I’m flabbergasted by her casual suggestion. Is she for real right now? “You’d go to his house, to the party alone?”
She shrugs, but I see the uneasiness in her eyes. She’s just putting on a brave front. “Sure. I’m not scared.”
That is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. Like, ever. Rumors fly after every one of Tony’s parties. Alcohol and drugs are always present. People get naked in his hot tub, or they jump into the lake—of course, Tony’s house has a dock and probably a couple of boats—without any clothes on. People get together, couples break up, and plenty of people end up staying the night. It sounds insane.
I’ve never been. I’ve never wanted to go, but…
No way can I let Sophie go to the party alone. No friend would allow that. Even if she did go by herself, she probably wouldn’t talk to a single soul. Or worse, someone would roofie her drink or whatever and she’d end up passed out on a bed, where someone might take advantage of her.
She needs me.
Oh, and my imagination has a way of running completely wild.
“I’ll go with you,” I say after a few tense minutes. “You can’t go alone, Soph. God knows what could happen.”
“You’re really going?” She turns to me, grabbing hold of my shoulders and pulling me in for a hug. She clutches me tight, rocking me from side to side. “Oh my God, I’m so glad! We’re going to have the best time, I promise. It’ll be fun. And if it’s not, if either of us feels uncomfortable, then we’ll leave.”
She makes it sound so simple. All I can do is smile when she releases her hold on me. She beams throughout the first half of the game, despite the fact that we’re losing. She keeps her gaze trained on Tony for the entirety of the first two quarters, and I can’t help but wonder if someone has a little crush.
And if someone is going to end up getting crushed before the end of the night.
Five
Jake
“You want something to drink?” Cami purrs, flashing those baby blues at me, her lips curved into a promising smile. She’s been giving me fuck me vibes all night, ever since she ran onto the field after the game and tackle-hugged me when I was still in full gear, wrapping her bare leg around mine like she was making some sort of claim. Since the cheer team has to roll up and put away the mats they cheer on during the game, all of them, including my little sister, glared at Cami while she hung all over me.
Not that she gave a shit. She takes full advantage of her captain status, instead of living up to their expectations.
“I’m good,” I tell her with a lazy smile, leaning back in the lounge chair I’m sprawled on in the backyard of Tony’s house. The place is packed, crowds of people in the house and outside, and I’m still riding my game high, feeling good after our hard-fought win. I underestimated the opposing team—one of many mistakes tonight—and after the last three years of them being an easy win, they were a complete challenge.
In the end, we pulled it out of our asses. Tony caught the winning touchdown with twenty seconds still on the board. My dad was losing it on the sidelines, yelling and screaming at the top of his lungs, the people in the stands were cheering their heads off, and it felt amazing. I was on top of the world.
I still feel that way.
“Got any room for me?” she asks in this babyish voice I’ve never heard before, right before she settles her body next to mine without waiting for my answer. She drapes her arm across my stomach, her fingers toying with the hem of my T-shirt as she gazes up at me with adoring eyes.
A guy could get used to this. Even though I know what she’s done to me in the past, I can forget all about it if she keeps this up.
“Make yourself comfortable,” I say with a laugh, spreading my arms wide.
“You played really great tonight,” she says, resting her head on my chest. No one’s paying attention to us. It’s like we’re in our own little world, and while I enjoyed the adulation and congrats from everyone when I first showed up at Tony’s, the quiet time with Cami is nice. Though I know the minute my friends spot me cuddled up with her, they’re gonna give me shit. They already gave me a bunch earlier today when they saw her strutting around campus with my jersey on.
They think she’ll mess with my head, just like she’s done in the past. Deep down, I know they have a point, but…
I’m trying to stay positive.
“Thanks,” I tell her, wrapping my arm around her shoulders. “You, ah, looked good in your uniform.”
Cami laughs. “You don’t pay attention to us when you’re playing. I know you don’t.”
She’s right. I don’t. I can’t really see them. The rest of the team and coaches block them from view when they stand on the sidelines.
“I can hear you, though.” And she’s the loudest one on the cheer team, swear to God. Her voice always rises above the rest. “Thought I heard you say my name once or twice.”
“More like ten or fifteen times,” she says teasingly. “I was scared you were going to lose.”
“Gotta have more faith in me than that,” I tell her, giving her a squeeze.
“Oh, I do.” She lifts her head, her gaze meeting mine, and I’m tempted to lean down and kiss her.
“What the fuck are you two up to?”
The moment completely ruined, we both turn our heads to see Caleb standing at the end of the lounger, a devilish grin on his face. “Get lost,” I say.
“Hell no. You’ve got some ’splainin’ to do,” he tells me, just before he cups his hands around his mouth and yells, “Diego! Get your ass over here.”
With a big sigh, Cami detaches herself from my grip and scrambles to her feet, glaring at Caleb and Diego, who’s now joined him. “I’m not going to sit here and listen to your friends insult me all night.”
She’s talking to me, but she’s glaring at them.
I sit up. “I can’t control them.” Well, I could if I really wanted to. “I’m not their babysitter.”
Maybe she needs a reminder of all the shitty things she’s done to me over the years. I know Caleb and Diego will give her an earful. They can’t stand her.
“I’m out,” she says to me, sending me a meaningful look before she adds, “You know how to find me.”
Diego and Caleb make ooooh noises as she walks away, and she gives them the finger, never once looking back. The girl has attitude, I’ll give her that.
“You guys suck,” I tell them good-naturedly once she’s gone.
“Please. You don’t need that ice queen slobbering all over you,” Caleb says, shaking his head as he hands me a beer, which I take readily. “You’ve gone down this road before with her. Too many times.”
“Yeah, and I’m willing to do it again if it’ll get me some free ass,” I say, pleased when they laugh. This is exactly what they want to hear me say, right? That I’m just looking to get laid?
It’s sort of true, the looking to get laid part. Cami seems willing. I bet I could ask her to suck my dick in the guest bathroom right now and she’d be down. Maybe then I’d relax a little. And they’d all get off my jock and let me be.