The Rebel of Raleigh High (Raleigh Rebels #1) - Callie Hart Page 0,89
my teeth in an approximation of a smile. My head’s still so clouded from the coke, and it feels like there’s an electric current buzzing pleasantly beneath the surface of my skin, though, so I decide not to let Sam’s very obviously sexual comment bother me.
“I’m just looking forward to this cocktail,” I say.
“That’s my girl!” Jacob’s hand presses into the small of my back, and it takes everything I’ve got not to burst into fucking song. I’ve worshipped this guy for so long. He’s handsome. Charming. Funny. And it really doesn’t hurt that his parents are the two most influential people in Raleigh. They’ve already secured Jake a place at Princeton, but surprisingly enough they’re allowing him to go traveling for a year before he starts college. From what Leon told me, they’re giving him free rein and access to their platinum American Express while he’s on the road.
Dreamily, I’m already imagining all of the amazing, beautiful places we’ll visit and see together when he realizes he’s madly in love with me and invites me to go along with him.
No more running around after Max. No more cleaning and cooking at home. No more rain. Sounds like heaven.
Jacob spins a silver Boston shaker in his hand, flaring as he sets up a line of ingredients on the kitchen island: a thick wedge of orange; vodka; Cointreau; Kahlua; cream; crushed ice. He smirks at me, eyes flickering to me every few seconds as he free-pours the liquor into the shaker, adds the ice, the cream, squeezes the orange, then shakes.
Sam leans over and whispers something into Jake’s ear, and Jake’s eyes narrow. He nods his head. “Tell Cillian,” he says. “Upstairs, though. The third floor.”
I don’t enjoy the way Sam’s eyes crawl over me as he hurries out of the kitchen. The guy’s such a smarmy prick. “What was that about?” I ask.
“Sam got some Bolivian coke from his brother. It’s the purest fucking high known to man. We’re keeping it quiet. He doesn’t have much left. You party, right?”
“Uh, yeah. I guess. I think I’ve had enough for one night, though.” I don’t wanna break my own rule. One line’s more than enough for me. The effects of the coke Kacey gave me in the bathroom are still going strong, the lights in the kitchen a little too bright, my skin burning, heartbeat a touch too quick. I’m not a heavy user like Kace. If I have any more, I’m going to be seriously messed up.
“Ahhh, come on, Silver. Don’t you wanna have fun with me?” He holds out the martini glass he’s just poured the cocktail into. I accept it, dipping my head.
“Sure. Of course. I’m just a lightweight. I don’t wanna get too fucked up. I have to drive home, and—”
“Okay. All right. Say no more.” Jake flashes me a grin that makes my stomach flip, the way it used to flip when I watched YouTube videos of One Direction when I was twelve. “I respect that. You’ll still come upstairs and hang while I do a rail, though? And then we can go outside and hang by the pool. I have a lot of questions about you, pretty girl. I can’t believe we’ve been at the same school for so long and we’ve barely even said two words to each other. I don’t know the first thing about you.”
Oh, I know plenty about you, Jacob. I try on a smile that I hope looks shy and pretty, taking a sip from the martini glass. The cocktail's strong—way stronger than I'd typically like, but it's deliciously sweet and tastes like Christmas. “Oh my god, this is amazing.”
He must be used to people telling him how great he is, but I can see that he’s glowing under the compliment I’ve given him, like my opinion matters to him. “Thanks. I’m glad you like it. Drink up.”
There’s really not much liquid in the martini glass, and I don’t want Jake to think I’m a pussy, so I knock the whole thing back in one, laughing as I try to swallow.
“Nice. I like a girl who can handle her liquor. So, what do you say, Parisi? You gonna come up and wait for me?”
“Sure, let me just tell Halliday where I’m going, and—”
Jake grabs me by the hand, pulling me around the corner of the kitchen island. His hand sits on my hip, and then it’s sliding around to the small of my back, rising up my spine. I’m shaking