“You were?” This takes me by surprise because I usually see her sitting next to the bench.
“Yeah. Congrats on the hat-trick.”
I bow my head. “Thanks. Where’s Millie?”
“With Nolan.”
“What’s going on with them?” I ask, even though it’s none of my business.
Thea shakes her head. “No clue. I ask, and Millie shudders at the thought of him. I don’t get it.”
Strange indeed.
“What are you drinking?” I ask her.
“Beer. It’s not my fave, but no liquor.”
This pleases me. “Want me to go home and make you something different?”
Thea looks in her cup and then shakes her head. “I’ll be okay. It’s probably best I don’t get drunk.”
I’ll never let anything happen to you. I wish I could say this to her. “How was Christmas?”
“It was good.”
I’m thankful she doesn’t ask about mine. “Can I ask you something personal?”
“Of course.”
“Did you get back together with Adam?”
Thea’s eyes go wide. “Hell no. I don’t have anything to say to him. It’s sad, really, after all those years.” She shrugs and takes a drink. “I thought I’d be sad, but I’m not. I don’t even miss him. I cleaned my room when I was home, packed away every memory. Never shed a tear the entire time. I think, at some point, Adam and I cared more about our popularity than anything.” Thea shakes her cup—it’s empty. “I’m going to get another drink.”
I stand. “I’ll go with you.” I dump what’s left of my beer into the grass and follow Thea inside. In the time I was outside, more people have arrived. It’s hard to move, and I use this as an opportunity to put my hand on Thea’s waist to keep her close to me. We make our way to the keg and have to wait in line. This is why I hate parties.
“I think I’ll wait and go dance instead,” she says as she steps away. I reach for her hand and pull her toward me.
“I’ll go with you.”
“Are you going to dance with me?” Thea asks with a flirty grin.
No.I nod.
Thea doesn’t let go of my hand and pulls me toward the living room, which has now become a dance floor. She spins and then presses her back against me. My arm drapes over her chest, nestled between her breasts.Fuck my life.She moves her hips against mine, grinding into me. I look around for her brother, but there are so many people here, I can’t see him.
We continue to move like this with our bodies together and our hands touching places they shouldn’t. To anyone watching, we look like a couple. We look like two people who have sexual chemistry oozing from them. To Thea and me, we are two people who shouldn’t be doing this. Yet here we are. I don’t know what comes over me—maybe it’s the fact I can no longer cope with being in close proximity with her—but I lean down and kiss her neck. I nip at her skin and suck on her ear lobe. She responds by arching her back and putting one hand on my neck and uses her other to cover my hand and move it to her breast. She holds it there, and I swear, she moans.
We stay like this for five or six songs until she declares she’s thirsty. With her hand in mine, I weave us through the crowd, ignoring anyone who wants to talk to me. The line for the keg isn’t long, and once I have both cups full of beer I hand one to her. She downs it and hands it back. I’ve seen girls chug before, but not Thea. I do as she asks and fill it again, but I hold onto it and motion for her to head toward the backdoor this time.
“I need some fresh air,” I tell her.
“I need some things too,” she says. I look at her questioningly.
“Do tell.”
“Well, for starters, I need you to get drunk.”
I laugh. “Why is that?”