stoop and even on the porch. Some don’t even notice we’re passing by because they’re so trapped in their make-out session.
Without hesitation, Harper grabs the door knob and pushes the door open and various colored rave lights flicker across our face. I shut the door behind us in complete awe as I stare around at each person dancing, drinking, or practically fucking against the wall. At the sight of them I shudder but I can’t help but to get into the rhythm of the beat that’s a remix of a Rihanna song and a techno beat.
“This is freaking amazing!” Harper squeals in my ear as she grips my hand. “Let’s go get some drinks before you run into Tyler.”
She rushes for the kitchen and as soon as we’re in I see a few guys around a keg. One of the boys is being held upside down as he drinks from it while the other guys are yelling “Chug, chug, chug!” The guy being held upside continues to drink until they finally let him down. As soon as he’s down, he stumbles, grinning like an idiot. He can’t be any older than seventeen but he sure is having the time of his life.
Harper steps around the counter and I follow her to the bottle of vodka. She squirms through a few people to grab some spare plastic cups and pours some vodka into each one. “Drink it all,” she says, shoving the cup into my hands. “I don’t want to be a bad influence or anything but we’ve got to loosen you up.”
I decide to take her advice. I don’t want to think at all. I just want to live in the moment. I’m starting to realize that thinking is going to continue to get me hurt. It’s time to be a nineteen-year-old Natalie for once and not give a damn about anything but myself. That’s how it’s supposed to be. After figuring out I may have been cheated on twice, I really need to rid my mind of it. I really need to just wing it.
I take a huge gulp of the vodka and it burns my throat but I force it down. I take another and Harper cheers as she watches me. “My turn!” she says then swallows her whole drink down in a snap.
My eyes broaden as I laugh at her. She pours another cup and I cheer her on as she gulps it. “Go Harp!”
A boy beside her with dark hair and heavy eyelids joins in and pumps his fist in the air as he watches her. “Holy shit, dude,” he says to the guy beside him. “Look. This girl is a fucking pro.”
The guy beside him turns around but my heart pauses, realizing this certain guy is Tyler. He has on a tight white T-shirt and his hair is gelled to perfection. He looks amazing but I force myself to keep calm. His eyes meet mine after he’s watched Harper swallow down her second cup and then he steps around the counter. With each stride he takes towards me, my heart thumps and I feel the center of my legs tighten. Why am I getting so thrilled to see him coming my way?
“I really didn’t think you could get any hotter,” he says in my ear, placing a hand on my waist. My cheeks heat as I look up into his eyes that are flickering beneath the fluorescent lights. “Glad you joined me tonight.”
“I’m glad you invited me.”
He chuckles. “I see you’ve welcomed yourself. Would you like another?” His hand points towards the bottle of vodka. I look with him but notice Harper has disappeared.
“Sure,” I nod as he grabs it. He fills my cup halfway then hands it to me with a warm, sexy smile.
“By the way, the people here can get a little crazy. You shouldn’t take drinks from anyone you don’t know. Don’t need you getting too fucked up, you know?”
Giggling, I nod my head, my hair shaking against my shoulders. Tyler reaches a hand up to brush it across my cheek and then tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear. My breathing stifles and my giggling comes to a halt as I watch his gaze linger on mine before drifting down to my breasts and then my legs. To distract myself from naughty thoughts, I gulp my drink down and ignore the burning that comes along with it.
“Slow down, tigress,” he teases, taking the cup away from me. “Let’s go