By the time I got back to the party, dessert had been served with the vanilla cake.Katie looked more relaxed, her mom had left early when most of the guests departed.Only a handful of people remained.Anna, Caleb, Kyle, Amanda, Tina and a few of Katie’s girlfriends.
The atmosphere seemed lighter.Laughter echoed as we passed plates of cake and sipped champagne.
I had warned Amanda that Katie wouldn’t drink much, but she had bought the sweetest liquor to woo her friend, and it seemed like it was working.
Her cheeks were flushed from champagne and eyes sparkling.She leaned back on the couch, her feet on the edge as she nursed a glass of alcohol in her lap.
“Remember when she cried for an hour because she realized that Santa wasn’t real?”Anna teased.
I smiled as Katie groaned, burying her face in her hands.“I was seven!”
Everyone burst into laughter.I leaned back, taking a small sip of the sweet alcohol, and let myself watch her.The way she hid her smile behind her hands, the way her shoulders shook when she laughed.
I ignored the desire that made my stomach clench, wishing I could crawl over to her and kiss every inch of her.
Even though I was enjoying the cozy atmosphere, I couldn’t wait until everyone left.
Their talk turned to the high school years, and suddenly Amanda was grinning at me.“Oh!Tell them about Katie’s prom night.”
Katie sat up.“No.”
“Yes,” Amanda insisted, waggling her brows.“Do it, Dylan.”
How could she do that to her own best-friend?Amanda is scary.
I coughed into my glass, remembering the day crystal clear.“Uh, there’s nothing much to tell.She got a little too drunk and crashed into my room.The next morning she woke up convinced…”
“Don’t you dare,” Katie said, narrowing her eyes.
“That we slept together,” I finished with a smug grin.
Her face went red.“I was drunk!I didn’t know what happened!”
The whole table giggled, Anna nearly choking on her drink.
She was drunk because her ex was an ass, and I had tucked her in my bed when the house was full of horny teenagers.
“I was more freaked out than she was.”I laughed, shaking my head at the memory.“Do you know how fucking terrifying it is to have your best friend’s sister wake up in your bed and scream like you’ve ruined her life?I aged ten years in those five minutes.”
Katie covered her face again, groaning.“I hate you.”
But when she finally peeked at me through her fingers, there was laughter dancing in her eyes and… warmth.Our gazes lingered, making me feel giddy.
I remembered fucking the pillow where she had laid her head after she had left flustered and embarrassed, realizing nothing had happened, and ruined my sheets.
My mom was suspicious when I washed my bedding, insisting I do it alone.
I slid out my phone and sent her a text.
cant stop thinking about the lingerie youre wearing rn
Katie glanced at her phone, and her eyes widened as she glanced at me.I saw her bite her lip as she sent me a reply.
Katie: How can you be so sure I’m wearing any?
Blood rushed south so fast I nearly groaned out loud.I pressed my fist against my mouth, trying to hide the grin that spread across my face.
She was tipsy, giggling when Amanda leaned in to whisper something in her ear.I reached over, casually sliding the bottle away before someone could fill up her glass again.The last thing I needed was Katie drunk enough to blurt out something about the lingerie I had bought for her.
