“He’s not going to be able to keep his hands off you tonight. You’re hot, girlfriend.” Hailey voices, puckering her lips and making kissy noises.
I shove her away, chuckling. She had been more understanding than I’d expected when I told her what had happened with Cole and I’s kiss.
Her dimple pops out. “The question is now, which boy will it be?” Winking, shooting me a sly look.
My brows crash together. She was talking about Xander. He’d also still been a regular at hanging out with us at school.
I groan. “Did anyone ever tell you, you’re too nosy.”
“Only my mother on any day that ends in ‘y,’” she replies good-naturedly.
My phone vibrates.
Iceman: I’m beginning to think you’re avoiding me, princess. Too bad I always know where to look.
Cole had been sending me teasing messages like that all night. He was in a playful mood tonight and I wasn’t sure why, but I liked it. He could be charming when he wanted to be.
The opposite of how I’d seen him for so long. Who knew this boy even existed. I hadn’t but I’m glad he was the one letting me in to see.
As soon as we get downstairs, “are you excited?”
“Not in the slightest,” I reply. Pushing my way past a shirtless guy with an oversized beer can hat and a bare chest. The word savage written in permanent marker across it.
Whoever wrote it misspelled savage and put an ‘I’ instead of an ‘A’. So, it looks likeSavige.
Idiot.
I am only able to give Eli a small wave before Hailey is grabbing at an entire bottle of liquor from the kitchen counter. Mischief sparkling in her eyes.
Hailey drags us to the center of the makeshift dance floor in the living room. Uncapping the drink, she makes a face. I do the same after taking my own and she giggles.
We dance for I’m not sure how long before Finn comes and joins us. My limbs felt loose and limber from the tequila and I realized I was having a good time.
He and Hailey had drunk most of the bottle themselves by this point, but I’d have a drink here and there.
I had just put the bottle to my lips when I felt that familiar tingle that could only come from one person. Cole was watching.
I shouldn’t look for him, but I do. Scanning the crowd subtlety, I come up empty and am mildly disappointed. Had I been wrong?
Only after I tilt my head back taking a drink do I spot him. Our irises connecting like when an arrow finds its target. Bullseye!
His arms are sprawled out, resting on the edge of the banister on the upstairs balcony. From all the way up there, he looked like the ruler he was, condemning his people.
Slowly he pushes back standing to his full height. The edge of his mouth lifts like he was almost tempted to smile. Amused at watching me down here.
That expression turns lethal when Hailey pretends to use me as a pole sliding down my side. Oblivious to Cole’s heated stare. He hides it, for the most part, burying his face behind his red plastic cup but I saw how his irises darkened.
His throat bobs as he swallows and my entire body buzzes. Spreading through me like liquid nitrogen. I felt like I was in a trance, and I didn’t want out.
I inhale through my nose. Devouring that itch that now feels like I had swallowed an entire swarm of cotton balls. Lodged deep into my mouth stuck there.
Cole’s stare heavy. Potent and all-consuming.
Aching, I had to fight not to force my legs together. Those predatory eyes only on me.Only for me.
The alcohol burns down my throat, but I relish in the distraction. Cole was starting to rob me of my emotions. Would one still be considered a thief if they didn’t mind?
You’ve slipped through the cracks. That’s all you are to him, a challenge, my subconscious screams at me. Sobering me like a priest as Hailey’s words shoot through my brain like a bad rerun stuck on a loop.