Page 11

My gaze drops briefly to her breasts, and her cheeks flush. She puts her hands on my thighs, and I try to remember if I have another condom… I should’ve bought a whole fucking box.

“Sign it.”

“Waste of time. Nothing could keep me away.” Still, I scribble my name real quick and shove it toward her, trading the pen for her slim waist and pulling her to me again.

“It’s a binding, legal document.” She shoves the round coaster into her purse. I lean forward to kiss her neck again, inhaling deeply.

Under the flowers is a sweet scent I only get from Drew’s skin. I love it. Her shoulder rises and she laughs. “Tickles.”

I want to taste her lips again. I want to spend some time with those perfect breasts. I want to tell her I love her, but the screech of the back door opening kills our moment.

Drew hops away from me, and I stand as her brother trips into the room, Leslie clutched under his arm.

“Here the fuck you are!” Danny’s drunk. “I’ve been looking for your ass everywhere. What are you doing down here in the dark? Drew? Is that you?”

“I was just headed up to the party.” Drew puts her purse under her arm. “Gray, you coming?”

“You’d better get back to the party.” Danny’s voice is sharp. “I don’t want you messing around down here in the dark. You’re just a kid.”

“I’m eighteen now,” she yells.

“Did you just talk back to me?”

Danny gets mean when he’s drunk, and I want Drew upstairs before he tries anything. I’m not above putting him in a headlock.

“Hey.” I step between him and his sister. “It’s our party, right? What’s next on the playlist?”

“Probably fucking Marvin Gaye. That’s what you want to hear.”

“Yeah, what’s going on…” I sing, holding out my hand for a five.

He squints at me a moment, and my hand remains stationary, waiting for him to clap it. Leslie is there, glaring daggers at me. I ignore her. She’ll suck Danny’s dick then pretend like she wants to sleep with me. I’m no fool. She wants us both.

I only want Drew.

Danny finally decides to let go of whatever he’s thinking and reaches up to slap my hand. “I’ll be up in a minute.”

My eyes drift to Leslie, and I know it’ll be longer than a minute before he joins us again… with a red ring around the base of his shaft. If he doesn’t pass out on her.

“Drew! I said go on,” he barks loudly at her. It makes my jaw clench.

She pauses at the door and looks back at me. Our eyes meet, and hers are worried. I know what she’s thinking, and I give her t

he smile I save just for her. The one that tells her how I feel. Don’t worry, I’ll see you again before I go.

“You don’t have to leave, Grayson.” Leslie’s finger slides up my forearm.

My eyes flicker to her, and I take a step back. “It’s our party. One of us should be up there.”

Just like that, my cocky mask is in place again, the one I wear around this town to prove I don’t care what they think of me.

I hustle up the back stairs, knowing when I get out, it’s going to be different. I will be good enough. I will deserve her.

Chapter 3

Drew

“The days passed and the beast became a burden too great to bear, but still the man carried on…”