talking to him. He’s trying to flirt and she’s forcing herself to laugh but I see the sadness behind her eyes. I notice the way she’s clinging to her beer and swallowing as if it will get rid of what she’s just heard me admit. Tyler hooks an arm around her shoulders and says something into her ear. She nods and then walks with him out of the front door.
I force myself to remain calm. I won’t go after her. I trust her . . . but I don’t trust him. I trust nothing about him and I don’t like how he has his hands on her. I’m pissed that I can’t claim territory that isn’t mine right now. I can’t go after her since we aren’t dating. Technically, she’s single and so am I. She mentioned that she felt bad for him but I don’t understand why she can’t just break it off with him.
Does she want to have someone around, just in case I fuck up again? Does she want someone to fall back on in case we don’t work out? Does she want us to just be friends and nothing else anymore? I can’t be “just friends” with her. It’s impossible with someone that I’m this in love with.
I turn for the kitchen to grab another drink and return to the living room in a flash to see if she’s come back in. Pinning the sole of my shoe against the wall, I stare at the door, taking slow sips of beer, anxiously awaiting that front door to swing open.
A few girls brush against me but I shake my head and wave them. The only girl I want against me is Natalie. None of the girls here can even compare. They’re all wasted and sloppy. I check the time on my phone and thirty minutes have passed. What the hell is she doing out there?
I finally decide it’s time to check on her. I don’t want her kissing him after she’s been with me. I don’t want her alone with him at all. Passing through the crowd, I finally get to the door and swing it open.
I close it behind me and scan the area but it’s dark outside. A few people are on the porch murmuring as I step past them to get down the porch stairs. As I look to my right, I spot Natalie with Tyler at the shore of the lake. They’re still chatting and I’m glad there’s actually some space between them.
“Hi, Nolan.”
I spin around, facing Sharon whose cleavage is spilling through her red shirt. Her blonde hair is curly and hanging past her shoulders. Her jeans are low-rise (as always) and she has a drink in her hand, as if she’s been here for a while now.
I grimace as she smiles. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“I think I have a right to be here just as much as you do, considering this party is being hosted by my brother and all.”
My eyebrows draw in, my head tilting. “Your brother?” I turn to look at Tyler who is laughing with Natalie again. “You mean Tyler?” I ask, pointing a thumb in their direction.
“Yep. He said she was a lot of work at first but by the looks of things, one would think they’re on the verge of becoming a couple.” Sharon winks and my heart fails to beat.
“What the hell do you mean?”
“It’s not obvious, Nolan?” She laughs, taking a sip of whatever’s in her cup.
“What the fuck did you do?” I growl, grabbing hold of her arms. She laughs again but I pull away from her to look in Natalie’s direction. She’s no longer standing at the shore of the lake. They’ve disappeared.
“Tyler’s a pretty smart kid. He likes her a lot and I don’t think he’s going to hand her back over without a fight. It started as a game but . . . I guess he sort of fell for her. She’s adorable, I’ll admit it.”
I give her a dry laugh, taking a step back. “So you think this little plan of yours is supposed to get Natalie over me and get me to date you?”
She shrugs. “That’d be a fun option.”
“Sharon, let me make this clear,” I snap. “I don’t like you. I don’t like anything about you. You showed up at a time when I wasn’t thinking straight—at a time when I was too drunk to handle myself. That one kiss doesn’t change shit. I