I feel so awkward all of a sudden. “Right… mission accomplished, I guess.”
“I’m going to grab another drink. Want anything?”
“Yes!” I’m practically begging. “Whatever you’re having.”
He disappears into the crowd, and I just stand there, frozen in place, pressing my lips with my fingers, my heart pounding in my chest. It’s like the blood in my veins is electric, and though my pulse should be slowing down, it’s only picking up. I shift from foot to foot, swaying back and forth. I want to laugh, and I want to…Where’s Lane?
I swing around to check the makeshift bar. The lights and campfire are blinding. I scour the crowds until I lock eyes with Kirk, and I nearly choke on my own spit. Lane was right—judging by the way Kirk is watching me from his seat on that log, he didn’t miss a second of what just happened. I’m surprised by how unguilty I feel. I watch as he slowly puts his beer down in the sand and makes to stand. Is he coming over here? I see him mouth something. And then he starts walking right toward me. But something makes me look away. It’s like my body can sense him. Lane. He’s slouching at the bar, a glass in either hand, deep in discussion with a brunette I recognize immediately.You have got to be kidding me.In a few quick strides, I close the space between us, so mad I almost spit the words.
“What the hell are you doing?”
Lane jumps.
“Just getting to know each other,” Emily purrs.
So now she’s trying to steal Lane, too? For real? She got what she wanted with Kirk, and now she’s got her eye on my new boyfriend? Shit,fakeboyfriend, Lois!I should be stoked that she’s moved on from Kirk, but all it does is fuel my anger.
“In that case, let me get that.”
I snatch the cup away from Lane and down it in one.
“And you know what? I’ll take care of this one, too.”
I reach for the second beer, holding it up in an invisible toast. I silently curse Emily as I drain half the beer, putting an end to their cozy little chat. The way Lane is smirking at me is really getting under my skin, and I take a deep breath in to stop myself from yanking his hair.
“Have a great night,Amelia,” he drawls.
He lunges for me, grabbing me by the waist so suddenly I let out a yelp as he hoists me over his shoulder. My cup slips from my hand and falls to the ground, spattering Lil’ Em as it goes. I’m too far now to make out what she snarls at me, but Iamclose enough for her to notice the finger I’m flipping her way.
Lane hauls me through the throng of dancing bodies, and I greet familiar faces with a maniacal smile as we go, watching mouths fall open in our wake.
I pummel Lane’s lower back. “What are you doing?!”
“Saving us from a slow and painful death?”
“Seemed like you were enjoying yourself…”
He stops in his tracks and swings me down to my feet, and as I teeter backward, he grabs my T-shirt to steady me. Before he lets me go, he pulls me closer.
“You’re full of surprises, you know.”
“How so?”
“You do a great job playing the jealous chick.” He tugs on a strand of my hair.
“I hate that kind of girl. The ones who flirt with other girls’ boyfriends.”
He raises an eyebrow, and I thump him in the chest.
“Oh, please—you know what I mean.”
He studies me, twirling a lock of my hair around his finger. It feels like he wants to tell me something. My eyes drift down to his lips.Jesus. Why do I want to kiss him again?I need to put a stop to this. Immediately.
“Lois?”
“Mm-hmm?”
I blink a few times before shifting my gaze up to his eyebrows. There, that’s better. Eyebrows are much safer.
