Page 10 of The Destruction You Desire

"Yeah, do you think it's my color?"He winks.

"Let's go get drinks."

"Are you sure you need another?" I ask Letty as she takes my now free hand and pulls me toward the kitchen.

"Elijah, Kane. Kane, Elijah. He's… kinda my cousin, I guess."

They nod at each other and follow us through the groups of people.

"Look who I found," Letty announces the second we're in the kitchen causing everyone to turn and look at me.

"What the hell happened this afternoon?" Ella asks, clearly more sober than Letty.

"Family stuff."

"Fair enough. Here you go, a very special cocktail for the birthday girl." She passes me over a Solo cup with God knows what inside it and encourages me to knock it back, which I do with a little hesitation. The second I swallow, I regret it because the alcohol burns.

"Jesus. What the hell is this?"

Ella shrugs, too busy staring at the person over my shoulder.

"You brought a friend," she says, clearly as interested in him as Elijah is in her.

"His name is Elijah. He's a marine. Ships out again soon so do not get attached in any way. He's my aunt Fee's son."

"And he is hella hot. You mind?"

"By all means." While he's distracted with her, the less chance he'll be able to play big brother slash fake boyfriend with me.

"Giiirl, you are looking F-I-N-E," Brax says, coming to stand before me.

"Ah, the good-looking, smart one," I quip.

"I think I'm going to need a dance with the birthday girl tonight."

"I'm sure that can be arranged. Although, I'm pretty sure I remember you being firmly warned off me," I say, remembering Ella's demands when I went to their dorm the other week.

"Oh, she's fully distracted, don't worry." He winks.

My lips part to warn him about Luca. I know both Brax and West are on the team, which means they're his boys, but I don't want to think about him right now let alone say his name out loud.

I startle when a hand lands on my waist, but the second Letty's floral scent hits my nose I relax.

"Brax, stop looking at her tits," she slurs. "We all know you're desperate but Peyton is not for you."

"They're right in my face, I can't not look," he says with his hands up in defeat.

"The girls are looking good, Peyton. I bet Lu—"

"Don't," I growl, cutting her off before she lets his name slip past her lips.

"Has something happened?" she asks, clearly sensing that something is wrong even while she's intoxicated.

"It doesn't matter. I'm here to have fun and let go."

"Hell yeah. Let's go dance." She takes my hand before reaching for Kane with the other. "El, bring your marine. We're dancing," she shouts.

We blend into the crowd that are grinding it up in what I can only assume should be the living room and the second we come to a stop Letty pulls me into her and we dance together with Kane at her back.