I smile at her text, thinking about how she’s likely hiding her phone in a corner texting me. And I can read the text in her voice, her sweet, soft honey-like voice, probably rocking the hell out of whatever dress she decided to wear tonight. Iheartthe message before sending one back of my own.
Getting in car now. See you soon.
I stuff my phone in my pocket before I grab my keys and head for the door. The truth is, I’m the eager one. I can’t fucking wait to see Cadence, hopeful that this party and the one girl I can’t seem to keep my mind off of will help relieve the stress I’ve been feeling around this football season and everything else.
About fifteen minutes later I arrive to the Castles’ house. I can hear the music filtering through and echoing out into the yard as I walk through the front door, spotting people dancing in the foyer and crowded throughout the kitchen. Brayden makes me out almost immediately upon my arrival and shouts my name over a group of girls who seem to be hanging all over him. All of which turn their heads toward me as I make my way to where he’s standing.
“About time, dude. Was starting to think you weren’t coming.” I shoot him a satisfactory smirk, hoping he doesn’t see that I’m not really in the mood for all this right now.
And normally I don't mind a party here and there. I don't mind the regular hangout and small talk. But I haven’t really talked to him or anyone about my lack of offers and I know that he’s beenswimming in them all summer. I don’t know why my inbox is empty, so it’s not something I really even know how to bring up to him. Besides, right now would not be the right time so I have to put on my best party face, hopeful that he doesn’t suspect anything is off. And on top of that, I'm not really sure that this whole college thing is the only thing that's beating me up inside. I can't explain it or tell what else is going on, but something feels off.
"Wouldn't have missed it," I decide to respond to him as he hands me a red solo up.
I already know what’s in it just by the way that it smells. Brayden has always been a party drinker; he never turns down a beer. But I don’t drink and he knows it, though he still tries to be stealthy with it, hoping one day I’ll just give in. But there’s no chance. It's something I know I won't be able to handle; I know how quickly things can turn south. So I take the cup from him, push pass the girls dancing around him, and then dump the contents out in the sink. I then turn to the fridge and grab a can of sprite before pouring it into the cup knowing that the red solo cup will at least give the illusion that I’m drinking with him and I know that will be enough to make him happy for now.
After filling my cup, I take a risk to look around. A lot of familiar faces crowd the space. Guys from the football team, of course, as well as nearly everyone else from the school, actually. I have to dodge a few girls to maneuver out of the kitchen but luckily, if I don’t pay them any attention they don’t try too hard to bother me so I escape pretty much without conflict.
But then I spot someone. Ryen. And I know that usually, wherever she is…
“Cadence,” I whisper her name under my breath the moment my eyes land on her, noticing how beautiful she looks in that rose dress from the photos last night.
She’s standing near the sliding back door, the one that I inadvertently pinned her up against when I ran into a few weeks ago. She’s chatting between Ryen and her other friends, her face lit up under the twinkle lights above. Her eyes are brighter, her smile is wider and I can tell that she’s actually having a good time. Something that lightens my mood a bit. I'll never not love seeing that girl be happy.
Just the sight of her brings a smile to my face, easing the stress I’d been feeling just moments ago and I can’t help but stand and stare at her for a little longer, leaning against a wall as I observe this moment. I watch as she smiles, listening to whatever her friends are gossiping about and then I see her lips start to move. She’s joining in on the conversation, laughing as she holds her own red solo cup in one hand—positive it's anything but alcohol—and her cell phone in the other, taking sips in between whatever she just said and what the next person says.
I take a minute to soak in what she’s wearing. The dress fits her body like a glove; it's unlike anything I’ve ever seen her in. If I thought seeing her in that bikini my first day back from camp was intimidating, then seeing her right now—the dress hugs her tight while she shifts from one foot to the other—is a breath-taking experience. She's stunning. Her red hair flows down her back in loose waves, half down, half up. I can see the light smattering of freckles sprinkled across her shoulders where the fabric of the dress doesn’t cover and I feel a little territorial knowing that any part of her bare skin might be on display for everyone else to gawk at.
This is my best friend’s little sister. Someone I’ve watched grow up over the years. Someone who has always been around but never really in my reach. Now, she’s somewhat in my reach and I don’t even care what I have to do to get her attention. All I know is that I just have to talk to her.
I pull out my phone and decide that the most discreet thing to do is to text her, even though I really want to go up behind her and wrap my arms around her. So I type out the first thing that comes to mind.
You look absolutely stunning.
That dress looks really good on you, Cadence.
I watch her as she pulls her phone up to her face, a smile pulling on her lips as she very nonchalantly turns her head from side to side, seemingly trying to fine me. And when she spots me, a bigger smile tugs. Her eyes lighting up, giving me a few seconds of eye contact before she puts her head back down to her phone and I watch her respond.
Lol thank you.
I wish you’d let me say it to your face.
I watch her as she puts the phone down, a blush covering her pale skin as she seems anguished by my text. Visibly so. It causes me to crack another smile right as she glances back up at me again. But then she turns around, giving me her back as I watch her type some more.
My phone vibrates.
I think Brayden would actually lose his shit if he saw us talking like that.
I’m starting to wonder if I actually give a fuck.
Zach…
Just being honest.
Well, as you have said, he’d be pissed.
She’s not wrong, especially if he knew the thoughts that are running through my mind right now. Brayden would absolutely lose his shit on me if he knew what I was doing over here; more than just keeping my eyes on his sister.
As I also said, I’ll handle it.
