what he said, I feel him all over me. It’s overwhelming, almost too much to handle.
I make my way through the house, memories everywhere, like snapshots plastered on the wallpaper. Passing through the great room with the oversized fireplace, I see Caroline with Kai, who gives me a wink, and Laura talking to Ethan. Two guys I don’t know, probably rowers, are sitting on the couch debating the best way to play beer pong with girls on their laps. One of them calls out to Grey, and my head turns to find him.
He walks into the kitchen, grabbing two red Solo cups. His eyes are still on me as I bite my lip and walk out the french doors that open to the porch. There are five or six people who I don’t recognize, but they seem to know me, telling by the polite smiles. One of the girls lifts her cup as a hello, and I vaguely remember her from my political science class. Mila, I think.
Liam comes bounding up the grass from the lake, and I walk to meet him. He’s a welcome escape. The smile on his face immediately rids me of any worry as he picks me up with a bear hug and smacks a big kiss on my cheek. “I thought you’d never get here.”
“We hit crazy traffic, so I’m happy to finally be here. I swear the house hasn’t changed.”
He places me back on the ground and takes my hand, laughing, “It’s crazy,” as he tugs me back toward the house. “Let’s get you a drink.”
“Already taken care of,” Grey calls out, walking toward us and extending a cup my way.
I take a careful sip, realizing it’s Sprite, and smile at him.
“Straight and narrow.” He winks.
Liam steals the cup from me and takes a large gulp, then pulls it away from his lips to look at it before throwing the rest on the grass. “That won’t do.”
“Liam,” I laugh. “That was my drink.”
He brings his face closer to mine and growls, making me giggle and back up, as he stalks toward me. I hold out my hands, “You better stop it. You’re drunk and can’t be trusted. Grey—a little help?”
But Grey doesn’t move a muscle as he swigs his own drink. Bastard. He’s enjoying this. Liam puts his arms behind his back and chuckles.
“He can’t help you. And you’re right. On both accounts—I am drunk and shouldn’t be trusted.”
Liam lunges for me, wrapping an arm around my stomach and swinging me around. I scream, laughing until he pulls me to his chest and stares down at me. The specks of yellow in his eyes almost glow in the light.
“So terrible you are.”
He blows a breath full of whiskey at my bangs, clearing them from my face. “Come on, Yoda, you need to catch up. Everybody’s getting crazy tonight.”
The moment he says it, Ethan runs by, stark nude.
“Skinny-dip!”
I bury my face in Liam’s chest and squeal with laughter as he howls at the sky a few times before sweeping me off the ground.
“Nooo!”
“Hell yeah. We’re dipping, Van.”
Over Liam’s shoulder, I see Grey down his drink and toss it, making his way toward us. Liam makes it five more feet before Grey spins us around and steals me right from his arms.
“She’s not skinny-dipping.”
My feet hit the floor, and I’m positioned directly between both my giant boys.
“Well, Van…are we doing this or what?” Liam taunts, completely ignoring Grey.
“No” rings out over me by Grey.
My face shoots to Grey’s and back to Liam’s, just in time to see Liam strip himself of his shirt. “Come on, Van. Don’t be a party pooper. Let Grey be grumpy by himself. Have some fun with me.”
Damn him. He’s so fucking cute. I can’t say no to him. My lips won’t stay neutral; they keep pulling up as Liam takes off his shoes. Then his socks. Dammit.
I turn to Grey, who looks at my smile, then to my eyes. “Hell no.”
“It’s only fair. We had so much fun on the way here. I mean, it is a party…what happened to ‘I won’t tell’ and ‘Have fun, Donovan’?”
My feet carry me backward as I reach for Grey’s sweatshirt that I’m still wearing and peel it over my head.
“Yes, Van. Let’s do this!”
Liam reaches for his jeans, and I cover my eyes, but Grey’s grumpy voice has me peeking through my fingers.
“Leave your fucking briefs on. She doesn’t need to be traumatized by your small dick.”