Sometimes I wish I had a sibling so they could be a built-in best friend, and so they could understand what it was like for me growing up because they would’ve been in the thick of it with me. Or they could have been someone else my parents would’ve loved more than me, like Macy and her sister, so I guess maybe it’s a blessing my parents didn’t have any other kids.
“I think he just hates people,” Sara adds, and I tug at the bottoms of my shorts as if I were magically able to add an extra few inches of denim to the length. I did one shot for courage, but they look like they’re having a much better time after the three shots they took in quick succession.
I know athletes tend to run in the same crowd, but I’m hoping Bradley isn’t stupid enough to show up here tonight where the entire hockey team will be, and I think they’re more likely to shoot first and ask questions later where their captain is involved.
I shove aside all thoughts of my ex, trying to focus on my mission for tonight, when we enter the chaos of the house I’ve become very familiar with.
I find Jack in the kitchen on my mission with Macy to find drinks, but I plan on sticking with something light so I can’t blame alcohol for my decisions tonight. He wasn’t joking about using the black eye to his advantage, and I should be far more worried about how little clothes he’s wearing than how short my shorts are.
I’ve felt his muscles and seen them before in the picture we uploaded to Jack’s dating profile, but it’s different seeing themin all their glory right before me. His athletic shorts hang low on his hips, and his hands are wrapped in some kind of athletic tape while he holds a water bottle in his hand, but it’s his damn dimples I can’t look away from.
It feels like time slows down when he laughs, and his eyes land on me as he turns his head.
He doesn’t say anything, walking away from the guy he was talking to, stopping in front of me. If it weren’t for the look in his crystal eyes, I’d think Jack was mad at me, and I capitalize on the moment. I tip the brim of my hat at Jack, smirking at him. “Howdy, partner.”
“You know, I think I’ll find the drinks on my own,” Macy says, giving me an extra push forward that knocks the smirk right off my face as I stumble into Jack, catching myself by landing with both palms on his hot, muscular abdomen.
Oh my god.
I pull away, and a full laugh bursts from Jack. “If you wanted to touch me, all you had to do was ask,” he drawls, leaning in for me to hear him over everything else going on around us. “I like your costume, darlin’.”
“I would say I like yours, but you’ve left very little to the imagination,” I say, looking up from his rippled stomach to Jack’s ridiculous pecs, realizing his necklace is on full display.
At the bottom of the silver chain hangs a dainty silver pendant in the shape of a figure skate. It’s simple, and the metal is worn in some spots, but as much as I want to keep staring at it, I force myself to look up at his stupidly handsome face, marred by the fading green bruise around his eye.
“I think you’ve given me too much to imagine,” Jack mumbles, and I’m pretty sure I wasn’t supposed to hear him say that.
“What?” I ask, pretending like I’m not sure what he’s implying.
Jack reaches up, twirling one of my curls around his finger, tugging on it gently. “Do you want a drink?” he asks, reaching to adjust the way my hat sits on my head. “I cut a lime earlier and hid it in the back of the fridge if you wanted some.”
“You cut a lime up?”
“Yeah. You like to add them to your drinks, but I didn’t know what you were wanting to drink tonight, so the least I could do was make sure you have limes,” Jack says, his blue eyes twinkling, and I feel off-balance.
Jack knows I like limes in my drinks, so he bought a lime and cut it for me?
“So what are you drinking tonight?” he asks, and I swallow the lump forming in my throat. I’m terrified of wanting to be physically close to someone again, but I think if I were to take the first step, Jack would be the perfect person. He’s king of unattached hookups, and just because I’m attracted to him, it doesn’t mean I have feelings for Jack.
“Just water,” I say, changing my mind from the beer I planned to have because there is zero doubt in my mind that Jack will be hooking up with someone by the end of the night, and I think I want it to be me.
His eyebrows knit, and he tilts his head. “Why don’t you want a drink?”
“That’s for me to know, and maybe for you to find out,” I say, taking a step back. I’m painfully aware of how fast my heart is pounding in my chest, but I like knowing he pays attention to me to know I add limes to all my drinks. I turn to find Ellie, but Jack’s fingers brush against mine, stopping me.
He rubs the wrapping on his hands. “Wait,” he says, watching me with an intensity that threatens to burn me from the inside out. Jack chuckles, looking me up and down before taking my hand to pull me up the stairs.
“Where are we going?” I ask, laughing under my breath as I try not to trip on people sitting on the stairs to make out while I follow him. I should be looking at the stairs to know where to step, but I can’t decide between looking at Jack’s back or his firm ass.
“Somewhere I know you can hear me,” Jack answers over his shoulder, stopping in the hall at the top of the stairs, and I try not to let the questions rise in my head asking why he thinks love doesn’t exist. I know I’m not an expert by any means, but Jack is very clearly capable of loving other people, yet for some reason, he doesn’t believe in it.
“Why?”
“He isn’t going to show up here tonight, and if he is that stupid, I’m here,” Jack says, lowering his voice at the same time he reminds me I can’t just be a normal girl at a party on Halloween with a hot guy she’sphysicallyattracted to. “You don’t have to worry about it, so if you want to drink tonight, then you should.”
Shit, I really don’t want to talk about Bradley tonight. “I’m not worried about him tonight,” I say, because I’m not. I know Jack will keep me safe, and if anything, the level of trust I have in him is what worries me.
“Then why aren’t you drinking? You don’t have to, I just don’t want you to worry abou?—”
