way, I did see this on multiple occasions.”
“Enough you two.” Brylee wraps her arms around his neck as if she’s about to pull him in for a kiss. “If you’re going to convince some psychopath you’re getting along, you might actually consider getting along.”
I hate it when Brylee is right.
We meander through the crowd. The deal is, we’re to be seen by every single person here, and then the four of us head off alone in the event they catch on and don’t think we’re the real deal. Caleb came up with the plan, and, as much as I wanted to protest, I couldn’t. It’s perfect. Not only will the idiot in question see that they’re not doing me any favors, but Keith sees that I’m genuinely happy with my new man. Win-win.
A group of people from Yeats congregate near the fire pit, and we head over.
“Kennedy!” Melanie is the first to greet me. “Youhaveto come back for spring semester. Things are falling to shit without you.”
“I seriously doubt that. But it was nice seeing all my sisters at the house a few weeks back.”
“That was some meeting.” Charlie comes up and offers me a warm hug.
I do miss my girls.
“It was productive to say the least.” Mel leans in. “Why the hell is Stearns here?”
My mouth opens, and for a moment, I consider telling them about our devious plan, but Caleb made me promise I wouldn’t tell a soul outside of the souls I accidentally already spilled the beans to. And, since I’m all about the truth now, filling them in just yet isn’t an option.
“We’re hanging out. He’s with Brylee now, so I don’t see why not.”
Mel’s features harden. “And you’re with this Caleb guy, right? So everything’s cool?”
“Yup. Couldn’t be cooler.” I laugh while brushing my hands over my arms to keep warm. “It’s funny how that works.”
“Wow.” Charlie looks to where Keith and Brylee are all but making out. I can see she’s enjoying her role as Keith’s new squeeze. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if they fell into bed together. She’s a little slut, and, well, he is too. “So nobody finds this weird?”
“Why would we?” Mel doesn’t take her steady gaze off me. “Kennedy is in love with somebody else. She couldn’t care less about Keith Stearns.” Her face darkens, she gives a mean shiver, but it looks more like anger.
Caleb comes up and wraps his arms around me from behind.
“So—Mr. Hot Shot Attorney,” Mel says it playfully, but you can tell Caleb is up for an interrogation. “I did a little homework on you. Nobody messes with my BFF without my approval.”
Now it’s my turn to blush. My sorority sisters have really stepped up through all of this. Melanie and Charlie in particular have my back. It’s sweet, and I won’t forget this. I most likely will go back in the spring, and, when I do, I’ll find a special way to thank them.
“Homework?” Caleb’s chest rumbles against my back. “You dig up any skeletons that you think you can rattle?”
His mother comes to mind. God, if Mel says one thing about his mother, I’ll dropkick her.
“Nope, you’re clean. I did hear about your brother, though. Sorry about that. It must be very hard.”
His body goes rigid against me. “It is. It’s very hard.” He gives me a gentle squeeze. “You ready to make the rounds?” He brushes a kiss against my ear, and I melt into him. I wish the crowd would disappear, and we’d magically find ourselves down at the south end of the lake, at our spot, ready to claim it in a special way, but we don’t.
We take off and find Brylee and Keith making out by the woods. Shocker. But I suppose it’s good for our bizarre PR. Together we walk the periphery of the party, the headiness of the music, the cheery atmosphere really does make this feel like we’re hanging out with friends, with a special friend. I pull Caleb in as we amble toward Neva and Warren getting down and dirty on the dance floor. Neva spots us and gyrates her way over.
“What the hell?” She looks from me to Keith. “Is this truce in honor of my birthday?” You can smell and see the liquor pluming from her lips. It’s that cold, and she’s that toasted.
“Happy birthday, wench!” I pull her in. “You can do better than that,” I whisper in her ear. I don’t really care to see Warren end up with any of my friends or relations. He wasn’t a great guy before he tried to force himself on Reese. I don’t care if he was wasted. No still means no.
“I see you have.” She eyes Caleb like she’s checking him out. “What’s with the rumor going around that you’re going to shank Keith?” She glares at him a moment. “By the way, I’m rooting for her.”
Crap. “I’m not shanking anyone. I’m over it. Keith and I are both over it. He couldn’t care less that I’m with Caleb now.” I pull Caleb in close and touch my lips to his in a meandering kiss.
“Yeah”—Keith agrees—“and she couldn’t care less that I’m tapping this.” He plants a wet one on Brylee, and I wait for some visceral reaction, but there isn’t one.
Huh. Keith and Brylee could hop on stage with the band and start going at it in front of God and everybody, and I really wouldn’t care. My arms tighten around Caleb. He’s made me better in so many ways. He’s healing me one kiss at a time.
