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Jelly all but climbs onto my back. “Who’s that with Bjornson? Can you believe he found himself a girlfriend like her?”
I struggle to wipe my grin away. “She’s not his girlfriend.” She’s mine.
Jelly tilts her head, eyes laden with knowledge, and I realize, too late, that I’ve fallen into her trap.
“She must be new to the Portland scene.” This comment belongs to Link, who joins us and eyes Laurel with interest.
“She’s not new,” Jelly goes on.
“She must be,” Link insists. “Someone like her can’t just hide.”
I smirk. “That’s—”
“—exactly what she’s been doing,” Jelly adds and smooths back her hair tossed by the ocean breeze. “You know her.”
Juliette’s eyebrows rise and her eyes glimmer in anticipation of something juicy. “Is that the girl from the pictures?”
“You’re all too bored.” I detach myself from them. “Do something. Steal Briar’s game cake and throw it into the ocean. Everyone will thank you.”
Link cackles. “Man, if that’sher”—he nods at Laurel—“you’d better run. Once Briar gets wind, you won’t be able to dodge the games.”
He’s got a point. At the end of the night, when only the closest friends and favorites remain, Briar coaxes everyone who’s got a date to play couples’ games. They’re fun to watch, as long as you’re not part of the games, and for as long as I’ve known Briar, I’ve never brought a date with me. She hasn’t made a fool out of me yet. I’ll have to steal Laurel away before the games start.
But when I search for her in the crowd, Laurel is nowhere to be seen. Thanks for distracting me, everyone. You’d better hope she hasn’t left— Ah, there she is, by the edge of the patio, and Project Viper’s pianist seems to be heading her way.
I don’t think so. I meant it when I said I won’t have another snake around my girl.
Track 20
If You Can’t Accept It…
Laurel
One tiny party. Whatever gave me the impression I’d be attending something small? The place, though beautiful it may be, is teeming with people. Thanks to my jittery nerves, I left my jacket in the car, and now I feel not only cold in my thinnest leather pants and lace-trimmed top, but also exposed.
Quite a few people are dancing to some bouncy pop hits, albeit spiced up with some EDM and grunge vibes. Curious looks and half-concealed whispers prick my skin, but I refuse to indulge my impulse to hide. Jace or no Jace, I can do this. Iwilldo this. I am no princess in a high tower.
“Hello there.” A very, very handsome guy of Asian descent materializes by my side.
“Hi.” I manage to smile like a normal person, thank everything.
“I know everyone here. I generally know a lot of people, but I don’t know you.” He sounds friendly and offers me a flute of something pink.
“That’s okay. I don’t know you either.” That’s not quite true. Anyone who doesn’t live under a rock knows what Zach Tang of Project Viper looks like. However, I have never met him in person, so my response still applies. And although I’m parched, I bring the flute closer to my face and sniff.
He chuckles. “Just raspberry lemonade. This is a dry party.” He throws a knowing look over the guests. “We have too many people who need to stay away from alcohol.”
“Great.” I take a small sip as a test. Just as he said, the flute is full of tangy lemonade.
“So-o-o.” Zach’s smile gains a more pronounced curious edge.
I look ahead, refusing to acknowledge him. He’s fishing. It’s impossible he didn’t recognize me. Then I think about it some more. I sound so full of myself. We’ve never met, and I look a lot different from when everyone followed my every step. Maybe—
Strong fingers wrap around my elbow. In the next moment, my drink gets swiped out of my hand and tossed to Zach, who manages to catch it somehow, without spilling, a thousand expressions flashing through his face. They match my thoughts, which freeze as soon as the interrupter slides his hand down my arm, leaving a trail of fire, and threads our fingers together. I don’t need to see his face. I know that the only person who’d act in such a brash manner is Jace. But I do want to see him. So much so that I let him whisk me onto the dance floor.
“I didn’t know you danced.” My mouth is drier than before, and I’m more nervous than when I first got here.
“I don’t, but you left me no choice.” Jace places his hands on my waist. The light, warm pressure sends a pleasant jolt through me. “Remember what I told you?”
