His wavy brown hair is perfectly messy, his fitted black Henley hugs his arms just right, and the ripped jeans and beat-up Converse complete the look.
“What are you staring at?” he asks, cocking a brown brow.
I shake myself, face heating from being caught. “Nothing. Sorry. Just thinking about that quiz in A&P. Pretty sure I bombed it.”
His eyes narrow, not buying it. He knows I’ve got an A in that class. Well, in all my classes, actually.
Before he can press, Hadley appears, sliding her arms around his waist. “Come dance with me, Culley.”
He gives me one more look, eyes flicking to the bottle in my hand. “Go easy on the tequila, okay?”
Hadley drags him away, squeezing between grinding bodies and planting her ass against his crotch. Cull nuzzles into her neck, his hands caressing up her thighs.
I can’t fucking stand it.
I chug the tequila, vision blurring for reasons that aren’t solely alcohol.
“She doesn’t fucking deserve him,” I mumble.
“It’s sorta sad, isn’t it?”
I jump, spinning around to see Ella staring at them, too.
“Shit, girl. I’m not buzzed enough for you to be sneaking up on me like that.”
She giggles. “Sorry.”
I bring the bottle to my lips, but it’s empty. Sighing, I set it down on the counter and look around for something else to drown in.
My eyes meet my buddy, Matt, who is holding two red plastic cups. He smiles and lifts his arm to hand me one, but Ella drags me out of the kitchen before I can take it.
“Come with me.” Ella links our fingers, leading me out into the humid night air. We walk down the driveway, past couplesmaking out in the shadows of the treeline and other party stragglers. She guides us down the street until she comes to a stop on the cul-de-sac.
She drops down on the curb and starts rummaging through her purse. “Aha!” She pulls out a small baggie and dangles it between us. It looks like there are four or five neatly rolled joints inside. “Care to spark up with me?” she asks, flashing a wide, mischievous grin.
I eye the baggie. I’ve never known Ella to do drugs, but I’m not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. I’ve only tried weed once and never while drinking. I’ve heard the cross buzz can be brutal, but… fuck it. That anxious hum hasn’t left my skin since we got here, and this feels like the perfect thing to shut it off completely.
Ella takes my hand and pulls me down next to her on the curb. She lets go and pats my thigh before lighting up the joint and taking a deep inhale. She holds her breath like she’s training for the Olympics before letting it out with a soft groan. White wisps leave her mouth and dance in the air.
She passes me the joint, and I take it, bringing it to my lips and taking a tentative inhale. The acrid smoke hits the back of my throat, and I immediately hack up a lung.
“Amateur.” She giggles, then plucks it from my hand and takes another long drag.
“Weed isn’t typically my thing. Sue me,” I grumble, voice still a little choked. “Besides, when did you become so accomplished in the matter?”
I’ve known her since we were babies. Our parents have been best friends forever, and after all the family dinners and trips, I never took Ella for the type to light up.
She shrugs, a sly smile tugging her lips. “I’m a woman of mystery.”
I chuckle and motion for her to pass the joint back. I take a deeper hit this time and manage to hold it in my lungs for a few seconds before choking it back up. Ella shakes her head at me, amused, then starts to rummage in her bag again.
“Here.” She hands me a pint of tequila. “If you can’t handle the J, maybe you can at least enjoy this.”
“Damn, girl. What kind of dispensary are you running out of that bag?”
“A girl can’t share all her secrets.” She winks and tosses her long black hair over her shoulder.
I take the bottle, twist off the cap, and chug.
