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“Wait, Cole,” Zoe called out.
“Fuck,” I muttered. Not only was I out of time, but how was I going to sneak out of here undetected? I tiptoed to the door and carefully peeked out. Cole and Zoe were at the bottom of the stairs … holding hands. I clenched my teeth, willing myself to keep my mouth shut.
Cole tipped Zoe’s chin up and smiled.Seriously?I took a few steps out of his bedroom, leaned against the wall, and folded my arms across my chest, glaring at them. Cole would assume I was irritated with my best friend because I hated him, and he was right, but why did Zoe have to flirt with him? I knew she had to distract Cole, so God only knew why it bothered me. Why did I give a flying fuck that Cole was hot and probably amazing in bed?Stop!
Zoe would be thrilled to learn I would need her help with distracting Cole at the party later. The trick was to get his phone long enough for me to unlock and search it. Lucky for us, Cole loved to drink and smoke. After an hour at Harrison’s, he would most likely be wrecked, which would make stealing his cell much easier.
Zoe’s words continued to cycle through my brain. She was right, Cole was cold and calculating. He was definitely up to something.
Cole and I hadn’t been close by any means, but he’d never been brutal and vicious before either. An asshole, yeah, but he’d never laid a hand on me. My biggest complaint about my older brother was that in high school he and his friends had constantly cockblocked me, forcing me to lose my virginity to Ibrahim. I’d been over the moon when the quarterback, Nick Perry, asked me out when I was only a sophomore, and he was a senior. I’d accepted and couldn’t wait to shop with the girls for my date. Then, the next day Nick texted and canceled. It wasn’t long before the rumors started to circulate that Cole and his friends had told Nick to back off. It hadn’t taken me long to realize Nick had no balls if he couldn’t stand up to my stepbrother. Every girl wanted Cole, and every guy wanted to be him, so when he said jump … they jumped, rolled over, and bowed. He still tried to control my life, but I didn’t see him as often now that we were in college. Granted, the same one, but it was big enough that we only saw each other occasionally.
The question I desperately needed the answer to was why? What had changed? Little did I know I would seriously regret learning the answer.
ChapterFour
Harrison Swanson’s threw the best parties. “Easier Than Lying” by Halsey shook the mansion's walls as we entered the foyer. Current and soon-to-be college kids littered the hallway, drinking and making out. It never failed that someone, usually multiple girls, got knocked up at the summer kickoff event.
Zoe and I started to make our way through the gyrating bodies when a hand gripped my bicep and tugged at me.Seriously? I barely walk through the door, and Cole sees me?I glanced over my shoulder, my attention landing on a gorgeous brunette.
“You made it, bitch!” Isabel jumped up and down, her drink sloshing over the edge of the red Solo cup.
I threw my head back and laughed. “When have I ever missed a party?”
Isabel looked adorable. She was one of the few people I knew who could get away with wearing an orange shirt, but her skin glowed when she did. She flipped her hair behind her shoulder, her hazel eyes flickering with mischief before she pulled me in for a big hug, then grabbed Zoe.
Isabel, Dani, Sibyl, Zoe, and I had known each other since third grade. We were the inseparable five. In fact, we were all attending Whitmore University in Oregon together.
“Where are Dani and Sibyl?” Zoe shouted at Isabel over the music. “Amsterdam” by Nothing But Thieves thumped through the speakers.
Isabel shrugged. “Who knows? You know that they love to make an entrance!”
The bass vibrated through my body, and I grinned. A little fun before my mission was in order, since I had no idea if Cole had arrived yet. “Zoe, let’s get a drink. I’m thirsty and ready to shake my ass.”
“Um, babe?” Zoe tugged on my hand. “Look up.”
My gaze traveled over the people, up the winding staircase, and to the level above us.Well, fuck. David Graham, the quarterback for Braydon High, was leaning against the railing, his attention zeroing in on me. He ran his fingers through his light brown hair, then tugged on his navy T-shirt. Although the girls liked to look their best, the guys were dressed a lot more casually. Some sported basketball shorts while others wore jeans. David’s denims hung nicely on his hips and hugged his muscular legs as he descended the stairs.
I tossed him a wink and waved, smiling at him. David had been asking me out since we ran into each other over Christmas break, but I just wasn’t into dating guys my age. There was no doubt he was drool-worthy, but in a few months, we would move back to school in opposite directions. Attachment wasn’t in my vocabulary … playing was.
“Have Sibyl or Dani texted you?” I asked Isabel as David continued to move in our direction, his brown eyes sparkling as a lazy smile eased across his face.
“Not a word. I’m sure they’ll be here any minute.” Isabel took a drink, then giggled. “The alcohol is in the kitchen. Go grab some.”
“Ladies,” David said, slipping his arm around my waist and pulling me to him.
I placed my palm on his chest and peeked up. Since Cole had ruined my summer fun with Ibrahim, maybe I would have to reconsider David. There was no shame in admitting I had a healthy sex drive.
“We’re about to get a drink, want one?” I asked.
“Yeah. I need a refill.” He raised the red cup to his lips and drained it. “Was that Cole I saw a while ago?”
My heart plummeted to my toes. I had to lay low until Zoe was ready to find him and snatch his phone.
“I have no idea. He’s home for the summer, but that’s all I know.” I gave him a pinched look, not wanting to discuss my stepbrother.
I glanced up, then grabbed Zoe’s arm. I pointed to the dark-haired beauty standing at the railing upstairs, Blaire Sable.
The corner of Blaire’s mouth kicked up into a sneer and she wiggled her fingers at me in an uppity wave.
