“Neither did I.” She leaned in close. “Then again, I wasn’t planning on wearing one…”
I swallowed and tried to convince myself I was a good guy. That somewhere deep inside I was more than the infamous playboy the rumors made me out to be. But the longer Vanessa smiled up at me, the more I seemed to forget. The more I wondered whether jumping in the hot tub with her would really be such a bad idea. Perhaps Vanessa deserved a second chance. Why couldn’t I let one of the hottest girls in school help me take my mind off a disappointing game?
“That sounds…” I didn’t finish the thought, as someone moved past the kitchen door and caught my attention. Mackenzie. She looked between Vanessa and me, rolled her eyes, and walked on. The sight of her disdain was a splash of cold water, and suddenly the jacuzzi with Vanessa didn’t seem so appealing.
Was there something wrong with me, or was that just the Mackenzie Foster effect? Wasn’t she already causing me enough problems?
“That sounds…” Vanessa prompted me hopefully.
“Like a bad idea,” I said. “It’s freezing out. I wouldn’t want you to catch a cold.”
She laughed lightly. “I won’t if you’re there keeping me warm.”
Nope, I still wasn’t feeling it. Damn Mackenzie and her judgmental eyes.
“No thanks.”
“But Parker—”
“Maybe ask someone else.” I glanced up and noticed Owen innocently peering into the kitchen from the other side of the room. When he saw me, he waved cheerfully.
“Like Cleaver,” I continued. “He loves a good hot tub. And I hear he also gives great massages.”
“Owen?” Vanessa turned her attention to my friend. “Really?”
“Yep,” I said, wiggling my eyebrows when she glanced back at me. “People say he has magic fingers.”
“Interesting…” Vanessa only considered the idea for a moment, before fixing her hair, adjusting her top and ditching me to slink across the kitchen floor toward Owen.
I gave him a subtle thumbs up, but his expression morphed from confusion to horror when he realized Vanessa was making a beeline for him. A second later she was hanging off his shoulder and whispering something in his ear. His eyes only grew wider.
Poor kid. I’d really thrown him to the wolves. He clearly thought the same, because when Vanessa was done with her whispering, Owen stammered something in reply and then practically sprinted away.
It wasn’t a bad strategy. I followed suit by making an equally quick exit from the kitchen and heading outside. It was much calmer out here. There were a few people hanging out on the back porch, but my eyes were drawn beyond them, down to the garden, where a blonde girl was standing alone, staring up at the maple tree.
Of course Mackenzie was out here. I couldn’t escape her.The girl who was to blame for my coach hating me, who stole my clothes and gave me a black eye. The girl I’d been specifically ordered to stay away from yet still seemed to cause me trouble at every turn.
But as I looked at her, I was struck by the sorrow in her eyes. It hit me even harder than the look of fear I’d seen on her face before the game today, because, this time, I knew I was to blame.
My feet were moving before I could stop them. I guess I had always liked a little trouble.
Chapter 16Mackenzie
Five minutes at my first Ransom High party, and already I was counting down the seconds until I could leave. I wasn’t particularly excited about socializing after the game. The aches and pains in my muscles had already started to set in, each time I moved my legs a reminder of how badly I’d failed today.
I’d been hoping the party might provide a much-needed distraction. But so far it had only been a disappointment. The music was so loud I could barely think, our injured goalie and party host Elliot had taken a break from downing tequila shots to corner me in the hallway and gloat, and I’d lost my friends in the crowd. I probably should have searched for them, but instead I chose escape.
It was freezing outside tonight, but as I wandered into Elliot’s backyard I found the night’s cold air far more comforting than the throng of bodies inside. It felt like the entire school was here. The opportunity to drink and party was clearly enough to make most people forget the Devils had lost today. I wished I could forget so easily.
“You know, the party’s supposed to be inside.”
I spun to see Parker standing behind me. I must have been really lost in thought for him to sneak up on me like that, especially when the air around me seemed to vibrate at his very presence. I was just glad it wasn’t Elliot returning to revel in my failure once more.
“Then what are you doing out here?” I asked. “I saw you inside with Vanessa. Looked like you were having a good time.”
“You say that like it’s a crime.”
I cursed myself for admitting I’d been watching him. Who was I to judge Parker for cuddling up close with girls at parties? Why should I even care?
