I nod. I don’t usually drink much, but I feel out of my element and might need some help loosening up.
There’s a drink table near the pool cabana. Everett tugs onmy hand and we walk toward it. He pours some watery keg beer into a red cup, passing it to me.
“I really thought you were gonna bail on me,” he says as he watches me take a small sip.
“I almost did,” I admit.
He laughs, leaning in a little closer. “C’mere,” he says, taking my hand again to lead me closer to the cabana. “I can barely hear you.”
We find a more secluded spot by the pool. The moonlight casts soft shadows over his face, emphasizing his handsome features. Smiling at me, Everett brushes a stray hair back from my face, letting his fingers linger just a bit too long.
Then a soft laugh and a muffled moan break through the quiet. We both glance around until we land on the source: Chase and a brunette, locked in an intense make-out session against the wooden cabana. He has her backed up against the wall, his hands resting on her waist, hers tangled in his blond hair.
Everett snorts. “Oops.”
I edge away. “We should probably leave them to it.”
“Yeah, wouldn’t wanna interrupt the master at work.” He winks at me. “Although I gotta admit, I was hoping you’d be the one having the most fun tonight.”
As we walk off to give Chase some privacy, I give Everett a sidelong look, unable to stop my next words.
“I don’t think Chase likes me very much.”
“He doesn’t like anyone,” Everett replies, chuckling.
“He likes you,” I point out.
“Because we’ve known each other forever.”
“Yet you don’t travel in the same social circles.”
“Chase doesn’t have a social circle. Stays to himself.”
“But he’s here.”
“He comes to these things to drink and hook up,” Everett answers with a grin. “Not to make friends.”
“Everett!” someone shouts from the patio sliding door. “Pizza guy’s here!”
“Coming!” he shouts back before taking my hand. “C’mon, keep me company while I deal with it.”
We end up getting separated when the crowd presses in on us. Everett disappears ahead of me, and I’m almost at the patio when Sofia blocks my path. She’s wearing a skimpy bikini top and a short denim skirt, her dark hair tied up in a high ponytail.
“Hi, Ryan,” she mocks.
She’s drunk—I can smell the alcohol on her breath when she leans into me.
“Sofia,” I say politely.
“He’s going to get tired of yousofast.” She’s slurring her words as she flicks her unimpressed gaze over me. “Sofast. You’re totally not his type. He just wants to fuck you.”
Before I can say a word, one of the other cheerleaders grabs her by the arm and says, “Sof, it’s okay, she’s not worth it.”
Sofia stumbles off, and now even more people are looking my way. I search for an ally, but Connor is in the water with Kab and Layla, laughing his ass off. And Jasmine is…I spot her on the other side of the pool, flirting with Bo, her brother’s teammate who she clearly has a crush on.
Sighing, I slip inside to search for Everett.
The interior of his grandparents’ house is gorgeous. Thetwo-story living area features a massive stone fireplace and leads into a huge, country-style kitchen with granite counters. It’s like something out of a Southern home-decorating magazine.
