But I don’t question it.
I just pull out my phone and call Hollis.
Chapter Ten
HOLLIS
BEFORE…
“Man, I thought you said you were gonna dump Sienna Turner last week?” I groan as we pull up to the curb and glance up. The house is ridiculous—modern and sleek, with floor-to-ceiling windows and lush landscaping.
I don’t even know why I’m surprised anymore.
“I was,” Hendrix says as we start to get out of the car. I walk around the front and meet him at the curb. “But then she suggested we go skinny dipping in her parents’ pool, and I kind of forgot.”
We head toward the front door. I try not to stare, but it’s difficult. The sheer size of the place is intimidating, especially since the last place my mom and I lived was smaller than the driveway we just passed. “And now we’re stuck going to her best friend’s lame birthday party.”
“Might not be lame.” Hendrix shrugs.
An hour later, my best friend is eating his words as we’re both forced into a circle on the floor of Bethany’s—that’s the birthday girl—gigantic living room.
“Time for spin the bottle!” She claps her hands with glee.
“Ah, what the fuck?” Hendrix groans.
“Told you,” I mutter, just as his eyes widen. I glance across the circle to see what has him so rattled and then laugh.
“Nope.” His head shakes back and forth with force. “I will not play spin the bottle with my sister sitting across from me. That’s way too hillbilly for me.”
Bethany rolls her eyes as Sienna comes to sit next to Hendrix. Apparently, she has no qualms with the idea of her boyfriend kissing other girls. “If it lands on Presley, you will obviously spin again, Hendrix. Duh.” She plops down beside me, and I get hit with the overwhelming scent of her fancy ass perfume. It reminds me of the flowery one my mom always wears. I try not to gag. “Now, if there aren’t any other dumb questions, let’s begin.”
She then announces she gets the first turn because it’s her birthday. She even points to the giant crown on her head as if we didn’t all know.
She spins the bottle, and we all watch as it lands on some football jock across from her. They both grin, and she jumps up, smoothing the skirt of her dress as if she’s about to walk down the aisle.
“Later, losers,” the jock says.
“Wait. Where are you going?” Presley asks. My eyes jerk toward her. It’s involuntary. Whenever I hear her voice, I can’t help but look at her.
“To my bedroom. Set the timer,” she says to Sienna. “Seven minutes.”
My brow furrows. “You realize those are two different games, right?”
Her perfectly powdered nose scrunches. “What?”
“Spin the bottle and seven minutes in heaven? Two different games.”
She rolls her eyes. “Whatever. It’s my birthday. I get to do whatever I want.”
“Yeah, cock block. Let her do whatever she wants,” the jock hollers over her shoulder.
He’s right. I don’t even know why I’m arguing. It’s seven minutes without those two. I should be celebrating. Instead, I awkwardly sit around and wait while Hendrix goes off to play his own version of the game with Sierra. Everyone else drifts off to grab snacks or beer.
“Hey, Hollis,” Presley joins me. The scent of vanilla follows her. Unlike Bethany, it’s not overpowering or pretentious. It’s just…her.
“Hey, Pres. Didn’t expect to see you here.”
She shrugs. Our shoulders bump. She doesn’t pull away. “Alex asked me to come.”
