Chapter 28 - Levana
Iglanced around thedeck, fronted by a large pool and the white walls of a very square house with lots of windows at my rear. Whoever owned this place was like seriously rich. So far, conversation centred mostly around football games, who was sleeping with who, and idle gossip about people I didn’t know. In the hour since I’d arrived with Wes and his brother who went to Preston College, the place had filled up with so many people, I lost count and my ability to befriend everyone who said hi.
Overwhelmed, I tucked myself into a corner and accepted the drinks Wes and his brother, Carter kept plying me with, every now and then. Having never consumed alcohol before, the drinks were awful at first but by the third one, I figured I was too numb to taste anything. Even my irritation with Cian for ditching me, evaporated.
Somewhere at the back of my mind a constant niggle warned I should go home while I could still think. Stupidly, I ignored the alarm bells. I knew getting back at Saint this way was childish, idiotic and would probably have no impact on him. Once that thought hit me, my stomach churned, and my shoulders sagged in surrender. Before I could turn tail and run, Carter cornered me against the wall, shoving a red cup into my hand.
“Drink up, Lee, you’ll love this one.” Although a college senior, he was still cute in a nerdy sort of way, with a thick mop of reddish-brown curls, freckles across his nose and large brown eyes. I liked him and even thought of kissing him until a girl—a name I couldn’t remember, thrust her tongue down his throat the second she entered the house.
Swallowing the drink that started off sweet then swirled into bitterness, I cringed at the aftertaste. “Oh, my God, what is that?” I stuck my tongue out panting like a dog, to kill the burn. It stung.
Carter laughed. “It’s Grand Marnier.”
“Say what,” I held out my hands in a questioning gesture.
“Never mind. You seriously don’t drink, do you, Lee?” I shook my head, rubbing my tongue. “C’mon, it’s not that bad.”
“Well, it’s not good either.” I moaned. He laughed harder before someone yanked him by the arm, pulling him away.
Another guy, dressed in a Preston College football shirt, approached me to talk. I wasn’t sure how long we’d been chatting before I reached a point where my feet refused to keep me upright. Then loud music bellowed through speakers placed around the pool. The punk rock startled me into an unsuspecting laugh and even though I was ready to drop into one of the many couches, I felt my body sway to the beat. It seemed to have relaxing effect on my usual wariness.
“Hey, angel. Want to dance?” Wes came up behind me and slipped his arms around my waist pulling my back into his chest.
Angel? Fake much?After Davien’s warning, the only other time Wes had spoken to me was when he wanted help on his calculus homework. My sarcastic side decided he was angling for a front-row lick at my pussy which he probably knew hadn’
“I have two left feet.” I tried freeing myself from his embrace and he tightened his hold.
“I was thinking horizontal tango,” he blew into my ear, releasing a breath of weed mixed with alcohol.
Of course, he was. My laugh was a toss-up between nerves and humour. Meeting Carter on the field was unplanned and when they invited Cian and me to a party, I thought of only one thing—getting back at Saint by losing my virginity. Now though, unsure if it was the alcohol or cold feet, something in me quit feeling excited about the prospect. Finally, my bravery took a nose-dive. I wanted out.
Searching my head for an excuse, I lifted my empty cup. “Can I get another drink first.”
He chuckled, turning me around to face him. “Are you stalling the inevitable, angel?”
Why did that word sound so sexy in the movies? Coming from him, it sounded sleezy. “No. Just really thirsty I guess.”
“Here, let me help.”
Before I could stop him, he backed me up against a wall, planted his lips over mine and he tried to stick his tongue in my mouth. I turned away before he could, the cup falling from my hand. Ordinarily, I would’ve pushed him away, I figured the alcohol was beginning to take effect. Sluggish, I barely made a dent in my efforts. I shook my head.
