“There you are! What’s up, bro?” he shouts, walking over to where I’m standing.
“Not shit, man. Was just upstairs getting ready. Got the goods?”
“Yup, let’s go.”
Everyone who’s from around here knows Kalen is a dealer, but he still doesn’t like doing deals in front of others. We make our way into my dad’s office, which is down the hall from the kitchen. Shutting the door behind us, we head over to his desk. My parents are out of town all week—Italy, I think.
“Here’re the pills.” Handing me the baggie filled with my favorite little white companions, I hand him the cash. “I got some xannies in from my guy today. Wanna throw back a couple lines together before we go back out there?”
“Fuck yeah, bro. Line ’em up.”
He pulls another baggie out of his back pocket, dumping some of the contents on the desk, then reaches into his wallet to grab a credit card. Four thin lines are cut for us, and he hands me a rolled up hundred-dollar bill. “You first, boss.”
Not needing to be told twice, I snort both lines off the desk, handing the bill to Kalen so he can do the same. His dark, bloodshot eyes peer up at me through his lashes as he wipes his nose. Hunger dances in them seconds before he fists my hoodie, bringing my mouth down on his. He pushes his tongue inside, taking and exploring. When I suck on his tongue, he groans into my mouth.
The kiss doesn’t last very long; it never does when we do this. Pulling apart, a grin splits my face. “Thanks for that, man.”
“No problem. Have a good night. I’ll catch up with you later.” With that, he walks out of the office.
Unable to help myself, knowing it’s probably a bad idea but not having any fucks left to give, I pull the baggie out of my pocket that has the pills he gave me. Taking two out, I toss them back dry, making my way back to the party.
The entire night goes blurry shortly after that.
Then it goes completely fucking black.
What the fuck is that beeping noise and why is no one turning it off?!
Peeling my eyes open is painful, feeling like they’re covered in sandpaper, and my breath catches in my throat when my surroundings come into view. I’m in a hospital room. Lying in a hospital bed. Hooked up to an IV and machines, which is where the incessant beeping is coming from.What the fuck happened?Wracking my brain, I try to put together what I remember.
The pills on the bathroom counter.
The party.
Kalen.
Snorting lines in the office… Then more pills.
Then nothing. Absolutely nothing.Shit.
“You’re awake,” a tired, raspy voice beside me says. It startles me because I didn’t realize I wasn’t alone. Turning my head, my gaze connects with Anderson’s forest green eyes. He has dark circles under them, like he hasn’t slept much, and his hair is all fucked up, like he’s been running his hands through it.
“What happened?” I ask, but I already know the answer.
“You, uh, you overdosed, man.” His voice cracks and his eyes drop to his lap as he picks at the skin around his left thumb.
Fuck me.“How long have I been out?”
“Only like ten hours. They pumped your stomach when we got here last night. It’s eight in the morning.”
Shit.
“Crew, what the fuck is going on? Drugs?!”
His questioning eyes find mine again. The sober guilt hits my stomach, and I feel like I’m going to be sick. This wasn’t something he was ever supposed to know about. He doesn’t need to know this side of me.
This can’t be fucking happening.
Chapter One