A loud, boisterous laugh booms around the garage. It’s not coming from any of my bandmates. It's coming from Jacob.
I stop glaring at him when Noah’s wide shoulders block him from my view. “Take that as a warning. If youeverpull a stunt like that again, you’ll not only be out of the band, but I’ll let Slater unleash more than one punch.”
Giddiness clusters in my head when he yanks me to my feet by tugging on my arm. It feels like I’ve had too much beer, even though I haven’t touched a drop of alcohol in days.
The only one frustrated by my unstable swaying is Marcus. He glares at Slater with his dark brows stitched. “You weren’t supposed to knock him out.”
Slater shrugs before shifting on his feet to face me. He has a shit-eating grin on his face, and the spark of victory is brightening his eyes.
Before he can voice any of the arrogant thoughts in his head, Noah says, “Let’s practice,” like my assault is now water under the bridge.
* * *
I spend the two hours of rehearsal reading the song sheet through my eye that isn’t sealed shut. I can feel Slater’s slit gaze on me the entire time, but not once do I peer back at him. I can feel his wrath. I don’t need to be subjected to it head-on. His anger is so white-hot, it’s burning a hole in the back of my head.
I’m pissed too, but if this punishment helps me remain a member of Rise Up, I’ll take it. Does that mean I regret my decision to fuck Nikki? No, not entirely. One day Slater will realize I did him a favor.
Hopefully one day soon.
Chapter Two
Jenni
“Please.”
I shift my gaze to anything but my best friend Emily’s puppy dog eyes before I get snagged by them. I’ve always been a sucker for her big brown eyes. “I told you, I’m not interested in dating anyone, let alone someone like Christian!”
Emily secures my fleeting gaze before dropping her lip. “It’s not a date.”
Her pleading eyes weaken my defenses with every second that ticks by. Within a minute, I’m at their complete mercy. “Fine!” I growl, “I’ll come, but you owe me big time, Em!”
She squeals before sprinting my way, wrapping me up in a big hug. We stumble onto my bed with giggles bubbling in our chests. Her eagerness cools the fire brewing in my gut.
“You're the best, Jenni! Thank you so much; it’s going to be so much fun!”
Fighting to hide my grimace, I return her embrace, shocked I just agreed to go on a double date with a guy I wholeheartedly despise. . . . . .
“Wow, you must be new in town because I’m certain I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting you.”
Assuming the handsome blond standing in front of me is speaking to someone else, I peer over my shoulder. My heart rate kicks up a notch when I discover there’s no one behind me.
When I return my eyes front and center, blinking and confused, he smiles a dazzling grin that causes butterflies to tap dance in my stomach. As he saunters my way, I peruse his body from his almost bare feet to the top of his glossy blond locks. He’s wearing flip flops, black board shorts, and a printed surf tee. His body is a cross between athletic and scrawny, but his boyishly handsome face makes up for his lack of muscles. His hair has a bit of a wave to it, sitting just above his shoulders. His eyes are hazel and hazy, like he’s been smoking something he shouldn’t have. His smile lights up his face. It also adds to the confidence beaming out of him. I’ve never been good at guessing ages, but I’d guess he’s older than my fifteen years by maybe a year or two.
He props his shoulder on the wall I’m standing next to. “I’m Christian.”
“Jenni,” I reply, my voice quivering.
His body heats my arm when he tilts toward me until our lips are an inch apart. “Whatcha doing?”
My eyes scan our location, wordlessly answering him. The hallway is well decorated, but there’s only one reason people stand here. When Christian fails to get the gist, I say, “Waiting to use the bathroom.”
Emily and I are attending our very first senior party. It isn’t that we were invited—it was an open invitation, and anyone could attend—but it’s still exciting. Phillip Rochester turned eighteen last week, so his extremely wealthy parents threw him an elaborate celebration. Unfortunately, the main beverage of choice is beer, which means Emily and I are left drinking the cask of wine Emily snuck out of her parents’ house last month. It tastes nasty, but since it’s our first official senior party, we need something to celebrate the occasion.
After guzzling down two glasses in quick succession, my bladder protested. That led to me standing in a long line to use the only bathroom available to guests on this floor.
Noticing my uncomfortable squirm, Christian says, “I can take you to another bathroom.”
I nearly decline his offer until I do a quick head count. There are still seven people in front of me, and the person using the washroom has been in there for ages.
