mental head shake. That was not something I needed to be thinking about right now.
“It’ll be fun. What do you say, Sav? You game?”
She glanced between me and Nathan, giving him one of her persuasive smiles. The one I’d seen her use when she was trying to coax him into or out of something. “Sounds good to me. I didn’t have anything else to do today.” Poor girl had no doubt mastered that smile by the time she was ten. “Nate?”
He shrugged, immediately and shockingly giving into what she wanted. “Sure. Whatever.”
I fist pumped the air like an overly caffeinated tool. Nathan and Savy wouldn’t be spending the day holed up in her house together. A party was a good distraction. Hell, maybe Nathan would have some fun and loosen up. I chuckled, in my mind of course. The thought of Nathan ever having fun at party was actually ridiculous. But this wasn’t about him, and it wasn’t about me. This was about Savy and my promise to her.
My promise to set her free.
Chapter Thirteen
Savy
The music was loud, the pool was full of people, and there was a keg of beer tapped and on ice in the kitchen. Definitely a party. Jeremy’d had a few parties here and there when he was living at home, but Nate never wanted to go. I’d watched from my bedroom window, stealing glances when he wasn’t looking. I’d longed to be there, surrounded by people laughing and dancing, but I’d kept my mouth shut, because that wasn’t Nate’s scene and I knew it’d make him uncomfortable.
I’d even watched Jeremy make out with a girl once. He pulled her off to the side, away from the chaos and picked her up. Her legs had wrapped around his waist and they’d kissed for what felt like hours. I hadn’t been jealous of her, not really. I was simply envious of her freedom. She was able to make her own choices. That had been how she wanted to spend her night, and she went for it. Consequences be damned. He’d carried her around the pool and into the house, his hands never leaving her ass. I’d known what they were going to do.
After they’d disappeared, I’d climb back in bed snuggling up to Nate. I remembered feeling guilty for wanting to be at the party, for wanting to be that carefree girl. I had my best friend sleeping peacefully beside me and I should’ve been counting my blessings, not wishing I were someone else.
Things were changing since I’d begun learning what freedom felt like. What fun was. I’d never be that girl. I’d never be the girl Jeremy picked up in front of a crowd of people and carried to his bed. It wasn’t in the cards for us. It never had been.
“You having fun, wild one?” Jeremy spoke softly against the shell of my ear, making those chills only he could conjure shoot down my spine. Nate had left my side for the first time tonight to go to the restroom, two minutes ago. It seemed like Jeremy been watching and waiting for a moment when I was alone. I hoped so. I wanted him to want me that much.
“Yep” I popped the p on the word, then turned around to face him with a small smile on my face. “I’m having a great time.”
He grinned, sarcastically. “Looks like it.” He put his hand on my hip and pulled my body flush against his, quickly brushing a kiss on the corner of my mouth before backing up a few steps. “You’re hot as hell, Savy. Every pair of male eyes in this room are trained on that short little dress you’re wearing.”
I hadn’t dressed for the other guys at the party, I’d chosen the pale blue sundress for Jeremy, and Jeremy only. His eyes were the ones I wanted trailing down my body, drooling over my exposed thighs. When I’d come downstairs to meet Nate at my front door, his eyes had narrowed. I could tell he didn’t want me to wear something so short in front of all these people. To his credit, he’d kept his mouth shut. Although, like I said, he’d only left my side once since we’d gotten here an hour ago.
“Dance baby, you know you want to. I can see your body vibrating.” Jeremy reached out and trailed a fingertip down my arm, the simple touch setting me on fire.
Baby. That word made my breath shutter in my chest. Jeremy affected