diving into his arms. I hold my breath, expecting his bad knee to buckle, but he shifts his weight and catches the girl with a smile and doesn’t waiver with the impact.
Rose grins as she looks back at him, and grabs my hand so tight the bones in my fingers protest.
“What kind of college party is this?” I ask when we stop at a table where a man dressed in a suit is filling drinks.
“The best kind,” she says.
“Do Ian’s parents live here?”
She laughs. “Does it matter?”
“That depends heavily on if they know, and if the cops get called.”
“Would you ladies prefer beer or punch?” the man wearing the bowtie asks.
“Punch,” Rose answers for both of us.
He nods and passes us two red Solo cups filled with punch, and it feels like an oxymoron—fancy house, paid servants, and cheap, plastic cups.
“A toast to friendship.” Rose lifts her glass.
“Friendship,” I say, knocking my Solo cup against hers and taking a drink. It’s strong—too strong, the underlying fruity taste barely sweetening the alcohol. It doesn’t slow Rose down, though. She finishes the drink in seconds, reminding me of my inexperience with all things drinking. It’s not that I condemn others for drinking, but it’s just never been my thing. I don’t like to lose sense or control and can hardly stomach the taste. Yet, as Rose goes back to get a second, I find myself finishing my drink.
My second drink goes down smoother. It’s not as strong, and I can taste the fruitiness, and I don’t feel like such an outsider. In fact, I feel like I belong. I feel powerful and sexy and confident.
A blond guy is telling me about his classes and how pretty I am and how much he likes my accent, and I’m soaking it all up like the Texas heat.
Then Arlo arrives, smiling at me like he knows I’m feeling buzzed. “Hey,” he says, joining us. “Can I steal you? I’ve got some people to introduce you to.”
I turn to the guy, grateful for Arlo cutting in because the guy was cute and attentive enough that I might have considered kissing him had he tried. I say a quick good-bye, and then Arlo’s arm is warm and heavy around my shoulders, steering me down a short path before coming to a stop. “Liv, this is Paxton, Lincoln, Caleb, Poppy, and Rae Rae,” Arlo says, pointing to each of them. “Guys, this is Liv.”
“Olivia,” I correct him as I smile, offering my hand to Poppy because she’s the closest to me. She has gorgeous red hair and blue eyes as clear as the Texas skies. “It’s nice to meet you all.”
“I’m Raegan, or Rae. Only Arlo calls me Rae Rae,” the blonde girl says as she steps closer. She’s beautiful in the way a model is, natural and flawless as she smiles and takes my hand.
Lincoln shakes my hand next. He’s all hard lines and dark hair and darker eyes, his jaw set with a stubborn line as he places a hand on Raegan’s waist, his face relaxing with the contact. Next is Caleb, who has curly red hair and kind eyes that seem to recognize how far in over my head I feel as I’m faced with this beautiful group of people. Lastly, Paxton shakes my hand, his hair short and blond, and his smile wide. “We heard you’re helping Arlo get over his bad luck,” he says.
“Something like that,” I tell him, feeling another smile on my lips, which is firmly in place thanks to my third cup of punch that I’ve been nursing.
“Well, welcome to the group,” Paxton says, lifting his own Solo cup into the air.
I grin, lifting mine as I glance at Arlo who whoops in response. And for a moment, I forget about Texas and about what Matt is doing tonight and why Sophia hasn’t called me, and I finish the rest of my drink.
“Let’s dance,” Poppy says.
Raegan reaches for Lincoln, and the group disperses, leaving Arlo and me. “You can go,” he tells me.
I shake my head. “That’s okay.” I fan myself. “I think all these people and the alcohol are adding up, and it’s starting to feel really warm.”
He grins. “Want to go outside?”
I nod, and when his arm slips around my waist, I don’t fight it or think about it because it feels nice to be close to someone.
The backyard is beautiful, a manicured lawn and cement edging with rock beds and dormant plants that I’m sure will spring