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“I can see how messed up that is now.”
“You don’t say,” I snapped.
“I’m sorry, okay? I’m a fixer. It’s what I do. Vin, well, he’s a work-in-progress.”
“I don’t need fixing, Scarlett.”
My demons were too deep for that.
“I’m starting to get that.” She pushed off the wall and smiled. “Come on, let’s find Lilly and dance. No more guys, I promise.” Her mouth opened, and for a second, I thought she had something else to say, but she shook her head and disappeared into the crowd.
* * *
Vin avoidedus for the rest of the night, or maybe he’d gone home. Either was fine with me. The three of us danced while the guys stood watch. Not that anyone tried to bother us. My slut status was like a quarantine order:stay away, or you might catch something. But I had everyone I needed. Scarlett. Lilly. Even Jay and the guys.
Evan… well, I still wasn’t sure where things stood with him. Every time I thought we were getting closer, he would pull away. But it didn’t stop me from searching him out, even though I knew he wouldn’t show. He was serious about keeping our… well, whatever we had, a secret. And Lilly and Scarlett were right about the way he kept to himself around school. I never saw him hang out with other guys, and he barely spoke to people in the classes we shared.
Evan was a loner.
And I still didn’t really know why.
“Ugh. Bitch alert,” Lilly yelled over the music, and my body went on high alert. I risked a discreet glance over my shoulder. She was right; Kendall and her minions moved through the room as girls tried to chat with them and guys stalked them like predators on the hunt.
“Come on, let’s get out of here.” Scarlett started pulling me away, but I brushed her off. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Becca, seriously, you have nothing to prove.”
But I did.
I glared at Scarlett, letting her know I was staying, and she sighed heavily, shrugging a shoulder. “Fine. We stay.”
“She’s such a ska—”
Scarlett clapped a hand over Lilly’s mouth and chuckled. “Easy tiger, how many beers have you had?”
“A few.”
“No more for you. You’ll end up saying something you regret.”
Lilly pouted. “It’s true. Look at her, such a tram—”
“Okay, baby.” Jay appeared behind Lilly and hoisted her back to him. “Time-out for you.”
“Nooo! I’m still dancing.” She tried to wriggle out of his hold, but it was pointless. Jay was double her size.
“Party’s over, baby. Come on, I’ll take you home and…” He whispered something in her ear. Her frown melted away, and that dreamy doe-eyed look she got whenever Jay talked dirty in her ear replaced it.
“We’re leaving,” she announced, and Scarlett and I shared an amused look.
“You’ll be okay?” Jay said to Scarlett, and she nodded.
“I’ll stick around.” Malachi joined us, and it was my turn to frown.
“Seriously, guys. You don’t need to babysit me. I’m fine, really.”
“Cheers, man,” Jay said, ignoring my protest. “We’ll see you Monday.”
Lilly waved as Jay all but dragged her away. Malachi leaned in close to Scarlett and said something. She nodded, and he shrunk back to the wall.
