Breathe. “I?—”
“Danny, hey. I’ve been looking for you.” A girl stands next to him, a girl I remember all too well. The very same one who appeared in the video with Bryson.
She wraps her arms around his waist and stares up at him, smiling sweetly at him.
Wow, she was pretty in the video, but it didn’t do her any justice because she’s even prettier in person.
The flutters freeze and disintegrate. My chest expands until it aches and when it deflates, the cycle repeats.
He removes his hand and takes a few steps back, but the hurt look on her face tells me everything I need to know. She likes him, that much is clear.
She smothers the look and offers me a friendly smile, but something about it feels fake. “Sorry, I hope I’m not interrupting.”
“Not at all. I’m actually leaving.”
“I’m going to take her home,” Daniel rapidly says, standing by my side, looking irritated.
“No need. I’m leaving with the girls. Thanks for the water.” I quickly exit the kitchen and in no time, I find the girls. Thankfully, we’re all on the same page about leaving and all head out together until we’re stopped by Angel.
“I’m taking you all home and I don’t want to hear it, Penelope.”
She folds her arms against her chest. “I’m going to get a Lyft. You don’t need to?—”
“I’m taking you all home. Don’t argue with me,” he sternly says.
“I’m not arguing.”
“Good. Let’s go.”
“Whatever. You’re going to get us something to eat.”
“The fuck I look like?”
“Like a dumbass,” she snarkily tosses over her shoulder at him as she grabs my hand and Vi’s and drags us out the door. “Hurry up, we’re hungry.”
There’s a small part of me that wants to look back, but there’s a voice in my head telling me he’s not back there. And because the voice has never been wrong, I don’t look back.
Looking back would’ve only instigated the disappointment that resides in the corner of my head.
14
JOSIE
I don’t usually fallvictim to being easily influenced, but tonight, I didn’t fall, I willingly took the drinks and shots. Now I’m paying the price.
My head is still spinning, my body feels heavy and sluggish, and my balance has long left me. I’m swaying and tripping over my own feet as I stumble into my dark house.
I don’t bother with the lights or attempting to take my shoes off.
Why did I wear high-tops again?
Ambling into the living room, I throw my phone and keys onto the table and drop onto the couch, face down, reveling in how cool it is.
Exhaling a heavy sigh, I close my eyes and attempt not to think about Daniel, his persistence to be around, and the girl that had her arm around him. Unfortunately, I do a shit job. The last thing on my mind before I fall asleep are those soft amber eyes and her arm.
The long chime of the doorbell pierces the dead-silent house. The sound echoes throughout, waking and frightening me.
I quickly scurry up to sit, searching for my phone until it dawns on me that I threw it on the coffee table. I reach for it in the darkness and squint when the bright light blinds me.
