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"You know each other?" Joey asks.
"Yeah," Parker replies, sounding distant as he pins me with a questioning stare.
I don't say anything. There isn't anything to say. But I don't look away either, even though I should.
"Lana's here with me tonight."
I can feel the weight of Joey's arm around my shoulder, claiming me.
Parker tears his attention away from me and gives his brother a pitying look. Then he laughs this amused, almost maniacal laugh. "Are you sure about that?"
"Hey, Parker." Nina steps between us, stopping directly in front of him, her chest brushing against his. "Buy me a drink?"
Parker eases his hand along her waist and places a ghost of a kiss on her cheek. "Hey, gorgeous. Maybe later? I have to go take care of something."
Nina visibly deflates but recovers quickly. "No problem."
Lengthening her spine, she turns and walks briskly away. I almost shiver from the ice rolling off her.
I step out from under Joey's territorial limb and follow after her. Tori comes up beside me and makes a pained face when I look at her.
"I know, right?! What the hell was that about?" I huff.
But Tori's expression doesn't change. Clearly she's not listening. She runs a knuckle under her eye, indicating I should do the same.
I swipe my finger to remove the smeared makeup. "Better?"
Tori shakes her head with a grimace, like it hurts her to see me like this. "You're a mess."
I'm suddenly afraid to know what I look like. I glance down at the rivulets of sweat running down my chest, disappearing into my cleavage, forming dark blue wet marks under my boobs. Tori's right. I'm a disaster.
"I'll be right back," I tell her, needing to disappear immediately.
She nods, hurrying me past her.
"Lana!" Joey calls after me.
"Relax. She's just going to the bathroom," I hear Tori tell him. "You can live without her for ten minutes."
I spot flashing neon lights in the left corner, animating a girl dancing. There's one of a guy fist-pumping directly across from it. They have to be the bathrooms.
I swipe my fingers under my eyes again and keep my head down, not wanting anyone to see the mascara melting down my face.
An arm wraps around my waist and I'm swept into the darkness under the stairs.
"Why are you here with my brother?"
"Holy shit, Parker!" I exclaim breathlessly, lowering the elbow that was inches from smashing his nose.
"Tell me," he demands impatiently, remaining way too close. I attempt to take a step back, but his arm tightens around my waist. "You've refused to go out with me every time I've asked. My brother's home for a day and you're here with him?"
"Really?" I huff, pushing at his chest to separate us.
Parker releases me and gestures impatiently when I don't continue.
"Lincoln asked Tori to a party tonight. And it turns out, Lincoln and Joey are friends, which I'm sure you know. We're all here together. But it's not like you have any claim. You know that."
"Why do you have to be so difficult?"
