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36
Ireally wasn’t in the mood for a party, but I forced myself to go downstairs and be sociable. Hiding out in my room wasn’t going to help me get over Liam. These were my uni years—I was supposed to be having fun, enjoying my freedom and all that before I was sucked into the world of full-time work, not pining over someone I couldn’t have.
Plus, I’d heard from Travis that Liam had gone to see his mum for the weekend, so I knew I wouldn’t run the risk of seeing someone flirting with him, or more. I wasn’t ready for that, and the thought of seeing him with someone else made me feel sick inside. It was unbearable, but I knew I’d have to face it one day. At least it wouldn’t be today.
Following the sound of the music that was thumping through the house, I headed downstairs and into the crowded kitchen, where I was stopped by a hand on my arm. “Here. Thought you could use this.”
Ander shot me a small smile, and I accepted the proffered joint from him with a raised brow. “Why did you think I could use it?” There was no way he could know about me and Liam, surely.
He shrugged with one shoulder, the other arm draped around a girl who was scrolling through her phone, not paying us any attention. “Elliot said you were having a bit of a hard time and I had to be nice.” With a surprising amount of insight, he continued. “The first semester at uni is always tough. It’s a big change, y’know? It’ll get easier, though.”
“Thanks.” I returned his smile with a hesitant one of my own.
Giving a nod towards my joint, he leaned closer. “Go and smoke that, do a few shots, and find someone to give you a handjob in a dark corner. Or even better, a blowjob. Never fails to improve the mood, take it from me.”
Riiight. “Uh. Thanks for the advice.” I turned and headed for the fridge, batting away one of the many helium balloons that were floating around the house. After grabbing a can of beer, I made my way to the open kitchen door that led into our tiny backyard, so I could smoke my joint in relative peace.
There was a chill in the air, but the alcohol warmed me as I took a seat on the steps to the left of the doorway. I lit the joint and inhaled. The sweet smokiness surrounded me as I exhaled, and then tipped my can of beer to my lips and let the chilled, bitter liquid slide down my throat.
I was alone in a crowd, but I kind of liked it. Liked that I could be unnoticed, to not have to put on a front and act like everything was okay.
To my left, Damon and two other guys were challenging each other to be the fastest to down their beers. Over to the right, a girl that must’ve only been five feet tall had pinned a huge guy to the brick wall that surrounded our garden and was attempting to climb him like a tree. In front of me, two girls were vaping, a cloud of sickly sweet blueberry drifting in my direction. Music spilled from the open door, accompanied by the sound of talking and laughter.
I exhaled, long and deep, leaning my head back against the wall behind me.
I was going to be okay. I just had to keep reminding myself.
“Noah? Noah?”
Jerking my head around at the sound of the voice, I saw Elliot peering around the door frame, scanning the backyard.
“Here.” I raised my hand to get his attention. His eyes were wide and apprehensive as they swung to mine, and suddenly, the relaxed feeling I thought I’d been starting to get from the joint disappeared.
“What is it?”
He shook his head violently. “It’s…you need to come inside.Now.”
There was something in his tone that made me sit up and take notice. Climbing to my feet, I raised a brow, but he just shook his head again, pulling my joint and my almost full can of beer out of my hands.
“Noah. Inside.”
I turned to the door, and he nudged me with his shoulder since his hands were full, making me stumble for a second until I recovered my balance. My heart rate had kicked up, pounding hard and fast in my chest. Maybe it was the urgency in Elliot’s voice, or the look in his eyes, or the sudden certainty I had that once I stepped through that door, everything would change.
Swallowing hard, I straightened my shoulders and went inside.
The kitchen was packed full of bodies, and it took me a few seconds to see why Elliot had been so insistent that I come inside.
But then I sawhim.
Our eyes met across the crowded room, and it was like I’d been electrocuted or something. Sparks fizzed through my body, and everything else faded away. All I could see was Liam, his blue eyes fringed by those thick lashes, dark circles underneath indicating that he’d been sleeping just as badly as I had.
His mouth opened, and his lips formed my name.
Noah.
I was helpless to resist.
I went to him.
