he showed up at the back door.”
“That’s where he went.” She tapped her lips. “He doesn’t know
why you were crying?”
“No.”
“Good. Don’t let him in, I beg you,” she said, creating a steeple
with her hands. “I tell all my girlfriends who meet him that he is
nothing but trouble. If you let him in, Lauren, he will hurt you.”
She grabbed my face in her hands, looking me in the eye. “I know,” I replied. My eyes shut and I let out a deep sigh.
Cassie was right. Mason had the reputation of breaking hearts, not
mending them.
“Now, Nick, on the other hand—”
“No. Nah-uh. Don’t go there.” I shook my head, walking away. “He doesn’t have the bad-boy reputation that Mason has,” she
assured me.
I stopped and spun around, glancing quickly to see if anyone
was around, then whispered, “He kissed me on the dance floor that
same night at the club, then asked if I wanted to go home with him.
I’m sure they are quite similar,” I growled.
“Oh.” She screwed her lips to the side. “Sorry. I didn’t know.” “Now you do,” I huffed. I felt terrible even though I never
instigated either situation.
“Well, let’s drink our woes away.” She linked her arm with
mine.
“What woes do you have?” I scoffed.
“None, but I will drink to yours.” She laughed.
I rolled my eyes but laughed along with her. The music got
louder as we walked around the side of the house to the backyard.
The weather wasn’t quite cold enough to force us inside, and there
were heat lamps around the patio.
CHAPTER SEVEN
After an hour, I should have realized it was time to leave when everyone started to stumble around and then Cassie suggested a game of Truth or Dare. With at least fifteen of us, the game could go on for hours, and only three were coupled up. I pushed my chair away from the circle that had been created around the bonfire. That wasn’t the type of game I was interested in playing, especially with Nick around. Cassie started to announce the rules as she pulled my chair closer to the group. I shook my head, pleading with her to stop. She laughed and shook her head.
“If you refuse to make a choice, you must take a drink or be thrown in the pool.” She laughed, repeatedly pointing her finger at me. I shook my head, glaring at her. “Who’s first?” she said, putting a bottle of tequila on the table with a shot glass.