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twenty-eight
Rory
Ifallintothecouch in a way that most likely looks unflattering to a lot of individuals, but whatever. I fill the once-empty seat next to Eli anyway.
All of these people came here to party, not grovel over if I’m being ladylike or not. Plus, this ismyboyfriend’s lake house so there’s no way I’m conforming. Their entitled asses will just have to get over it.
“What happened to everyone else?”
“Not sure,” he says. “I figured you were with Cole and after Finn’s stunt from the game, is anyone really surprised he’s missing?”
My nose pinches, his expression knowing as he takes a sip from his red plastic cup. Guess I shouldn’t be shocked. It at least explains why I haven’t seen much of Hailey either.
“Is it too presumptuous to assume they’re together now?”
“Nope,” I say, popping thePand then stealing his cup, taking my own well-deserved drink. “Definitely worth assuming.”
Hailey and Finn. It’s about damn time.
“So, what about you?”
Eli’s mouth puckers, taking his cup back. “What about me?”
“Anyone catch your eye lately?”
“Rory…” My name comes off like a warning, but I gulp past it.
“Come on. No one? Really?” I refute. “If I remember correctly, there was something mentioned about a redhead at one time.”
This alcohol is making me bold. I’d only had one cup myself before coming over here, but it seemed to be working. My brain and my mouth spark together.
Stupidly I brought up that night. All of us were around the bonfire on our group trip when Finn wanted to play Truth or Dare. When everything changed between Cole and me.
“Let it go. It’s nothing.”
I do because he's my friend. But why do I get the distinct feeling that there should be a “not anymore” added to the end of his sentence? Maybe it’s the way that heavy sigh pulls past his mouth or how he slouches and finishes off his drink.
Eli never slouches, he’s all creased cuts and no crooked corners.
Whatever it is, somethings got him in disarray.
I rest my head on his shoulder as a way of solitude. Both of us settle into watching everyone else around us have fun. The entire school enjoys the victory of the basketball team’s win.
A while later I feel, before I see, his eyes on me. Stoically Iceman weaves rather than pushes his way through the crowd. People automatically do that for him.
The intensity in his gaze hot as it ignites, burning straight past my soul and into my groin.
Something else flicks in those embers. Deepening for the split second they shift to the person beside me.
Iceman’s jaw flexes at the same rate of him getting closer. Passion for me fuels his speed, or is it something else?
“Come,” he demands, hand on mine already pulling me up from my spot. “It’s time for you to show me what’s going on underneath myjersey thatyou’rewearing.”
He says it like this is a reminder, but for whom?
“Sorry,” I mumble apologetically to Eli over my shoulder. Cole doesn’t wait as he drags us back through the crowd and up the stairs to the master suite.
“Clothes. Off. Now,” he demands as soon as the door is locked.
