I reply by kissing her. She sighs into my mouth. Our intimate dance quickly turns into twenty minutes of frenzied groping and wet kisses. When our mouths finally pull apart, Elizabeth pants in my ear, “I wish we were home.”
“Want to get out of here?”
“Yes, please.”
She doesn’t have to tell me twice. I grab her hand and rush her outside so I can tell Fallon we’re leaving. If I thought things were bad between Fallon and Trevor, that’s nothing compared to the dread that hits me when I see Maria and Jacinda walking up the steps of the back patio. They’re wearing bikinis so must have been at the pool when we arrived. I’m going to kill Fallon. Maria’s eyes lock onto me and a look of shock crosses her face. Then she notices Elizabeth and my stomach clenches when I see the pure hatred that replaces her initial shock.
Jacinda follows Maria’s gaze and starts laughing hysterically. “Holy shit! She’s like a fucking cockroach. I thought she was supposed to be dead.”
I release Elizabeth’s hand and take a menacing step toward Jacinda, but I’m stopped by Fallon.
“I didn’t know, Ry. I swear I didn’t know they were here. Let me handle this.”
“Ryder, what’s going on?” Elizabeth asks.
“You’re a fucking liar,” Maria seethes at me. “You’re here withher?”
It’s been over a year and a half since I broke up with Maria. She and Elizabeth used to be best friends, or that’s what I thought. Maria used her friendship with Elizabeth to get close to me, and I was stupid enough to ask Maria out because Elizabeth was with Jayson. The fact that Maria is still jealous over Elizabeth after all this time makes me pity her.
Fallon stands in front of Jacinda and Maria, arms crossed. A crowd gathers knowing something is about to go down. Memories of another party at Fallon’s house creep into the back of my mind. For once I’m glad Elizabeth has amnesia.
“Get the fuck off my deck and out of my house.”
Jacinda was always a viper. She was like the female equivalent to Fallon but with the last shred of decency stripped away. “My boyfriend happens to live here, asshole. You can’t make me do shit.”
“As soon as I find out who he is, I’m kicking his ass out of the frat.”
“You can’t do that!” she screeches.
“I can do a lot worse. You know that Jacinda.” She blanches and inches back to get distance from Fallon. She knows firsthand the power Fallon wields.
“What’s going on?” Meredith inquires curiously. She and Trevor must have just come back out.
“I have no idea,” Elizabeth tells her.
“You’re such a bitch, Lizzie! I knew you were fucking Ryder even though you were with Jayson,” Maria yells at her.
“I said leave. Not telling you again,” Fallon warns again at the same time Elizabeth says, “Are you talking to me?”
“Who the fuck would I be talking to? You’re a selfish bitch. You stole him away from me!”
I try to pull Elizabeth away from the scene unfolding but she’s not budging.
“Did you just call her a bitch?” Meredith flies forward and stands with Fallon, her tiny fists clenched into tight balls. I hear Trevor say behind us, “You better watch your fucking mouth you stupid cunt. I have no problem hitting a girl. Apologize, now.”
Elizabeth yanks on my arm. “What the hell is going on, Ryder?”
“Baby, I need to get you out of here. I’ll explain everything when we get home.”
I don’t hear what Maria says to Meredith, but whatever it is causes Meredith to lose it. She tackles Maria like a linebacker, taking her down. Fallon and Trevor and several other guys charge in. Everything disintegrates into complete chaos, a tangle of fists, screams, and grunts.
Elizabeth and I must look fucking stupid as we stand and watch the melee. Some huge guy runs up from the side of the house, his sights set on Fallon.
“Shit. Don’t move. Stay here,” I tell Elizabeth and go help my friend.
Fallon’s back is turned, so he doesn’t see the big fucker coming. I reach him just in time. The guy’s fist is reared back, but I catch it mid-flight, bending it down, and twisting. He screams as I snap his wrist, breaking a bone. I shove him back and he goes down, cradling his arm against his body. Fallon whips around and sees the guy. The grin he flashes me has me smiling in return.
“Just like old times,” he says, reminding me of a past that I keep buried deep down. He snakes a fist out and it hits some dude’s head. I grab another guy who is swinging for Fallon and flip him over in a body slam, the impact causing the deck flooring to shake. I place my foot to his side and push him down the stairs. As the fighting settles down, I look for Meredith knowing Elizabeth will be worried about her friend. Trevor is with her. I don’t see Maria or Jacinda anywhere. They must have high-tailed it after the fighting began. Good.
