Only this is one time—
My sister saves me from my filthy thoughts. She bounces out the door, throws her arms around Kaylee, and pulls her from her seat. "Stop hiding from all the guys at the party."
"Your brother is a guy."
Emma scoffs. Her nose scrunches. It lights up her dark eyes—the same deep brown as mine. She runs her fingers through her violet hair and just barely restrains herself from rolling her eyes.
Kaylee's fingers brush the back of my hand as she turns toward Emma. "Sorry, Em, but it's undeniable. Just look at him."
Emma sticks out her tongue and mouths gross. "Mr. Look What a Brooding Bad Boy I Am will be here tomorrow." She grabs Kaylee's hand and pulls her toward the door. "These other guys won't." Emma looks to me. "You don't have to stay and supervise."
"Nice try," I say.
Emma laughs. She blows me a kiss then turns back to her best friend. "Don't wait up."
Kaylee's eyes meet mine. "Did you mean it?"
One part of me did. The rest of me knows better. I play coy. Shrug.
"I'll collect eventually."
"Birthdays only."
"Even so."
I watch her round hips sway as she walks away.
Fuck, that dress...
Fuck me.
How the hell am I going to get this girl out of my head?
Chapter Two
Kaylee
I'm never drinking again.
Ever.
The pounding headache, cotton mouth, and torn up stomach are reason enough.
But the loss of inhibitions?
No. Thank. You.
I push myself out of Emma's bed—she's still in her shiny silver cocktail dress and most of her makeup—and slink to the bathroom across the hall.
There's noise downstairs. The drip of a coffee maker. The scratch of a spatula. The steady footsteps of a man I can never look in the eyes again.
Not after last night.
I want a birthday kiss.
Ugh.
Inhibitions are underrated. Criminally underrated. They keep you from making a fool of yourself.