boys.
“Lookin’ real good there, Mel.” His gaze went pointedly to my displayed breasts.
The night suddenly didn’t seem as wonderful.
I’d bought a special water-filled padded bra to lift them up and out of the white bandage dress I got for homecoming. They were so high, one big breath would make my nipples pop out. The way Robert stared at my chest made me want to cover myself. “What are you doing here?”
“Fall break.” Archie made an appearance in the hallway with Magnus right behind him.
My brother took one look at me, and his lip curled in disgust. “You better hope Mom and Dad don’t find out about this party of yours. In fact, you need to get these people outta here now. When the fuck are you gonna grow up?”
Indignation rose up in me. “It’s homecoming, and we had the dance tonight. I have just as much right to invite my friends here as you do.”
“You don’t have friends. You have sycophants.”
“Who didja go with?” Robert’s words slurred as he took another drink.
“Vincent Ziglar.”
Robert laughed and snorted “Ah, did Ziggie-boy get him some?”
Heat flushed through my body at the implication. I wasn’t stupid and knew exactly what he was talking about. “None of your business.”
“Ah, come on, Mel, fess up. No way with that gorgeous body and those tits are you still a virgin.”
Any buzz I had from the wine disappeared, leaving a headache behind. “Still nun-ya, Bobby.”
Robert’s lip curled. I knew he hated to be called Bobby as much as Magnus hated to be called Mags. “Well then, I guess you’re not as mature as I thought. Still a little girl playing dress up, eh, Mel? No drinking. No fucking. Just a little high school Barbie princess.”
Indignation rose in me. “I’m plenty mature.”
“No, you’re not.”
“I am too!” Shit, I sounded like a whiny little girl stamping her foot. Pull it back, Mel.
“All right then, prove it. Come party with us in the library. You know you want to.”
“No, I don’t.”
He smirked at me. “Like I said, little girl playing dress up. Wanna go get your dolls?”
“I’m not a little girl, and I never played with dolls.”
“Then come hang with the college crowd. With the men and not the boys. Just one drink.” He turned to look at my brother as if making a challenge. “Magnus, you care if she drinks with us?”
Magnus snorted. “I don’t give a shit about her or what she does.”
Robert grinned. “See? Big brother is cool. Come on, Melanie. Show us you’re not a little high school girl.”
The look in his eyes should have warned me. His teasing bugged me as much as Magnus’s indifference. Little girl? Immature? Nope, not me. I was all grown up now and as sophisticated as any of the girls in college.
He opened the heavy door to my father’s study. I seldom came in this dark room with the heavy furniture. Magnus closed the door, and the volume of the music cut in half.
“Let’s get this party started, shall we? Archie, go make Melanie a drink.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Ugh, make it a little one.”
Robert laughed, and the sound filled me with unease. I glanced at the door and thought about leaving, but it would take a big chunk out of my pride to have to retreat.
“Come on, little girl. Little princess. Prove how mature you are.”
Archie held out a chunky glass half full of amber liquid. I took it and, without thinking, took a big swallow.
Fuck! The burn of the liquor slid down my throat, leaving a trail of lava in its wake. I choked back the tears and struggled not to cough out the fire that erupted in my gut. I didn’t know what type of alcohol he gave me, and I didn’t care. That shit tasted nasty, and I never wanted to drink it again.
Robert threw back his head and laughed at my suffering. “Ha-ha-ha-ha! That’s it, baby. You’re drinking like a pro. I’m impressed.”
I glanced at Magnus. He curled his lip at me and turned his head away in a deliberate snub. I may have been drinking like a pro, but my brother considered me beneath him. I should be used to it by now, but it still hurt. Robert’s words of admiration actually meant something to me, and I smiled at him. He looked at me with glazed eyes and took a big sip of his own drink.
“That’s it, baby. Drink up. Show me just how old you are.”
I tipped the glass back with a flourish,