“I don’t have a girlfriend.”
“Pretty sure Carly would put your balls in a jar if she heard that.”
“Shh!” I press a finger to my lips, trying to hold back the laugh. “Don’t say that. She’llknow.”
“I’m not the one with balls in danger of removal.”
“Nah. Carly and I grew up together, that’s all. And for the record? I’m supremely pissed at her about the shit she pulled with you tonight. Soon as I see her, we’re gonna have a nice long chat.”
“Um, Baz? Hate to break it to you, but the woman is totally in love with you.”
I wave away her words, like shooing a gnat. “Irrelevant.”
“For you, maybe.”
“Look. Carly and I go round and round about this every year. Yeah, she’s in love with me. She knows I don’t feel the same way. The only reason we even hang out at all is that her family—you know what, forget it. Seriously, Stevie. I’m sitting by a roaring fire with a hot, pants-less woman, and you want to bring Carly into it?”
She smiles at me, her lips soft and seductive, damp hair curling around her face, the fire crackling beside us, and for a single red-hot heartbeat, it looks like my night’s about to head in averygood direction. But just before I get too far into the fantasy of tasting those sweet lips, some dick-for-brains barges into the common room, scaring the shit out of us both.
“Stevie, I’ve been looking everywhere for you!” Ani rushes over, bringing the cold with him. He drops to his knees in front of her chair and grabs her blanket-covered knees. “I just heard what happened. Are you alright?”
“They nearly drowned her, Ani,” I say. “The fuck you think?”
How the hell did he lose sight of her in the first place?
He shrinks under my glare, knowing he’s in deep shit later. Not as deep as Carly, but still.
“Fuck,” he says. “I’m so sorry. I’m so fucking sorry.” His eyes are rimmed in red, his hands trembling. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the guy so bent out of shape. “I went to get the beers, and the line was crazy long, and then I heard a commotion but just thought it was some drunk people… Stevie, shit. I can’t believe… I’m so sorry.”
“Ani, chill.” I put a hand on his shoulder. Seeing him wound up like that isn’t good for anyone, least of all Ani himself. “It’s alright now.”
“It’s not your fault, Ani,” Stevie says. “Carly and Blue and I just… Well, we’re not exactly a love match.”
“So you’re okay?” he asks.
“Thanks to Baz.”
“Can you forgive me for losing you?”
“Already done.” Stevie laughs. “But I swear I’m never, ever going to another party with you again.”
Ani smiles, blowing out a relieved breath. “I won’t ask. I promise. Next time we’re staying in and reading horrible books and drinking sex tea. Deal?”
“It’s a date.”
“Um, what?” I glare at them both. “What the fuck is sex tea, and why wasn’t I told about this?”
No response.
“You guys are seriously not going to tell me?”
“Nope,” they say in unison, then Ani goes, “Sorry, Baz. You had to be there.”
“Alright, you two troublemakers. That’s enough excitement for one night.” Stevie disentangles herself from the blanket and stands up, her bare legs peeking out beneath the hem of my sweatshirt. Fuck, she looks good in that thing.
Now I’m imagining her in my room, climbing out of my bed in the morning with sheet marks on her face and crazy sex-hair, pulling my hoodie over her bare curves…
“Night, guys,” she says. She touches Ani’s shoulder, then leans down and presses a kiss to my cheek, less than a hair’s breadth from my mouth.
