Another guy, Rain.” His voice is gruff and pained. He blinks like he’s blinking away tears but his eyes are dry. This dark look enters them as he keeps going. It gives me goose bumps. “Apparently they’re in love, her and this other guy. She says we were too young to know what love was. He’s older. He’s rich. He’s better than me. He knows what love is.”
I can’t stand the way he talks about her. There’s so much longing in his voice and I’m sitting right here longing for him the same way.
Without a word I leave the room. I bite back the tears, refusing to ruin my makeup
What are you doing? My common sense screams at me.
Pack your shit and get out while you still can.
Kent follows me into the kitchen. We both want the same thing.
I get the shot glasses over the sink and he gets the whiskey off the counter. We’re a team.
Our eyes lock as we swallow our shots, running from each other right before our eyes.
People trickle in slowly. I hang out in the kitchen, awkwardly pouring shots for Kent’s friends. I don’t relax until Sophie and Samantha get here. I hug them so hard because for the first time I’m glad I have friends other than Becca.
“Come on, girls.” I take their hands and lead them into the kitchen, passing Kent and Zeke on the way in. I ignore them and pour Sophie and Sam a shot each.
Sam glances at Kent as she wipes her mouth off.
He winks at her.
I look away.
I have to.
Sam’s my friend.
“Hmm,” Sophie murmurs. She leans over and whispers in my ear. “Don’t worry. We’ll get him. He’ll be crying in your lap tonight.”
“Sophie, don’t.”
“Don’t what?” she coyly asks, grabbing my hand. “Let’s dance, girly. I love me some Pitbull.”
The open space in the living room is now a dance floor thanks to Sophie and me. At first I can’t relax. I can’t stop thinking about everything. About the eyes I know are on me. The hands that touched me. The man I can’t have.
Sophie grabs my hand and grabs my attention. “Forget about him for a few hours.”
“I invited Trevor.”
She grins salaciously. “Good girl. This is going to be so fun. The only man I want you worrying about tonight is Trevor. That’s it. Don’t even look at Kent.”
“Kent who?” I whisper.
I allow him to fade away. Because if I don’t my brain will explode. Sophie and I dance to so many songs I lose count. I’m sweaty and take the shot Sam offers me. As I swallow it down I spot a familiar face hanging out on the edge of the party. James looks so out of place it breaks my heart.
I grab Sophie’s hand. “Come meet my friend James. Be nice,” I warn, not kidding.
She nods vigorously. “Nice. Got it. Ohh, he’s cute.”
“Hi, James.” He nods at me. I have a feeling he’s not going to talk in front of anyone tonight. “James, this is Sophie. Sophie, this is James.”
She offers him her hand and he takes it, shaking it weakly. “It’s nice to meet you, James.” She gives him a flirty smile and laughs when he doesn’t buy it. “What’s wrong with him? He looks fine to me,” she whispers in my ear.
“Nothing’s wrong with him. He’s great. And deaf,” I whisper back, using her hair to block my lips.
“Oh.”
I grab his hand. “You owe me a dance.”
He looks at his feet.
“Please?” Leaning over, I catch his gaze, giving him my hopeful face.
Finally he nods, appearing dreadfully nervous. I ignore Kent. I ignore that man with all my might, and lead James over to where Sam and Sophie are dancing.
I wrap my arms around his neck and bring our faces close together so he can read my lips. “Follow my movements.”
James can’t hear the music, but he can feel my body. I take his hands and place them on my hips and then resume my hold around his shoulders. At first James is stiff as stone. I don’t let it bother me. I keep dancing, feeling the beat and letting it guide my hips. Soon he starts to move too. He matches my movements, and I realize too late he can feel it in his feet. He knows exactly what to do.
“Is this fun?” I ask, pulling back to meet his eyes.
In response he kisses me right on my mouth.
I don’t think he can help himself. I asked for it, grinding against him. I don’t