“You have…” I point at my mouth.
Nolan smirks, and it’s so cocky I feel myself turn a shade redder, and then he starts chewing the gum I’d had in my mouth before our kiss, and I burn up with embarrassment.
He turns, his broad shoulders catching my attention as he weaves through the crowd. People clasp hands on his shoulder, working to gain his attention. He spares them smiles and brief words as he works to reach Katie who looks angry enough to punch him.
From here, I can’t hear clearly, but know without a doubt Katie’s demanding everyone leave as she waves in wide gestures and points at the door.
“We could set up body shots,” a guy says, putting his hands on the dining room table and pressing down as though to test its durability.
“Sorry, guys, the party’s over,” I tell them before the plans can come to fruition. “But you’re ten minutes away from frat row,” I assure them. “They’ll still be going full swing.”
They give me a cursory glance, and then turn their backs, ignoring me. “Have you seen any liquor?” One asks.
Dick.
The word nearly leaves my mouth as Lenny appears. “Let’s go! Party’s over.” He waves with one arm, reminding me of a parking attendant in Vegas, directing traffic. “You.” He points at someone I can’t see. “Leave the glass.”
The guys who ignored me, ignore Lenny, as well.
The music turns off and every light in the house is turned on as a couple of others move around the space, directing people to leave. I recognize Hudson and realize they’re all Nolan’s teammates.
“Sorry,” one of the guys says. He has dark hair, a squared jaw, and kind eyes. “The party’s over. If you need to get a ride, you can wait inside until they come.”
“I live here.”
He looks surprised. “Hadley?”
He knows my name. The fact nearly knocks me over. I nod.
He shakes his head, chuckling. “He’s such a fucking liar. I’m Corey.”
“Who’s a liar?”
He shakes his head again then stops as the guys I’d attempted to kick out moments ago gather around the dining room table, still plotting their idea. “Let’s go, assholes.” Corey waves his hand in their direction.
One moves, the rest don’t.
It makes me feel a perverse sense of relief that it’s not just me they were avidly ignoring, considering Corey’s substantially larger and more intimidating than me.
“Hey,” Grey appears, his face set with a scowl as he stares at the guys brave—or stupid—enough not to listen. “Get the fuck out. Now.”
They slowly move, following the crowd outside where the engines and stereos of cars are likely waking our neighbors.
I glance across the house, taking inventory of the mess, and do a double take when noticing Hannah in the corner of the formal living room with who I’m assuming is Ethan. His arm is wrapped around her shoulder, as he tells her something. As she laughs, he leans close and kisses her. It’s ridiculously cute, and while I support her decision and plan, I sure as hell hope he’s a good enough guy that it makes her question her plan, not because she’s wrong but because she deserves someone that good.
“This was a mistake.” Katie’s words pull my attention to where she’s still talking to Nolan at the base of the stairs. “I knew it was a mistake to let you move in,” Katie continues.
“I’ll clean it up,” Nolan tells her.
“Yes you will, and then you’ll move out.”
“Katie,—”
“No. This is my life, my house. I let you stay here conditionally, as long as you were willing to follow the rules, and you couldn’t even last two weeks.” She shakes her head, peering around the house that shockingly has few signs of the party that’s still being broken up.
Shame is my shadow. I could have stopped it from getting so out of hand—shouldhave stopped it. There was a constant stream of people coming in the house for the past hour, maybe longer, and I didn’t say anything because for the first time I was allowing that impulsive voice to lead, feeding the idea that this would be fun and exciting.
“You have until tomorrow night,” Katie says. “And then you’re out.”