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“Um, just another beer, I guess.”
“Yeah, I could use one, too. Back in a minute.”
I turn around to look for Jas and Dante and literally run into a very annoyed-looking Eli.
“What the hell is Bucket doing here?” he demands.
I frown. “Wait, what?”
“Bucket. Why is he here?”
“You told me I could invite my friends,” I say defensively.
“You know I don’t like that guy,” Eli says, his jaw tight. “Inviting him to my party when I’ve made that very clear is a shitty thing to do.”
“Eli, just how many friends do you think I have? You should have known I’d include Beckett when you told me I could invite my friends. If you didn’t want him here, then you should have madethatclear.”
“I didn’t think I had to!”
Beckett comes up to us, holding two cups of beer. He looks between me and Eli. “Hey. Uh, everything okay here?”
“Yes,” I reply, taking a beer from Beckett’s hand.
“No,” Eli snaps, glaring at Beckett. “Holland, I need to speak with you. Alone.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Beckett tells him.
“And I don’t remember asking you what the fuck you thought about it,” Eli growls, staring him down. He flicks his gaze to me. “Holland? A word, please?”
“It’s fine,” I say, patting Beckett on the arm. “Just give me a minute.”
Eli takes my hand and gently pulls me out of the living room and down the hallway. He leads me out of the house until we’re standing outside on the porch.
A few guys are hanging out near the railing, smoking and talking, but one look from Eli sends them scurrying back inside the house.
“Was that really necessary?” I ask him, wrapping my arms around myself.
It’s started to snow, and it’s already blanketed both the tiny patch of grass and sidewalk in front of the house.
His light brown eyes flash with emotion as he stares down at me. “Tell me why you invited him.”
“I already told you why. Because you said I could invite my friends.”
“And you thought inviting him was a great idea, even though you know I don’t like him,” he says, his voice flat.
“Eli, I don’t know what your problem with Beckett is, but whatever it is, it’s notmyproblem.”
“Did you ever think that maybe I’m trying to look out for you? You may not believe me, but I’m telling you, I know that guy’s an asshole.”
“Why, because of some random feeling you have about him?” I put my hands on my hips. “Unbelievable. Why can’t you trust my judgment when it comes to Beckett?”
“Why can’t you trustmine?”
“Because you don’t even know him!” I argue. “You’ve had one interaction with him. Okay, two, if we’re counting what just happened.”
“Holland, I know more about him than you think I do. And you shouldn’t have asked him to come here. I’ll tell you—”
“Stop it!” I burst out. “Just stop, okay? I asked him here for the same reason I asked Jas and Dante. I wanted to have people around me that I could hang out with. I don’t like parties, and I don’t like small talk. I don’t fit in with these people, Eli. You might be Mr. Popular, but in case you missed the memo, I’m not part of that crowd. Jas, Dante, and Beckett are my friends, and I didn’t want to stand on the sidelines, alone and feeling miserable at another party. I wanted to have fun.That’swhy Beckett’s here.”
