“I’ve never worn a garbage bag as a fashionstatement.”
The comment works under my skin like a dull blade even before Carly screeches with laughter. “Drink, Annie. A lot. Jenna? Youtoo.”
“But damn, girl, you make it look good,” Kellan murmurs, running a finger absently along my collarbone. It tickles like an insect, and I want to brush it away, but my attention’s onTyler.
He looks pissed, or his self-contained version of it. I’ve never seen him lose his temper. He’s easygoing except when he broods, when whatever’s below the surface is carefully leashed and dealt with deep down, where he’d never let me. Where he’d never let anyone at this party, I’m willing toguess.
I’m genuinely at a loss for why he’s still standing here when he looks as though the last place he wants to be ispoolside.
My throat is already burning, but I tip the cup back, swallowing gulp after gulp, and by the time I straighten, it’s empty and all I can taste is cherries andvodka.
“Your turn,” Kellannudges.
I square my shoulders and deliver my challenge at the boy in front of me. “I’ve never lived in a poolhouse.”
I regret the words before I finishthem.
They’re mean because they’re insensitive but also because they’retrue.
Tyler reaches for his cup and lifts it in a silent, mocking toast. “Youwin.”
He turns and starts back across thepatio.
Youwin.
It sure doesn’t feel likeit.
I don’t know why I said that except I felt cornered and attacked, but my chest tightensunbearably.
“What’s his deal?” Kellancomplains.
“What that boy has money can’t buy,” Carly purrs. “For every girl who’d give her allowance to lick your abs, there’s another who’d blow her trust fund to suck hisdick.”
My entire body stiffens as she takes off across the patio toward the pool house. I can’t hear what she says when she catches up to him because Kellan says, “Fuck him. You look like a realmermaid.”
“Thanks,” I say, but my gaze lingers on Carly and Tyler talking at thedoor.
He’s going to reject her. Anyminute.
I chew on mycheek.
Come on, Tyler. Shut thedoor.
Instead, he meets my gaze as if he can hear my words, holds it for abeat.
Then he lets herinside.
It shouldn’thurt.
Still, after our talk the other day, I’d thought that maybe he was over being these peoples’ prince, that he saw through herbullshit.
I waswrong.
“Your house is amazing,” Kellan says when Jenna and the minions go to get more drinks. “I bet it’s even betterinside.”
I flash him my biggest smile. “It is. You want tosee?”
I pull Kellan through the side door of the house to avoid Uncle Ryan and MissNorelli.