When our server delivers their second round, I order two shots of tequila and limes.
Once everything is set up, I begin my instruction. Julia and I are both wearing short sleeves, so I show her how to rub a lime on her shoulder, right beside the curve of her neck.
“Now, pour on the salt. The lime juice helps it stick.”
I do it too, and a few salt granules slide down my tank top.
“You two,” I point at Connor and Anthony. “Take the shot. Then lick the salt off us, and bite into your lime wedge.”
Both guys do as I say. Connor nips my skin after he licks the salt, keeping his eyes trained on me when he bites his lime. My fingertips press into the spot he bit and licked. He wiggles his eyebrows.
“Now what?” Anthony asks. His cheeks are already flushed from the tequila shot.
“Bowling?” Julia says.
“Do they have tequila?” Anthony asks, eying Julia’s shoulder. He pushes her hair aside and brushes a kiss onto the spot he just licked.
“They have a bar. Let’s go.” Connor stands, pulling his wallet from his back pocket.
He and Anthony settle the bill and finish their beers. Julia looks at me and shakes her head. “Is this going to be a long night?”
Anthony pretends to deliver a punch to Connor’s stomach and Conner jabs back.
“You might want to lay off so you can drive later,” I say, looking back at Julia.
“Good call. I’d say the same to you, but you aren’t drinking tonight. Why not?” She hooks an elbow around my arm as we walk out.
“I don’t drink at all. I don’t enjoy the feeling.” It’s the best answer I can give her. It’s honest. Partially, anyway. Drinking the way I used to gave everyone ammunition. Maybe one day I’ll have a drink, but it’s not happening any time soon.
“I like you, Brynn. You seem like good people.”
I grin at her, but the happy feeling is dampened by knowing I’m going to leave her too. Walt, Julia, Connor. I came to this town to blend in, not make friends and start the foundation of a life here. Every second we spend together is only going to make it harder when the time comes for me to leave. What am I thinking, allowing this to continue? I need to be stronger, better, say no to everyone and become a hermit until my parents deposit that money. I could protect them all if I would just—
“Stop thinking about whatever it is your pretty little head is overthinking.” Connor’s voice is low, a rumble in my ear.
“I’ll drive,” Julia offers, pointing at her silver sedan.
“Am I that obvious?” I say to Connor.
“Yes. Now stop. Be here, in this moment, with me. With us. We’ll worry about tomorrow later.” Then he delivers a swift smack on my ass, the kind that crackles in the air.
16
Connor
Ugh.I hate myself.
Why did I do that? Stupid. Is there cotton in my mouth? My tongue snakes its way around my palette and over my teeth. It doesn’t help, because my tongue is like sandpaper.
“Hey, you. I thought maybe you’d sleep all day.” Brynn’s voice filters through my head like a ray of sunlight in my dust-filled brain. “I have something for you to drink, and medicine. I’m assuming you need it.”
I open one eye. My jeans and T-shirt are folded and laying on top of Brynn’s dresser. On top of the stack is my coiled brown leather belt.
Brynn sits on the edge of the bed, sideways in my vision. “Last night was a bad idea,” I grumble.
“I don’t know about that. Here, sit up,” she says, trying to lift my shoulders. I sit up and take the medicine she’s holding out. “You had a great time licking me.”
“Best sentence ever,” I mumble, then swallow the pills with a mouthful of water. I drain the rest of the glass and hand it back to her. “How many pills did I just swallow?”
