Page 67 of The One

That was why she hadn’t asked.

The size of her heart and her caring nature were two things I loved the most about her.

Lainey wasn’t the type of girl who just held my hand, like we were doing now. She was the type who stroked my skin at the same time because she knew it soothed me, because it showed even more love.

She didn’t have to try; it just came naturally to her.

“We have to leave Elijah’s at about ten to twelve to make sure I get you home in time.” I’d never been late dropping her off, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to start now. “I’m saying this because once we show up, everyone is going to be throwing drinks at us, trying to get us to stay and party, and it could turn into something wild.”

“And they’re going to be so wasted.”

“Exactly.”

“Do you know what it’s like getting away from a wasted person? They’re like an octopus, they cling, and they don’t let go.”

I laughed. “Which is why we need to be fast. We’ll divide up so we can cover double the ground in the same amount of time. When one of us finds Penelope, we’ll text the other person. If she needs a ride, then she’ll leave with us. We’ll slip out the back if we have to in order to draw less attention. Cool?”

“Perfect plan. But what if she’s not there?”

I quickly glanced at her. “You really think she’s not there?”

“Anything is possible when it comes to her.”

“True.” I pulled into Elijah’s neighborhood. “But something tells me she’s there.”

There were cars on both sides of the street, parked on every inch of spare curb, which told me Penelope’s description had been right when she called Lainey and said everyone was there.

“Penelope wasn’t kidding,” Lainey said. “It looks like the whole school is here.”

“You’re in my head. I was thinking the same thing.” I was still holding her hand up to my face, breathing in her skin, and I nipped the back of her palm. “But I’d much rather have been at the park with you than here with them. I’d choose you any day over this.”

I heard her smile when she said, “Same.”

I found a parking spot several houses past Elijah’s, and we climbed out and hurried toward the front of his mansion. As I opened the door, the blasting music hit my ears, and all I could smell was weed.

And people—they were everywhere.

Lainey walked in first, and I shut the door behind us, turning her toward me.

I put my hands around her ear, hoping to block out some of the noise as I said, “Most of my football team is here. The second they see me, it’s going to be hard to pull away from them. That’s why I’m going to go upstairs, where I assume it’s much less crowded, and check the bedrooms and bathrooms for Pen. Why don’t you stay down here, look outside by the pool, go into the parents’ bedroom and bathroom, dining room, living room, and media room? I even think there’s a wine cellar. It’s a big place. We have a lot of ground to cover.”

When I pulled away, she nodded.

My lips went close to her ear again, my arms wrapping around her, my hands on her ass. “Have your phone out and text me if you find her.”

“You do the same.”

“See you in a sec?—”

“My two favorite people,” Timothy said, cutting me off and stopping us from leaving.

The guy had come out of nowhere, his arms going around my shoulders and Lainey’s shoulders, holding us all close together.

I could smell the booze on him, and the weight he was bearing down on me told me he was having a hard time standing up.

“I was losing hope that I was going to see you fools tonight,” he said. “Don’t tell me, you went on a date and told each other how much you love each other.”

I didn’t take my eyes off Lainey when I replied, “I told her that a long time ago, but nice try.”