“I won’t, promise.”
We linked pinkies before kissing the other side. I held onto hers as we squeezed inside. We stopped in the middle of the room, taking a second to adjust to the noise and dim lighting. The room was even more crowded than outside. Beer pong, dancing, drunken conversations, people making out.
“I see my friends.” Ari nodded toward the beer pong table, where a girl was waving her over.
I smiled and waved, which she returned. We’d met a couple times during my visits forever ago. She’d always been Ari’s most welcoming friend. The rest were nice enough but somewhat standoffish.
I followed Ari while my eyes roamed the room. There was a lone guy near the stairs who fit my usual type. Somewhat. It was good enough given the choices in this town.
“I found a guy I wanna talk to,” I told Ari. “You’ll be okay with your friends?”
“Yeah, of course. Go have fun. Come find me when you’re done with him.”
We said our temporary goodbyes and I headed toward the attractive stranger, but halfway there an arm snaked around my waist.
“Hey,Vixen.” Dennis smiled, fangs glinting in the dim light.
“What’s up,Emy?” Sean draped an arm across my shoulders from the other side.
“Would it kill you guys to say hibeforeyou start touching me?” I shrugged both off before continuing to the stranger.“Hi.” I leaned against the wall, catching the guy’s attention.
“Hi.”
“I’m Mina.” I pushed my hair over a shoulder andsmiled.“Wanna go upstairs? It’s too crowded down here.”
“Oh,” he paused, taken aback by my bluntness. “Seriously?”
“Why not?”
“Lead the way.” He grinned and touched the small of my back.
I turned to do just that, only to smack right into Dennis instead.“What are you doing? Move.” I tried to push past him.
“I’m Mina’s brother.”Dennis’ hazel eyes were on the unnamed man.
“Okay? You look nothing alike.”
“You’re right.I’m her boyfriend.”
“Really?”
“No. I’m actually her master.”
“Okay, this is getting weird. I’m out.” The guy shied away and disappeared into the crowd.
“Now who am I supposed to hook up with?” I complained, turning on Dennis. That was cockblocking at its finest. Now I had to find someone else.
“You always have me.” He smirked as I caught the hand that was moving toward my waist.
“Tempting,” I looked him over, “but no.”
“Your loss.” He took up the man’s abandoned post near the stairs.“Why aren’t you drinking?”
“I’m designated driver.” Itapped Ari’s keys against my side, then glanced at the beer pong table in time to catch her sipping from a can.
Sean was beside her, looking amused as she grimaced at the taste. She’d never been a fan of beer, but at parties anything was fair game. If it was alcohol, she would drink it.
“You’re against drunk driving?”Dennisseemed surprised.
