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“When did this turn into a dudefest?” I grumble.
“You feeling threatened?” Declan asks, mocking me.
I roll my eyes. “You know these fuckers are going to do some stupid shit and get the cops called on us,” I say, trying to defend myself.
Declan glances at his phone to check the time. “It is getting late. Do you think Greta is going to be mad?” he asks with a laugh.
Greta is the middle-aged woman a few houses down that has constantly got us in trouble since we were kids. It wouldn’t be the first time the police showed up for a noise complaint.
“She already turned on her back lights. This is your party. I’m not talking to the police.”
He sighs. “We just need the neighbors to leave.”
I’m on my feet almost instantly. “I’ll tell them to leave.”
Declan rolls his eyes. “Relax. I’m ordering pizza now. Anyone not staying the night will fizzle out once we all go inside.”
I fall back into my chair, defeated as I continue to stare down the fucker trying to get up behind Thea to dance with her. Luckily, she doesn’t seem to be in the mood to entertain any of them, shoving her elbow back and spinning away from him. I lean back with a smile, tipping my beer back again as I try to figure out what to say to her once I do get her alone again. And Iwillget her alone again.
???
Thea
“Oh my God,” I moan, taking another bite of the pizza. “Nothing has ever tasted as good as this before.”
Amanda laughs as she shoves like ten potato chips in her mouth at once. “You’re not wrong,” she says with a mouth full of chips.
Trevor looks at us with eyebrows raised. “Y’all are a real classy bunch.”
“Shut it,” I say, turning to Amanda. “He’s just not used to seeing women eat real food. The bitches he goes out with ask for ice water for dessert.”
He narrows his eyes, tilting his head to the side all sassy like. “You have pizza sauce on your shirt.”
“Oh shit,” I say, glancing down.
Amanda and I bust out laughing, and I pull my shirt over my head since I’m still wearing my bathing suit underneath. I walk into the kitchen and run it under the sink to hopefully stop it from staining.
I’m wringing the water out of my shirt when I feel him approach me. I don’t even have to look to know it’s him. I recognize everything about him, the way he walks, how fast he breathes, his smell. It’s funny because people have always mixed him and Declan up over the years, but I’ve never had that problem.
“Here,” he says. “Lift.”
I raise my hands, letting him pull his sweatshirt over my head. “Thanks,” I say, almost under my breath.
He steps closer, lowering his voice. “Can we talk? Please.”
I glance over my shoulder, but no one is around right now. “I don’t have anything to say to you right now.”
I try to walk away, but he grabs my arm, stopping me. “How long are you going to punish me?”
I glare up at him. “Not everything is about you, Mack.”
“This is stupid, Thea. Just talk to me. I’m not waiting another day to clear the air.”
The food sobered me up a little, but not enough for me to be reasonable with him right now. “Tough luck,” I say, pulling away before he can stop me again.
“No, fuck that!” he says, following after me.
Before I know what’s happening, he lifts me up, throwing me over his shoulder. I squeal in surprise. “Mack, what the fuck! Put me down.”
