I huff out a small laugh. She sets the bottle down and holds out her hand to me. I glance at her small fingers, then give her a quick shake.
“I’m Heather.”
Ah. So this is who Ella was talking about. I’ve seen her the past couple of days while our groups mingled, but we haven’t spoken until now.
“Cullen,” I reply.
“You’re cute, Cullen. Here with anyone?”
Ah, shit. Wasn’t expecting her to be so bold right out of the gate. I can’t exactly tell her my boyfriend’s upstairs, so I go with the next best truth I have.
“Does my ex-girlfriend count?”
“You came here with your ex?” she asks, cocking her head to the side.
“Not like that. Her twin brother’s my best friend, so technically, I came with him. This is their grandparents’ lake house.”
“Hmm.” Her eyes sparkle. “Are you heartbroken, Cullen?”
She slinks around the counter, fingers trailing lightly across the marble surface. She stops just inches away from me, then draws a single finger up my sternum. I instinctively step back and give her an apologetic look.
“Yeah. We just broke up last weekend. I’m not ready to be with anyone else.”
“That’s too bad. You look like you’d be fun,” she remarks, eyeing me up and down. “Is your best friend single?”
I work hard to keep my reaction off my face. I want to scream that he’smine, but that would open a door that I can’t walk through yet. I’m suddenly begrudgingly grateful that Hudson has a cover in Ella.
“No. He’s here with his girlfriend.”
“You don’t like her,” she says matter-of-factly.
“How can you tell?”
“The scowl on your face speaks volumes.”
So much for hiding how I feel. “I’m just protective.”
She gives me an assessing look but doesn’t push it further.
Footsteps creak nearby. Hudson rounds the corner with Ella right on his heels. Heather’s attention shifts from me to him, and I see a gleam spark in her eyes.
Oh,hellno.
“Hey guys, this is Heather. Heather, this is my best friend, Hudson, and hisgirlfriend, Ella,” I announce, so this chick knows to back the fuck up.
Hudson gives her a tight smile and a nod.
“Hi,” Ella chirps, linking her arm through Hudson’s, her grin wide.
“Aren’t you two an odd couple?” Heather’s eyes flick between them, a sly smile on her face. “If either of you boys wants a good time later, come find me. I’m great at sharing.”
She saunters off, hips swaying, joining a few people from her own group.
“She seems… nice?” Hudson’s voice is dry, amused, and it has me cracking up.
Ella isn’t impressed, scoffing. “She’s a slut.”
She scans her eyes over the bottles of alcohol. “Where’s the vodka?”
