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Thea shouted in victory, raising her arms over her head as I bounced the quarter inside the glass for the third time in a row. I grinned, impressed with myself.
I wasn’t sure how long this game was supposed to last, but Thea started rattling off a new rule for the game as I glanced up from the kitchen table, my eyes catching onto familiar green ones.
Reid did not look happy as he leaned against the kitchen counter on the opposite side of the room. One arm was wrapped around a thin blonde wearing a short, skin-tight sparkly green dress with fairy wings.
He held my stare, his eyes narrowing as I swayed on the spot. I grabbed at the edge of the table to steady myself.
“Hey, does anyone know who lives here?” some guy shouted across the kitchen, making me jump and gaining everyone’s attention.
“Why?” It was Reid’s voice, sharp and guarded.
The guy wearing a football jersey shrugged, but his next words had my heart stopping. “There’s some cops at the door who want to talk to whoever lives here.”
My head snapped to Thea, whose face had gone white.
“Oh, damn,” she whispered, her eyes moving from mine to seek out her brother.
Reid was already walking toward us. “Come on,” he mumbled, barely waiting for us to follow as he headed out of the kitchen.
If I hadn’t been under the influence of a bit too much alcohol, I would’ve been scared to death. A touch of fear hurried my heartbeat, but I was mostly calm as I stumbled after Thea, her hand squeezing mine as we made it to the front door.
Reid swung it open, and the group of us cautiously stepped out onto the small porch where two uniformed cops were waiting, their faces pinched in annoyance.
The touch of fear flared brighter as I moved closer to Thea’s side.
“Are you the current resident of this property?” a cop with slicked, black hair asked.
Reid stepped toward them, shifting himself slightly in front of Thea and me. “Yes, my sister and a couple of her friends rent here.”
The cop’s dark eyes narrowed. “We’ve gotten a couple of noise complaints tonight.”
Thea’s gaze widened. “I—I’m so sorry.”
She trembled, and I wasn’t sure whether it was because she was scared or because it was freaking freezing outside. Our breaths clouded in the dim porch light.
The cop tucked his thumbs into his belt. “You’ve got to turn down that music and keep the place at a decent volume. We’re here to issue you one warning. But if we have to come by again, you’re gonna get a fine.”
Thea nodded. “Okay—yes. We’ll keep it down.”
“We’re sorry you had to come out here,” Reid said, gaining the officers’ attention again. “I’ll make sure we get this place quieted down.”
The cop with the black hair considered Reid. “I hope so.” His gaze shifted back to Thea, and then slid to me. He narrowed his eyes again before glancing at the door we’d left wide open. The party was in full swing, and it sounded like they’d started the game of quarters again, completely oblivious, or simply not caring, about the officers outside.
“Can I see your identification?” the black-haired cop asked.
My stomach sank. Thea and I were obviously underage, and I was almost positive you could smell the alcohol on us.
Thea blinked for a moment before stuttering. “Uh…yes, of course…” but she didn’t move as she trailed off.
The cop cocked his head to the side, suspicious, but a voice from the doorway distracted him.
“Hey, Brandon.”
Xander sauntered outside onto the porch, looking completely composed and impressively sober considering the number of shots I’d seen him take. He walked toward Thea and wrapped an arm around her waist.
Recognition flared in the cop’s eyes. “Xander.”
I glanced between the cop named Brandon and Xander, wondering why it took my brain so long to put the pieces together. Xander was the sheriff’s son. Of course they knew him.
