Jessie opens her door, stepping out. “Comin’?” She asks, leaning her head inside the car, waiting for me. I open my door and slide out of the seat. My legs feel a little shaky, and I want to run in the opposite direction to avoid all of this. Instead, I meet Jessie at the back of the car, and together we make our way to the front of the house to go inside.
My phone vibrates with a text, and I pull it out from my back pocket. The screen is blindingly bright, so I dim the light so I don’t have to squint one eye. Reading the text, I bite back a grin, but I fail and only succeed in cutting my lip on my tooth. Hissing at the sting.
“Uh, who’s got you smiling like that? Is it your secret lover?” Jessie asks, nudging my shoulder and bouncing her eyebrows. She doesn’t even try to hide that she’s snooping to see his name.
“Ooo, what does R stand for?”
“Quit being nosey!” I tilt my phone away from her, and she starts naming off R names.
R:
I’m bored. Come over and entertain me.
“Ryan. Riley. Rhett. The options are endless.” She huffs, annoyed I won’t tell her his name yet. I know she knows him; hell, he was at her last get-together. But if I tell her, then she’ll probably unload everything she knows about him onto me. Is it bad that I would rather learn about him on my own? You can’t believe every rumor you hear.
I can’t tonight.
As much as I want to, I can’t abandon Jess like that. I promised to be here, so that’s what I’m going to do. He will just have to wait for another time.
R:
What if I didn’t give you a choice?
My mouth dries instantly as I read his response, and heat pools between my thighs. It’s clear he has one form ofentertainment on his mind, and I shouldn’t be surprised. He doesn’t know that I’m a virgin. What twenty-year-old woman is? By now, most of my peers have already slept with at least two or three people. I click the button at the top of my phone, turning it off, and place it back in my pocket. I’ll text back later, just not sure what to say right now. I can’t say I wouldn’t like it if he did take me kicking and screaming. I’ve fantasized about that. I need a guy who takes control of me. Dominate me.
“Yo! Jess and Kels! What’s up, ladies?” Zach jogs up to us, alcohol and weed seep from his pores. I could go for a good joint right about now. It would help with this crippling anxiety. Luckily, I came prepared with my own. He wedges himself between Jessie and me and drapes an arm over each of our shoulders. We know Zach from school, and we’ve always kept our distance. He’s overly flirty and gives us the ick. Jessie and I pass a silent conversation between our eyes and simultaneously dip from under his arms, running straight up the sidewalk to the front door.
“Hey, where ya goin’?” He shouts behind us with his arms held wide in aWhat the fuck?Kind of way.
Jessie holds the door open for me with one arm, and I follow in behind her. I take in our surroundings, noticing a wooden staircase that leads to a dark hallway. The only light down here is from the LED lights flashing in tune with the music playing from the huge speakers. Red Solo cups litter the decorative tables, counters, and the floor along with beer cans.
Jessie leads us into the kitchen, where a guy is makingand handing out drinks. He looks like every girl’s dream. The exposed skin I’m able to see is covered in tattoos, stopping at his sharp jawline. Wavy, dark blonde hair falls over his forehead, and he flicks his head up to sweep it out of his eyes. The girls ahead of us take their drinks, and we step up to order ours.
“Whoa, I’m gonna need to see some ID,” He says jokingly with a sexy smirk.
“Oh, shut up, Hayden. You’re in my house atmyparty,” Jessie folds her arms over her chest and lifts an eyebrow at him. “I can just kick you out as far as I’m concerned. I’ll take a Crown and Sprite, or will I have to make it myself?”
“Yikes, Jess came in feisty tonight, aye?” He chuckles and begins pouring her drink.
“I’ll take the same, or do you need that I.D?” I ask, looking up at him through my lashes and biting my lip.
“Keep looking at me like that, and I’ll do whatever you want, baby.” He winks, handing over my order, and I give a softthank you. Satisfied with our drinks, we turn, and I wait to see what Jessie has in plan for the night.
There’s more people than I thought would be here. I scan the crowd for Caleb, but I don’t see him. It would be like searching for a needle in a haystack, though. “Is Caleb here?” I shout.
“He’s around here somewhere, probably already found him some desperate pussy.” My lip curls in disgust. Men will fuck anything that walks, especially college guys, and some girls will literally give it up like it’s nothing. I’m no saint, but fucking anyone who wants it would be stupid. Idon’t need anything unwanted growing and fermenting in my pussy.
We see some friends from college on the patio, circled around the fire, and make our way over to them.
“Hey guys!” Jessie calls out, cupping her mouth for a megaphone effect.
“Hey, Jessie! Hey Kelsey!” Haylee yells back. I recognize three of them as Mike, Allison, and Tristan. Allison is sitting on some guy’s lap, but I don’t recognize him. Tristan’s smoking a joint and passes it to Mike. I step closer to the fire, warming my hands. It doesn’t matter how hot it is outside, I’m always cold.
“Y’all want a hit before I finish it off?” Mike asks while holding the joint up towards us. Jessi pinches it between her fingers, bringing it to her lips and exhaling a cloud of smoke. She passes it to me, and I fill my lungs with the wonderful herb. I blow the smoke out slowly before coughing. That’s good stuff. My eyes water, and I wish I had another drink. I finished mine in the short walk getting to the patio.
Between coughs, I say, “I’m—getting a drink. Want one?”
Jessie playfully smacks my back, laughing, “Yeah, another of what I had.” I nod, because apparently I can’t speak through coughing.
