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“Sorry if we’ve upset you, but you deserve some happiness in our life, and your friends all wanted to be here for you. I know things are pretty shitty at the moment, but we just wanted you to celebrate your twenty-first. It’s a big deal, Herc, and your dad would have wanted you to do something to mark the occasion.” I pause before adding, “So would your mum.”
His gaze is heavy, and I bite my lip, waiting for him to tell me to ask everyone to leave, or worse, for him to storm out. But he does neither. Instead, he brushes a strand of hair behind my ear and says, “Thanks. You’re right: they both would have wanted this. Mum would have loved it. Thank you.”
Warmth spreads from my stomach up to my cheeks, and I duck my head. “It was Tom’s idea.”
His fingers burn my skin as he tilts my chin so I’m forced to look into the depths of his ice blue eyes. “Thank you for reminding me I have some pretty great people in my life.”
My heart races, and my eyes dart to his lips as his tongue swipes against them. The noise of the crowd is a distant hum. His sweet breath tickles my face as he leans closer, his hand threading through my hair. Our lips are only millimetres apart when I register his name being called through the speaker, and then he’s being pulled away, dragged over to the karaoke machine where Jordan and Brady are waiting for him.
Someone knocks into me from behind, and I stumble forward, catching myself on the frame of the entryway to the living room. A guy I don’t know apologises, and I wave him off as the beat of Vanilla Ice’sIce Ice Babycomes through the speakers and the crowd goes wild.
I push through to the kitchen, needing to take a breath and help myself to a strong alcoholic beverage. I grab a plastic cup and fill it with ice, bypassing all the mixed drinks in the eskys and heading to the pantry where I know there’s a bottle of whiskey. I pour liberally, my heart still racing from my latest almost kiss with Harley. After replacing the lid to the bottle, I grip my cup and take a large mouthful, wincing at the burn.
I’m not imagining it this time. There is definitely something between us. Something more than just friends. More than just roommates. I take another sip of my drink trying to process this information. I want him–so bad. But I’m also terrified of what this means. Am I just a rebound? Is he even over Ellie? And what if Declan or my father finds me? I can’t put him or Tom in danger. Never mind that nothing has happened… yet. I’ve seen them kill for less, and they’re more likely to act now, ask questions later. What am I even doing? The longer I stay here, the higher the chance of them finding me. As much as I love it here, I have to leave before they find me.
Decision made, I slip out of the kitchen, pushing back through the crowd and make my way down the hall to my bedroom. As I shut my door, the noise of the party is muted,but I can still hear Harley and his friends singing along to Vanilla Ice. I grab my bag from the wardrobe and start stuffing clothes in there. Just like when I left Sydney, I can’t take everything with me. Some of the clothes I’ve accumulated over the last month stay on their hangers and in the drawers.
TWENTY-FIVE
HARLEY
I LOSE SIGHT of Lily as Lachy shoves me away from her, pushing me towards the makeshift stage where Jordan and Brady are waiting. I try to shrug out of his grip so I can get back to her, but his grip is tight. I’d been so fucking close to tasting her lips, but yet again, I’m pulled away. But it just makes me even more determined: I’m going to kiss the shit out of that girl tonight. I’ve been miserable for long enough, and she’s been there supporting me the whole way through. I don’t know how things are going to go with Dad, but I do know that I want her here with me, regardless the outcome.
Lachy manhandles me up to the karaoke machine, and Jordan pushes a microphone into each of our hands. I groan as the opening beat ofIce Ice Babyby Vanilla Ice starts to play. Brady grins and winks at me. “Yo, VIP. Let’s kick it.”
I shake my head with a laugh as Jordan and Lachy join in. Then the first verse drops, and I rap into the microphone along with my friends.
The crowd gathered in the living room cheers, and we ham it up, the same way we did as kids–embarrassing dance moves and all. Lachy twerks his ass in my direction, and I pretend to slap it in time to the beat.
The song finishes, and I fist pump the boys and head back to where I last saw Lily. I’ve got unfinished business, and this time I’m not going to let anything stand in my way. She’s not where I left her, but I spot Tom talking to Zeke, and I head over to see if he’s seen her.
Zeke spots me, and grins. “Here he is, Mr Beach Boy himself.”
I roll my eyes and give him a couple of playful jabs to the ribs. “What’s up, man? Thanks for coming.” I turn to my brother. “What are you two talking about over here in the corner?”
“Nothing,” he says too quickly, and I narrow my eyes.
Before I can say anything though, Zeke butts in. “Just telling your bro here about some of the extra training I’m gonna put you through after having your ass handed to you last night.”
I grimace, wishing I could just forget about last night’s fight altogether. I palm the back of my neck. “Yeah, it wasn’t pretty.”
Zeke snorts. “You can say that again.”
“Lay off,” I say, shoving him playfully.
“You know,” he says slyly. “I was just telling Tom about an underground fight club I’m involved in. It’s really good money, and it could give you some extra cage experience.”
I frown. “Isn’t that illegal?”
Zeke shrugs. “Not if you don’t get caught.”
I glance at Tom, but he’s staring at the ground. “I don’t know,” I tell Zeke. “This family’s track record with the law hasn’t exactly been the best.”
“Whatever, man,” Zeke brushes it off. “If you’re not into it, that’s cool. It’s not for everyone. Just don’t out me to the boss man, yeah?”
“Of course not.” I clap him on the shoulder before turning back to my brother. “Hey, have you seen Lily?”
Disappointment surges through me when Tom shakes his head. “Not for a while. Check the kitchen, I thought I saw Ronnie heading that way before, so she might be with the girls.”
