Ryle nods before he looks at Damon and leaves without another word.
Damon’s hands still have a tight grip on me, but he doesn’t loosen it as he asks me if I’m okay.
“That is the second time you have saved me from falling on my ass,” I respond with a chuckle. The moment his hands leave my skin, I instantly miss the feeling of his hands on me.
“You know your smile is beautiful. You should do it more often.” His brown eyes don’t leave mine as I look up at him, trying hard not to let my anxiety take over, but my heart is beating so hard in my chest.
I’m pretty sure my face is beet red, because that is not something I expected him to say. “Um, thank you,” I say, stumbling over my words as I try to sound nonchalant, but I am sure it came out as barely a whisper as my voice wavers.
A smile pulls on his lips. He looks like he wants to say more, but before he can, Maddie is pulling me out of the trance I seem to be in. Informing me she grabbed our drinks. I look down afterremembering my water, but she’s already pulling me toward the party, and away from Damon.
Chapter Four
Tate
After the intensity of what transpired in the kitchen, I’m thankful for the alcohol in this cup. Even though I told myself I was done drinking for the night.
I plop down into an empty seat, as Maddie talks it up with a few people she knows from school. I'm kind of glad for the break from talking, because Maddie cantalk. As much as I love her and would talk to her about literally everything, I also am enjoying people watching.
My eyes wander around the room we’re in. There are so many people here. Most are standing around talking and sipping their drinks. Some are making out against the wall, and a few girls look like they’re fighting.
As I am about to take a drink, the small couch dips. A tall man is now taking up the space next to me. “Hey, Tate.” Who the hell is this, and how does he know my name?
I look around for Maddie to save me from this conversation, but she’s engrossed in her own with a girl named Vivian. The guy is still staring at me when I look back at him.
“Not to sound rude, but do I know you?”
The guy smiles before leaning down closer to my ear so I can hear him. “I’m a friend of Maddie’s. We have an English class together. My name is Sawyer. Did she not mention me to you?” Sawyer looks offended that my dear best friend forgot to mention anything about him at all.
He’s definitely hot, but I don’t know. He isn’t someone I could see myself with. I shake my head no before I say, “I’m sorry, she didn't, but it’s nice to meet you.” I reach my hand out and he chuckles before grabbing mine. His hands are soft. A blush takes over my face at his next words.
“I’m sorry to be so straightforward, but you’re absolutely gorgeous. I’d love to hang out a little tonight, maybe grab another drink if that’s alright with you?”
I open my mouth to reject him because this must be some kind of joke. But before I could answer him, something catches my attention out of the corner of my eye. I look over and find Ace pushing Damon back onto the couch. The look on his face is lethal. His eyes don’t leave Sawyer’s place next to me. Sawyer must notice where my eyes are, because when I look back over at him, it looks like he’s seen a ghost. A light layer of sweat coats his face, and he swallows before looking back down at me with a nervous smile. “Actually, I forgot I had asked someone else to grab a drink, so never mind. See you around, Tate.” He stands abruptly and walks quickly out of the room.
Damon didn’t even have to get up or mutter a word to Sawyer to put the fear of God into him. My heart starts pounding when my eyes shoot back to Damon’s—Only to find him smirking at me.
God. He’s so hot.
I. Am. Screwed.
I’m not sure how much time passes as I sit there, my mind wandering to many different places. My drink is gone, but no one else has approached me. And I’m pretty sure that’s because Damon has glared at everyone who has even gotten close to me, besides Maddie.
Becca stands from her seat, making her way back over to Damon’s lap, whispering something in his ear, causing him to grin. I can’t help but feel a pang of jealousy as I watch themtogether. So, he can have another girl sit on his lap, but no one can even talk to me? What the hell? I go to stand, ready to go socialize to prove a point, but then Becca stands once again. She starts announcing her plans to the group of people gathered around us.
“So, I think it’s time to play a game,” she says, clapping her hands together like an annoying little girl.
Okay, Tate. Be nice.
“We are going to play Seven Minutes in Heaven.” She continues telling everyone the rules as Briana passes around a pad of paper and a pen to get everyone’s names. I sit there, ready to deny it when it’s my turn. This isn’t really something I want to take part in. There’s no way in hell I’m playing that game. My stomach hurts even when I think about watching Damon and another girl go into a room to do God knows what. That thought alone causes me to grip the armrest until my knuckles turn white.
Whatever hold this man has on me needs to end.
Maddie stands and makes her way over to me with the notepad in her hand. I’m already shaking my head before she says anything.
“Here.” She tries to hand it to me, but I’m already holding my hands out to stop her.
“Absolutely not.” I give her my best fake smile and pretend to drink down the rest of what’s left in my empty cup before fidgeting with the broken rim.
