“Okay,” I say slowly, wrapping my arms around myself uncomfortably.
“Fuck.Hang tight. I’ll go get her to explain. I can’t stand you looking at me like that, Thornton. And I want to have a good night.” He gives me a pleading grin before setting his beer can down on a stump to chase after Hailey. I watch him disappear into the dark trees before I turn my attention back to the party.
I don’t want to just stand here and wait with my thoughts, so I decide to venture out into the crowd. I’m swallowed whole by the music and the swarm of the bodies around me instantly. I’m glad I didn’t bring a sweater because it’s hot with all the people dancing and bumping into one another. Not to mention the bonfire blazing in the center only twenty feet away.
There’s something so invigorating about being in a new town where no one knows you. It’s like a new lease on life. No one knows your past, and you don’t have any baggage or dramaattached to your name. In my case, it’s a dead family and murderous ex. But still. I can be whoever I want to be now.
I smile at a few guys who keep stealing looks my way.
I move my hips and sip on my drink. The light buzz starts to sift in after a few minutes, and a group of people have moved in around me, dancing with their hands in the air and having a careless, fun night. It’s easy to get swept into, and I enjoy every second of it. It’s like a nightclub in the fucking forest.
After a few songs, I cast a glance back in the direction where Grahm went after Hailey. He should’ve been back by now, right? I don’t see either of them back by the coolers.Weird.I frown and start to maneuver around people and head in that direction.
A hand snags around my wrist and pulls me back against a hard chest. I stiffen and look over my shoulder, meeting John’s sultry eyes.
“Hey, Briar, thought I saw you at the store today.Weird, though.I could’ve swore that Roman told you to get out of our town.” His grip on my wrist is tight, but everything about his tone and facial expressions are disarming. Playful rather than threatening.
I turn to face him, giving him a scowl. “Funny, I thought I saw you too. Are you incapable of keeping your hands off women?” I reply sweetly.
His smile fades and his eyes darken. “Briar, you should leave before Roman sees you out here. We did you a courtesy not saying anything to him, but you need to get fucking lost somewhere else.” He starts pulling me toward the parking lot.
I tear my arm from his grip, garnering a few bystanders’ attention. “I came here with someone, and I’m not going anywhere. What’s the difference between me and the woman you were with earlier today? I don’t see her being dragged out of town.”
His expression is unreadable, and his jaw is flexed.
“Fine.” He takes a wide step back and lifts his hands in surrender. “But don’t expect me to help you later, Briar.”
I give him a fake smile. “Gee thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.”
John’s returning grin is filled with amusement. “Someone has spunk. I hope you keep it. I hate seeing the girls that lose it.” He pats my head as he walks by and moves into the crowd. I lose sight of him in a mere second and can only assume that he’s off to find his little posse of douchebags.
Great.Well, I didn’t last long before getting spotted. I’d better find Grahm. I finish off my mule before passing the coolers and moving into the dark shadows that the forest creates.
“Grahm?” I say moderately loud. The music is still bumping, so there’s a good chance he didn’t hear me. I narrow my eyes and try to see better but can only make out some figures in the trees. There are a handful of groups standing around and talking while they sip their drinks. A few couples are pressed up against trees and making out.
Where the hell did he go? My eyes skirt over another couple before I pause and look back at them. It’s Hailey and Grahm. It’s too dark to see what they’re doing, but he’s leaned up against her, and their faces are close enough for me to draw conclusions.
The blood leaves my face, and my throat knots up. I know we just met, but I had hopes thatI’dbe kissing him tonight.Damn it.
Good for them for working things out, I guess. I shake my head and smile. They are both nice people, so it makes sense that they’d be magnets to each other. The kind of guys that I’m always drawn to aren’t as friendly as him.
My feet are sluggish as I move back up toward the bonfire—that drink hit me harder than I thought it would. When did I become such a lightweight? I stagger a few more steps before looking up. My gaze ?catches on someone standing perfectly inthe center between two trees and blocking my way back to the party.
His jacket is familiar, with the cargo pockets and a hoodie slung over his head.No. I could never forget that arrogant lopsided stance, like he doesn’t care about anything. The jacket is the exact same one I saw him wearing last night too.
Thank fucking God Roman’s looking the other way.
I take the opportunity to quickly turn back around and maneuver my way through the forest back toward Grahm and Hailey. They’ve moved somewhere else, but I spot his hoodie and hat hanging on a branch near where I last saw them.
There’s not much of an option since I don’t feel like dying out here tonight. So I quickly head over and snag Grahm’s hoodie. It’s enormous and drops down to my knees.So much for dancing and having fun, I fume as I pull his baseball cap over my head.
It smells like Grahm, and I get another stomach twist at the turn of events. He could’ve at least told me not to wait up instead of leaving me there to look like an idiot. I glare into the dark trees and huff. I don’t feel bad for taking his things. He owes me this at least.
I turn to try to find another path up to the party but am met with a broad chest and the lovely scent of teakwood and motor oil.
Fuck, it’s Roman.
“Oh, sorry,” I say sheepishly, making sure to keep my head down and try to get by him. He grunts and steps aside.He didn’t recognize me!I get a few steps up before I hear him following me.
