"That doesn't mean anything."
I kiss her again because I can. Because she's here, we're okay, and I'm not taking that for granted ever again. I want everyone in the room to know I’m with her and no one else.
We migrate to the living room, where Ashton has set up beer pong. Sutton insists on being on my team even though she's terrible at it.
"I made that shot!" she protests when her ball bounces off the table.
"You were aiming for the cup on the left," I point out.
"Details."
We're laughing, her tucked under my arm, when I see him.
Cole Crawford, stumbling through the front door.
My entire body tenses.
"Who invited him?" I ask Ashton.
"No idea. Probably came with someone else."
I watch as Cole makes his way through the crowd. He's drunk. Really drunk. Swaying on his feet, words slurring when he talks to people.
"Declan." Sutton's hand on my arm. "Don't."
"I'm not doing anything."
"You're glaring at him like you want to commit murder."
"Because I do."
"He's drunk and pathetic. Just ignore him."
I try. I really do.
But Cole keeps getting closer. Keeps looking at Sutton. Keeps finding reasons to be in our general vicinity.
We're at the beer pong table when he finally makes his move.
"Sutton!" He stumbles over, all fake enthusiasm. "There you are! I've been looking for you."
"Go away, Cole," she says without looking at him.
"Come on, don't be like that. Let's talk, just for a minute." He reaches for her.
I step between them. "She said, ‘Go away.’"
"I wasn't talking to you, Hayes." He tries to move around me. "Sutton, please. Just give me five minutes."
"No." She moves closer to me. "I've asked you multiple times to leave me alone."
"But I need to tell you something. About him." Cole points at me. "About what he's been doing."
"I don't care."
"You should care! He's playing you!" Cole's voice is getting louder. People are starting to notice. "I saw him with Bree again. Yesterday. They were all over each other."
"You're a liar," I cut in.
