The Boss Crush - Penny Wylder Page 0,10
know, connected at the hip.” Kira gives me a smile and scoots a little closer. “Look, I promise if it's weird or awkward, we'll leave. Okay?”
Letting out a slow breath, I nod. I sit quietly, just holding her eyes with mine. She's still pouting her bottom lip, cupping her fingers together to beg.
“Okay, okay,” I finally say, cracking. “I'll go.” Pressing my hands into the tops of my knees, I groan. “But if shit gets crazy, or I get uncomfortable, I'm out.”
Kira jumps up to her knees and squeals. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” She drives herself forward, giving me a big hug. “This is going to be awesome! I swear, it's going to be so much fun! You have no idea!”
Giggling, I push her off me. “Yeah, well I hope you're right. Or this friendship. . .” With an open hand, I wiggle it side to side.
Kira giggles, latching back on to hug me harder. “You'll never get rid of me, sorry.”
When we arrive at the party, we park halfway down the street, directly behind a row of cars. Kira locks the doors, tucking the single key into her pocket. Walking side by side, she's smiling wide.
“This is going to be fucking awesome. I'm so excited. Are you excited?”
Shrugging a shoulder, I try to muster some excitement. “Yeah, this should be really cool.”
The music starts to pound as we get closer, and I can hear laughing and yelling. We turn up the driveway of Todd Stanson's house, and there are kids everywhere.
Todd is one those kids whose parents are never home. They travel to their country house almost every weekend, leaving open range for their son to throw parties. It's like they hit their late forties, sent their two older kids to college, and figured fuck the last one, he's on his own.
I've never seen any other kid have the freedom Todd Stanson has.
The front door is open, so I follow Kira inside. There are empty cups and beer cans strewn about the room, with drunken kids dancing and laughing.
She smiles at people from school, and we make our way deeper inside. There's a keg in the kitchen, so she grabs two cups, and fills them. Passing me one, she takes a big gulp from hers.
“What is this?” I ask.
“Beer.”
“Oh, no, I don't want this. I don't want to drink.”
Kira shrugs her shoulder, taking the cup from my hand, and passing it to some random kid that walks by. “I'm just happy you're here. And if I get too fucked up, you can drive us home.”
“Consider it done. I'd be happy to get us home later.”
There's a commotion coming from the garage that catches our attention. She gives me a smile and nods her head. “Come on, let's go see what's going on in there.”
“Are you sure we can?” I ask.
“Dalia, relax, it's fine. Take a deep breath, we're not going to get in trouble or anything.”
I fake a confident smile and follow her to the door. There's hooting and clapping, laughing and yells. Stepping down into the garage, there's a big circle of kids all crowding a bottle. A couple of them are in the middle of the circle, making out with each other.
Spin the bottle. Seriously?
“Well, well, well, look who climbed out from under her rock.” Sandy purses her lips and rocks her head on her shoulders.
“Not tonight, Sandy, all right?” Kira cuts in, holding out her cup in Sandy's direction. “We're just here to have a good time, no drama.”
With open palms, Sandy tucks her chin into her chest as if she's just been insulted. “I'm not trying to cause any trouble, Kira. I just think it would be fun if you and Dalia joined our game here? What do you think, Dalia? You in?” She looks behind Kira at me.
“Nah, I'm all set. Maybe another time,” I answer.
“Oh come on, don't be a prude, Dalia. Here,” she says, grabbing a drink and trying to hand it to me. “Drink up, have fun, and enjoy the party.”
“I'm good, really.”
“Come on, just take it,” she says, nudging the cup in my direction. “That's why you're here, right? To party with the cool kids?” Suddenly the cup is swept from her hand.
“She said she's good, Sandy.” Setting the cup down on a ledge, Lyle steps between his sister and me. “Besides, we need another player inside.” Looking back at me over his shoulder, he asks, “You in, Dalia?”
Is this really happening? Did Lyle Vox just save me