whether it’s my charming ways or the fact that he’s been forced to hang out with me every day during our cramming sessions, but I think Sawyer has finally warmed up to me. I mean, I’m still clearly not his favorite person, but he no longer winces at the sight of me or cringes when I speak, so I’m taking that as a sign that we’re about to be best fucking friends.
My second phone buzzes in my pocket and I check it as I take another drink, the alcohol burning my sinuses.
Send me a photo of what you’re wearing tonight, Bond.
Atlas is also drinking, I can tell because he goes from sweet and kind to bossy and sexy in a hot minute. I can’t believe I find it hot considering North’s treatment of me, but there’s something about his ability to just ignore all of my attempts at keeping us at arm’s length that has me swooning a little.
If I get drunk enough I might ask him for a picture back tonight, but with far less clothing.
“If you and Atlas start sexting, I will confiscate your phone. If I’m doomed to be unloved and alone forever, the least you could do is keep that lovey-dovey shit out of my face,” Sage pouts and I scoff at her.
“He’s probably just horny, that’s not love. Besides, I’m staying unbonded forever, remember? No dick for me. Not even if Gabe is the six-pack hottie of my dreams.”
“Jesus fucking Christ, if the two of you are just going to get wasted and cry over boys and your sad sex lives, then I’m leaving you both here.”
Sage giggles at him, a great sound to hear even if she’s freaking plastered, and then leans forward to me to pretend to whisper, “Brothers are the worst. Sawyer’s just mad that his boyfriend isn’t coming tonight and he has to babysit us both without the promise of hooking up after we get back.”
Boyfriend, not Bond. It’s a small word choice, but a clear distinction in our world that makes all of the difference. Whoever Sawyer is fated to be with, he hasn’t found them yet, and he’s not waiting around for them. I get it, I found my own Bonds at such a young age, which skewed my own decisions on that front.
Sage also had her options ripped away from her.
“Who’s your boyfriend? Someone I know? Is he hot? God, please tell me you’re banging some freaking dreamboat so I can live vicariously through you.”
He scoffs at me but then he’s tapping on his phone and turning the screen around to show me a very hot hockey player with dimples and biceps bigger than my thighs.
“Holy shit! Sawyer you freaking badass. Please tell me his dick matches the rest of him.”
Sage groans at me and collapses back on the bed. “Don’t get him started on Grey’s dick. I’ve already heard too much about it and all it does is remind me of how desperately alone I am… getting zero dick. Or flowers and candies and teddy bears.”
Oh God.
When she’d seen the gifts from Atlas, I thought she was going to burst into tears over it. I felt guilty for half a second before she declared that Atlas was her favorite and we should take him with us when we run away. At this rate, we’re going to have to hire a freaking bus because Sawyer clearly isn’t letting his sister go anywhere without him and I wouldn’t ever let him dump Grey’s hot self just to come with.
Felix would chase Sage down, I’m sure of it.
I don’t want to think about my Bonds or running away or the amount of dick that I’m not getting thanks to all of this shit, so I grab my glass and tip it back, finishing the liquid fire in two gulps before holding the glass out to Sawyer again for a refill.
He takes it with a smirk.
Tonight is going to be messy as fuck.
I’m not wrong.
Sawyer makes Sage and I both eat something and sober up a little before he drives us over to the Halliwell’s mansion for the pool party. Apparently it’s the social gathering to be at though, so we have to park down the block and walk up, cars double parked all over the streets. Most of the gated communities around here are full of Gifted families though, so no one bats an eyelid as we all pile out. My buzz is almost completely gone as the night air