Plus dealing with Jonah and his new girlfriend slobbering all over each other requires all the alcohol I can get my hands on.
We exit my car and slowly make our way over to the clusters of people. There’s a group standing by a car we walk by, passing a joint among them. Another group is kicking back in chairs they brought, every single one of them clutching a beer can and their heads tipped back in laughter. I spot the guys around the fire, one of them facing the site entrance, his gaze landing on mine as I draw closer.
It’s Beck.
And he’s alone. No girlfriend by his side.
Hmm.
He smiles at me and I smile in return, trying to ignore the butterflies fluttering in my stomach.
We’ve known each other for a long time, Beck and me. Our older siblings are part of the same friend group, so that brought us together in the first place. Plus, we’re in the same grade, and we’ve been in the same classes most of the years of elementary and middle school. We were actual friends when we were kids, and sometimes he’d come over to my house, or I’d go over to his.
Ah, the Callahan house. I haven’t been there in a long time, but I love his parents. They’re always so nice and welcoming. And I love his sister Ava and brother Jake, who are good friends with my sister and her husband, Diego. In high school, they were a tight-knit group.
I wouldn’t call Beck and I tight-knit. We don’t even really share the same friend group. We’ve had classes together in high school and we talk. There were a few moments last year, where I wondered what his motive was when it came to me.
But he’s with Sasha. And for a while, I was with Jonah. We’ve never really been on the same page.
We still aren’t. He’s taken and I’m single.
Typical.
Beck says something to one of his friends and then walks away from the fire. Pretty sure he’s making his way toward us.
Toward me.
I go completely still, my heart tripping over itself when I realize that, yep, he’s coming to talk to me.
“Wait a minute,” Emma says, her voice low as he draws closer and closer. She sends me a quick look, before returning her attention to him. “Hi, Beck.”
He stops in front of us, his gaze flitting to Emma, then Tori, before landing on me. “Hey ladies.” He doesn’t look away from me.
And it’s like I can’t look away from him either.
“Hi, Beck,” Tori says, toasting him with her vodka bottle before she takes a sip. “Thanks for having the party tonight.”
He chuckles and the rich sound reverberates somewhere deep inside of me. “Thanks for coming.”
His gaze still doesn’t stray from mine. And I stare at him like a lovestruck idiot, unable to speak.
“I brought ice chests and they’re over there.” He waves his hand toward his car. “If you want something else to drink besides Tori’s vodka.”
She is currently cradling said vodka bottle like it’s her baby, which is a little weird.
“There’s beer, White Claws and other stuff. Oh, and tequila.” Beck returns his attention to us, slipping his hands into the front pockets of his shorts. “Whatever you ladies want, you’re more than welcome to it.”
There is not much I want. Maybe just him?
Okay, yeah, no. Can you imagine if I said that to him? He’d probably laugh his ass off. Then go tell Sasha and make her hate me forever.
Speaking of Sasha…
“Where’s your girlfriend?” I ask, wishing I could slap my hand over my mouth the moment the words are out.
His expression doesn’t change, but I see a flicker in his gaze. “She’s out of town. Went to meet her new college roommates for the weekend.”
“I bet she’s so excited to start at UC Davis!” Tori is gushing after taking another big swig of vodka. “You’re going to miss her, huh, Beck?”
“Yeah, sure.” He shrugs, his expression impassive. Giving away nothing.
Why do his words sound so falsely positive?
“Come on.” Emma takes my hand and starts walking. I have no choice but to follow her, Tori right behind us. “Thanks again, Beck.”
She drags me away before I can say anything else to him and it takes all of my power to yank my hand out of her grip. “What was that about?”
“I should be asking you the same question.” Emma doesn’t stop until we’re standing in front of the three ice chests that Beck just mentioned to us. She sends me a sly look. “I think he likes you.”
I burst out laughing to cover up my nervousness. “He does not.”
“He so does! He always has.” Emma flips the lid open on one of the coolers. “I always wondered why he didn’t just go for it with you.”
“Because we’re friends. He has a girlfriend,” I stress, reaching for a White Claw nestled in the melting ice. I crack it open and take a sip. “I’m not his type.”
“What do you mean by that?” She grabs a White Claw too and slaps the cooler lid down before she opens her drink.
I spot Tori talking to the group of guys by the campfire, laughing when one of them tries to steal the vodka bottle out of her hand. Pretty sure it was Dom, Beck’s best friend. Tori has crushed on him since the end of junior year.
“I don’t know.” I shrug, taking another sip of my drink as I contemplate what to say. “We’ve just never made anything happen between us. Something always gets in the way, and I’m okay with it. We’re just meant to be friends, I’m thinking. Plus, we’re on totally different planets.”
“Sasha’s leaving soon. How long will their relationship last once she’s at UC Davis? I know I wouldn’t stick with my still-in-high-school boyfriend, even if he is Beck Callahan,” Emma says.
I just nod in agreement. I can’t imagine them staying together, but maybe Sasha knows a good thing when she’s got it. Maybe they’re madly in love. After that time in the bathroom last year with Beck, he’s never really tried to make a move on me again. I’m guessing he realized Sasha meant too much to him to ruin his relationship with her by sneaking around with me.
Not that I would’ve let him sneak around with me. I’m not that kind of girl. Sasha is my friend.
“Okay, don’t make it obvious, but when you can, check out what’s happening at the fire,” Emma murmurs.
I frown. “What do you mean?”
“A certain someone is watching you.” Emma smiles to herself as she keeps drinking.
My heart in my throat, I play it casual as I glance around the campsite, taking in all of the people I go to school with. Half of the senior class is here, which isn’t saying too much since our school is small. There are a few juniors here too, as well as even a couple of sophomores who have no business being at this party.
Like, who let them come? If I was an incoming sophomore at this party, I’d be terrified, no joke.
Finally, I glance over at the boys standing around the fire, spotting Beck immediately. He’s so tall and broad, it’s hard to miss him.
My gaze eats him up as I start at his legs and keep going up, up, up. Until I see his face and can tell he’s watching me.
Watching me check him out.
Oh my God.
I quickly turn away to find Emma facing me, an amused expression on her face. “Girl, you were so obvious right now.”