Loren’s throaty laugh wreaks havoc on my self-control. “I would, but I could never date a smoker.”
Neither could I. Not seriously anyway. “Yeah. It’s like making out with an ashtray.”
Meanwhile, August has his tongue down her twin’s throat, his ridiculous top hat sitting cockeyed on his head as they grope each other like no one’s watching.
Get a fucking room.
I shift a little closer to Loren so I can speak to her without going hoarse. “Did you have a good night?”
She bobs her head. “It beats hanging out by myself in my apartment like I did for Christmas. Thanks again for inviting me.”
Hold on. She spent Christmas all by herself? I thought she was going to spend the holiday with family or her boyfriend. Shit. Now I feel like a dick for not stopping by to wish her a Merry Christmas. Not that it was my job to do that.
I thought I hated her boyfriend before.
“Anytime.” I mean that. She’s easygoing, which is rare in my experience. Then again, it could be because she has a boyfriend and isn’t trying to pressure me into something I’m not interested in.
A boyfriend who left her alone on ChristmasandNew Year’s. What a dickhead. “So, what’s your boyfriend doing in California?”
She scoots her New Year’s glasses onto her head, like one of those headband things, pushing back her curls. “He had to go for work.”
“What does he do?”
“He’s a lawyer.”
Yeah…I’d bet every cent in my bank account that he’s not really working right now.
I take a sip of warm bourbon and coke to keep myself from saying something I shouldn’t. It’s not like Loren asked for my opinion. If she wanted it, I’d be more than happy to share, but as it stands, my lips are zipped tight.
The sulphury smell of fireworks hangs in the air as the crowd starts to thin. When Tamela asks what my plans are after this, I may or may not lie and tell her that I need to get up early tomorrow as an excuse to go home alone.
August doesn’t have the same reservations. He tells us goodnight and slings an arm around his twin, leaving me with a crowd of people, my neighbor, and thoughts that don’t belong in my head.
CHAPTER 17
LOREN
4:58 PM
Hey! I hope you made it to the hotel safe and sound.
9:56 PM
I miss you
Wish you were here
12:07 AM
Happy new year!
August ditched us.
Not that it should be a surprise since he and his date barely came up for air all night. Still, I’m sorry he’s not here to ease this weird tension that seems to be crackling in the air between Elliott and me. It’s probably all in my head because my neighbor doesn’t seem the least bit affected as he strolls up the hill, hands in his pockets and eyes straight ahead.
Meanwhile, my head is spinning like the Scrambler at the county fair.
To make matters worse, my feet are killing me, and we still have a long way to go before we get to Elliot’s truck.
