“Why?” I ask.
She glances over her shoulder like she expects him to materialize out of the crowd. Her blue eyes settle on mine.
“He gets around.”
“We’ve only been in school for two months,” I say, my words slurring just enough to annoy me. “He works that fast?”
“He’s a baller,” Nila says it like that explains everything.
Honestly, it kind of does.
Pera and I nod in agreement.
“I mean, he’s cute. I can see girls lining up.”
Vi’s expression doesn’t soften. “He can get rough.”
Something cold snakes down my spine.
Chris has never been rough with me. Loud a couple of times, and possessive. But rough? No, never that.
“Well, just watch yourself, Serenity,” Pera warns.
I smile at them. “Don’t worry, I will.”
Chris appears not long after, like he’s been watching from somewhere just out of sight.
“Bye, girls,” I say with a smile.
They say goodbye, but their uneasy expressions linger in the fog of my alcohol-softened brain as Chris takes my hand and leads me upstairs into one of the bedrooms.
The door clicks closed and the muffled thump of music follows us anyway, vibrating through the walls like a heartbeat.
My attack dog bodyguards are definitely hating I told them to give me more freedom tonight. That means steer clear. I can handle myself.
Laughter bubbles from me. “This party is so fun,” I slur.
Chris grins, flicking his hat onto the dresser. “You really danced your ass off tonight.”
He cups my face and leans in, capturing my lips. I giggle into the kiss.
“What’s so funny?” he murmurs against my neck, his large hand resting on my breast.
“Nothing. We’re kissing.” The music’s beat throbs beneath my feet.
“Yes, we are,” he whispers.
“No Nico.”
Don’t think about him.
He pulls back. “Why did you say no Nico?”
I squeeze my forehead. “Shit, I said that out loud?”
“You did.”
I sink onto the edge of the bed, buying myself a second.
