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“It’s still early though.” He mock pouts. I love how we’re talking while surrounded by his friends, who are all too involved in their own little conversations with other people.
“I can’t get too drunk,” I tell him. “I want to remember tonight, you know?”
He laughs. “I know exactly what you mean, but I haven’t hit my limit yet. Come to the back yard with me? I hear there’s a fresh keg out there.”
“Sure,” I say, falling into step beside him once he’s pushed away from the wall. We head through the kitchen, my gaze scanning the area, searching for stupid Eli.
I don’t see him anywhere.
We stop in the kitchen and James slaps hands with a friend of his. They make easy conversation about the party, the game, the class they share. I stand there essentially ignored and already bored, wondering if I made the right choice.
But then I remember Eli asking me to do exactly this and I realize I need to make the most of this moment. Even though what we’re doing makes no sense and I don’t even know if we’re going to leave this party together or whatever, I’m at a loss.
What do I do now? I’m so out of practice flirting with someone, I feel…inept.
“Ready to go outside?” I ask James when there’s a lull in their conversation, flashing him what I hope is a beguiling smile.
“Yeah, let’s go.” He grabs hold of my arm and steers me away from his friend, who he never introduced me to, by the way, but whatever. We head for the back door and within seconds, we’re outside, the cool air washing over me and making me shiver.
There’s a cluster of people standing around a keg and we head over to them, me asking questions about people in James’ graduating class. He tells me what they’re doing now, and the conversation is flowing easily, just like the beer from the keg. James fills his cup and while I wish we were back inside, he doesn’t seem in any hurry to get back in there, so I keep up the conversation outside, trying to ignore the cold seeping into my bones.
“You really broke up with Bennett?” James asks me at one point.
Frowning slightly, I nod. “Yeah. I already told you that.”
“It’s just—he’s watching us.” He tilts his head slightly to the left. “Don’t turn around and make it obvious. He’s on the back patio talking to some girl, but he’s not listening to her.”
“How do you know?”
“He’s too busy watching us. You,” James stresses before he takes a giant swallow of his beer. “I don’t want any trouble.”
“You’re not in trouble.”
“He looks like he wants to tear me apart, and he’s a big dude.” James sounds the slightest bit scared, the wimp.
Unable to stand it any longer, I glance over my shoulder to find Eli’s smoldering gaze on me, his mouth tight, his jaw clenched. A fresh wave of lust washes over me, just seeing the look on his face. Angry Eli is intimidating.
Sexy.
I smile at him. He asked for this. Did he think I wouldn’t talk to another guy? If so, he completely underestimated me. Which I think has been his problem for a while. I’m just as stubborn as he is when I want to be.
Like right now.
Eli glowers at me in return, the woman shifting closer to him, her hands moving in tandem with her mouth. She’s a very animated talker, but I can tell he’s not even listening to her. Just like James said.
He’s too focused on me.
She’s still talking as he walks away from her without saying anything in return, heading in my direction. I whirl back around, sending an apologetic look at James and he just shakes his head.
“I knew I shouldn’t have bothered trying with you. You two are still wrapped up in each other. It’s pretty obvious,” he says, and I’m so stinking grateful he doesn’t sound pissed, I do something completely impulsive.
I hug James.
“Thank you for being so understanding,” I murmur as I pull out of his arms…
And collide with Eli.
“Oh.” I glance up at him to see he’s glaring at James as if he wants to murder him. My stomach flutters. Clearly, I have issues. “Hey.”
