Ashton: Allie
Ashton: Alexandra
Ashton: Chaos
Ashton: Answer me.
Ashton: Maybe you won’t be coming after all…
Ashton: I can see you’re reading these. Did you forget to change back your settings?
Ashton: Fine, whatever. I’m getting drunk.
That last text was sent a few seconds ago. At first, I wasn’t sure if I was actually going to show up. I went back and forth with myself about a dozen times, but finally forced myself to get dressed and get in my car. I just couldn’t help making him squirm a little, so I didn’t respond.
I enter through the large arched front doorway and am immediately met by a woman in a bikini with a diamond choker around her neck who extends a tray full of Jell-O shots. I take one and thank her, walking further into the house. My best friend comes from a wealthy family, so I’m no stranger to mansions and lavish parties, but this is not like any one I’ve ever been to. Instead of schmoozing business associates and passed hors d’oeuvres, there are flashing purple strobe lights and people snorting coke off of half-naked women. I look to my left and there appears to be a game of strip beer pong going on. I walk a little further in and see two men and a woman enter what looks like an office. The woman starts taking her clothes off, while the men sit on a leather couch. When one of them looks up andnotices me. He mouths “Want to watch?” I shake my head and take a step backward. I’m no prude, but what the fuck did I just walk into?
The man winks as he unbuckles his belt, still staring directly at me. I take another step back but lose my footing and am about to fall when strong arms grab me from behind. “You came,” he whispers in my ear. He smells like spearmint and whiskey. Just like the first night we met. Also something faintly earthy. He spins me around and takes me in. His eyes are heavy-lidded and he’s wearing that dopey smile again. Looking me up and down from the dip in my dress that shows off my cleavage to the worn Chucks on my feet, he lets out a low growl.
“You are so gorgeous.”
I place my untouched Jell-O shot on a table beside me and run my eyes over him. He’s wearing black jeans, a gray henley, and tan lace-up harness-buckle boots. His hair is perfectly styled, with slight waves falling over his forehead. When I look at his eyes again, I can see the faint red streaks.
“Are you high?”
He chuckles. “Do I have to be high to give you a compliment?”
“Well, yeah. Also, your eyes are bloodshot.”
“I just had a few hits.”
I nod my head and look around. “Have you seen Em?”
“Yep. She’s out back. Luke was horrified by what was going on in here, so he took her out to the pool.”
“Can you show me where it is?” I ask.
He goes to grab my hand, but I immediately pull away, looking around to make sure no one saw. When my eyes catch his face, I see the dejection.
“Not here,” I murmur, and he nods.
He leads me out a set of lanai doors to a patio that looks like it’s straight out ofMillion Dollar Beach House.There’s a giant infinity pool situated directly in front of a view of the sound,which is illuminated by string lights that extend across the fascia on either side. Two giant stone hot tubs are perched at the end of the pool, steam billowing up from the surfaces. Declan sits in one of them, surrounded on all sides by women in string bikinis. There’s a bar located in the far left corner and a pool house on the other side. To my right, there’s an area with plush couches and a giant flatscreen that’s playing grunge music videos from the nineties.
“I’ll be right back.” Ashton gives me a little wink, and I tip my head as I spot Emory sitting on a loveseat with Luke glued to her side. He does not look amused.
“You made it!” She tries to jump up when she sees me but fails miserably and flops back down on the couch.
“No need to get up,” I tell her as I wedge myself between her and Luke. “You know I'll always come to you.” She slurps on what I assume is a virgin piña colada as Luke buries his face in his hands and mutters something to himself.
“What’s up with him?” I ask her.
She waves her hand in the air. “Oh, he’s just mad because he thinks I brought him to a sex party.”
I nod as I grab her drink and take a long pull. The sweet, icy liquid feels amazing as it slides down my throat.
“That doesn’t have alcohol,” Emory warns me.
“I figured, but I’m thirsty.” I hand it back to her. “Also, I’m pretty sure thisisa sex party. I got propositioned for a foursome on my way in.”
