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“Okay,” I agree, eager to get the hell away from Thad so I can decompress and try to process what the hell happened on the ride over. “Thad, you coming?” I turn, praying like hell he doesn’t but feeling obligated to ask.
“Nah, I’m good. You two go ahead.” He gives me a stiff nod.
Disappointment settles in my gut and I realize that as badly as I wanted him to decline, I wanted him to accept even more. Forcing a carefree smile as to not let him see he’s gotten to me, I turn and follow Brylan toward the group of people congregating feet from the lake where a large fire is raging.
Everyone’s here. All of my old friends from high school–with the exception of a couple who have moved away–are all in attendance. I find very quickly that my concern over how they would react to me being here was completely unwarranted.
The beer flows as does the conversation and within an hour of arriving I feel like this is just another high school party and no time has passed at all. And as much as I’m enjoying myself and the light buzz I’ve managed to catch, I still can’t stop myself from looking around for Thad every chance I get.
Shortly after Ben and Chris arrived, I saw him talking to them. Then a few minutes later he was leaning against a tree talking to two pretty girls who I instantly wanted to slaughter. Now, he’s sitting on a log next to the fire, a gorgeous blonde practically in his lap.
And even though his eyes keep coming to me at every turn, I find myself getting more pissed by the second. I swallow down the jealous knot in my chest and drink harder, determined to drink away any and all thoughts of Thad Mitchell.
The only problem is, the more I drink the harder it is to do that. This is why when Brylan snags his arm around my waist half way through the night I let him. It’s why I don’t pull away when he kisses my neck and tells me how much he’s missed me. It’s why I stupidly find myself stumbling into the woods behind him after he suggested we slip away.
It isn’t until my back comes to rest against a tree and Brylan’s face is hovering inches from mine that I realize how desperately I wish it were Thad standing in front of me. Thad pressed against me. Thad’s lips lowering to take mine.
I close my eyes and tilt my face upward, picturing his handsome face, his scruffy jaw, his crisp blue eyes. I wait, anticipating a kiss I know is coming only to feel the weight of Brylan’s body suddenly disappear.
My eyes shoot open to see Thad standing between me and my ex-boyfriend, his back to me.
“What the fuck, man?” Brylan objects, clearly as intoxicated as me by the way his voice slurs around the words.
“We’re leaving, Laken,” Thad tells me, not once looking in my direction.
“Excuse me?” I blurt, the alcohol adding to my confusion, making it impossible for me to keep up.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” Brylan takes a step forward only to be met with Thad’s palm to his chest, giving him a hard shove backward.
Brylan stumbles slightly but manages to stay on his feet.
“I’m the guy who’s gonna keep you from taking advantage of Laken while she’s drunk.” In my inebriated state I consider pronouncing my love for him for defending me.
“Laken’s a big girl. She knows what she’s doing.”
“You would say that after force feeding her shots for the last two hours,” he spits, turning just enough to snag my arm. “Let’s go,” he growls, giving me a rough tug so that my only choice is to follow him or end up flat on my face.
“Man, fuck you,” Brylan yells from somewhere behind us, but I’m too busy trying to keep up with Thad’s quick pace to look back.
“What are you doing?” I finally find my voice as we reach the edge of the woods where the party is still in full swing.
“Keeping you from doing something you’ll regret.”
“Who says I would regret it?” I challenge, hiccupping loudly over the last word.
He stops so abruptly that I end up running right into his back, nearly losing my balance on impact. He spins on me so quickly the ground sways and then he’s in my space, his arm wrapping around my shoulder to keep me from falling.
“Unless what you said to me in the truck earlier was complete bullshit then you most certainly would.”
I don’t even process what he’s saying because the instant his scent dances over me, everything else goes right out the window. I take a deep inhale, not even the least bit concerned with the fact that I’m not being discreet.
“You smell good,” I tell him, smiling.
“And you’re drunk.”
“Doesn’t matter. You still smell good.” I giggle.
“Fuck me.” He steps back. “Let’s get you home.” He pulls me next to him before dropping an arm over my shoulder. Securing me against him, probably to make sure I don’t fall more than anything, he sets off through the crowd, making a beeline for Chris who’s chatting with a dark haired girl I’ve never seen before.
