“Hey, have you seen Alec?”
The dude shrugs. “He said he had to take a piss.”
“Thanks.”
Without Alec and Elena distracting me, I feel on display. I take a post in the corner to people watch.
“Hey,” Devlin says, propping on the wall next to me.
“What’s up?”
“You seemed lonely.”
He scans the room, grinning when his friend Connor does a handstand on the other side.
“Lucas didn’t send you over here, did he?”
Devlin flicks a glance at me. “What if he did?”
“Tell him to go fuck himself. Ugh!” I grit my teeth and spin away. “He’s too chickenshit to talk to me himself? Whatever. I don’t even want to see him.”
I start to leave, but pause when Devlin speaks again.
“Is that why you came here?”
“I came because it’s a party. Half the school’s here.”
Devlin hums. “That’s boring.”
I blink, taken aback. “Well, I’m so sorry my entertainment factor dropped. I’ll get right on that.”
Brimming with annoyance, I stomp away. I need to take the edge off.
I stand back at the island staring down a bottle of vodka. My head fights my heart. I want to have a drink, but I can’t make myself pour the shot. I wish Alec would come back. I’m ready to leave. I’ve been at the party long enough to prove my point.
A rough set of hands settle on my waist as a hard body pins me from behind. The rancid beer breath hits me before I turn my head.
“Hey, pretty,” Carter slurs against my ear, his lips wet.
My skin crawls as I struggle to slide away. “Get off.”
Carter either doesn’t hear me or doesn’t care. This is worse than the last couple of times he’s tried to get with me like he has a free pass. His hands roam, palming my breasts. Anyone can see this happening.
“Get off,” I spit. I’m trapped against the counter by his size and weight. My heartbeat thrums with a jitter. “Carter, stop!”
“You were easy for Saint. It’s my turn to take you for a spin.”
Is he drunk? There’s a lethargic incoordination to his motions. Carter presses open-mouthed kisses to my neck that send disgust ricocheting through me.
He keeps mumbling against my skin. “He won the pot. I figure you owe me a turn. Been panting for my cock since school started. Know you want it.”
I struggle against him when he grabs me, lifting me clear off the ground like some sick bridal ritual.
“No!”
Desperation sets in as I frantically search for my brother, for anyone, for Lucas to stop this.
No one pays attention to my obvious protests. Everyone’s drunk and high, happy, having a good time with their friends and loud music. The only people around are the same lesser assholes on the outer fringes of the popular circle. The ones who bullied me at a snap of Lucas’ fingers.