Page 85 of For the Fans

Frankie rolls her eyes. “Okay, Avi, nowyouneed to chill out. I was justtalkingto him. And cards on the table, I was hoping you’d show up and bring that smoldering tension you two can’t help but make together.” She nudges me and leans in to whisper in my ear, “Maybe it’ll help drum up some more spicy content for later.”

My jaw clenches. “You’re meddling, Frances. Leave it alone.”

She shrugs unapologetically, spinning to talk to Micah. And my eyes slide back over to the couch. But Kyran is gone.

Letting out a breath of relief, and maybe something else I don’t care to analyze, I accept yet another drink from Zeb, and the four of us get to partying, which is what I came here for, despite what my jerk of a stepbrother thinks.

The night surges on. People are getting pretty drunk, shouting and laughing, dancing and hooking up. I finally get to see Bea for a few, and of course she has to tell me all about how she touched Theo’s dick earlier and how shejust knowsit’s big and beautiful.

I’m trying to pace myself with the drinking, but I can’t help it. Kyran is across the room all night, fucking around with his football friends and shooting me the occasional death-glare. It’s annoying because I thought I’d gotten over his assholish ways. But ever since we started recording things together, it’s like his mood is affecting me more than I want it to, and it’s pissing me off.

Kyran’s roommate, Guty, gets into the middle of the room and starts breakdancing, which is as hilarious as it is awesome. We’re all cackling and cheering for him as Zeb pokes me in the side.

“That dude is so fucking hot,” he whispers to me, and I curl my neck to drunkenly gawk at him. “What?? He is…”

“He’s also like… the straightest straight guy ever invented.” I chuckle, watching Guty move.

Zeb shrugs. “Challenge accepted.”

Rolling my eyes, I huff at his nonsense, my gaze traveling over the crowd of people swaying and moving to the music. It stops short when I see Lexi Erikson, Kyran’s cheerleaderpal, with her hands running up his chest. She’s whispering something in his ear, and he kind of looks bored. But still, his hand is resting on her waist while she kisses his jaw.

Then his eyes lock on mine. Bringing my cup to my lips, I use it to distract myself and try to remain indifferent. But I can’t seem to break the staring contest. And now Lexi is licking his ear… sucking on his earlobe.

Like he did to me. In secret.

My eyebrow quirks at him, the subtlest of unintentional smirks gracing my lips. And his eyes fill with visible rage. He grabs Lexi by the face and kisses her, rough and deep. Almost aggressively, making out with the blonde bimbo like he’s digging for gold in her mouth with his tongue.

I mean, really… does he even want to kiss her?? What is he trying to accomplish right now??

I keep watching him, and his eyes creep open, settling on mine once more while his lips move audaciously with Lexi’s.

Okay… dramatic much?

We get it, you like girls. Who doesn’t??

I’m getting sort of fed up with this party, and the anxiety this whole stupid experience seems to be breeding inside me for no fucking reason. Turning away, I spot Bea on Theo’s shoulders while he gallops around the room like a horse. Weaving through the bodies, I stagger over to them.

“Babe, I might take off…” I tell Bea as she rips a shot from a bottle of Fireball.

“No! Don’t leave yet!” she whines.

“Yea, bro!” Theo slurs. “It’ssoearly.”

“It’s really not that early…” I mutter, pulling a joint and my lighter from my shirt pocket.

“Oooh, good idea!” Bea hops off Theo’s back. “Let’s toke toke.” She turns and bats her eyelashes at him. “Can wepleasesmoke in your bathroom, sex muffin?”

Theo looks like he wants to protest, but Bea’s really laying it on thick, dragging her nails over his abs through his shirt.

He purses his lips. “Fine. But blow the smoke into some toilet paper or something.” Bea squeals and kisses his cheek, grabbing me by the arm. “And use a shit-ton of Febreze!”

“This ain’t my first rodeo, cowboy!” I call out to him and wink as Bea drags me toward the bathroom.

“Excuse me, thank youuu,” she hums, throwing herself in front of people who were waiting for the bathroom, shoving me inside and closing the door behind us.

Laughing, I light up the joint, pulling in a long drag before handing it to her.

I grab an empty toilet paper roll and stuff it with toilet paper for a makeshift vaporizer, blowing the smoke into it while Bea showers us in Febreze.