Part 3 (1/2)
f.u.c.k.
Should I stay or should I go? That was a gamble, because it was getting too personal. Then again, as much as I hated myself for even wanting to taste a little of paradise, the temptation of having him close was too hard to resist.
”If I stay”-I licked my lips as I tried leveling a glare in his direction-”promise me you won't pester me about my family. You're going to leave me be to party and mingle.”
I wasn't sure how I managed to say those words without having to breathe much, but I did. My breathing pattern was erratic, and I prayed to G.o.d that he would take a step back-something-before I fell faint at his feet. f.u.c.king s.h.i.+t.
Something pa.s.sed across his face. I wasn't sure if it was amus.e.m.e.nt or if he was taking me seriously, but before I could protest, he gave me his answer.
”I promise,” he barely whispered without his eyes leaving my flushed face. ”I promise I'll at least try very hard to leave you alone.”
Hmm, was he trying to be sarcastic? Though he promised something, he didn't truly mean it. Why was that? He was confusing me. The more I thought about it, the harder it became to understand it. It was best if I left it alone, or I would dig myself a hole so big I wouldn't ever come out of it.
”You ... promise to try,” I reiterated.
He cleared his throat, not backtracking. ”That's right,” he rasped out, eyeing me closely.
We both knew that was a lie. He was being selfish for reasons I didn't know.
”Okay, I guess that's good enough.” Apart from his friends, I was his go-to person, his secret go-to person. He would normally call at three in the morning or whenever he was done partying. I supposed it was his way of unloading all of his burden. I was that person-that girl-the one who adored him, but he had never seen because I was always available for him. As much as I hated to be in that position, I couldn't say no when he needed me around. It was hard to decline his request.
Chapter Four.
There was no other choice than to go through with it even though I had a lot of concerns and reservations about my decision-making skills. Then again, I supposed I had never been in the position where he had actually begged me to stay. Also, this was the first party we had been in where Lindsey and Trista weren't here, because they had prior engagements they couldn't get out of.
Looking around, I couldn't spot Carter, Brody, or Cooper around the crowd. a.s.suming they were busy handling their own business with their other female counterparts, I squashed the budding jealousy each time I thought of Brody cozying it up with someone else. He wasn't mine, and for me to try and forget about him, though hard, I had to at least try being available to other guys who had less attachments, one who didn't have any connections to any of my best friends.
Geared with utmost determination not to sulk about my unrequited love, I thought of better ideas to distract myself, starting with the lively surroundings and the crowd who didn't seem to have a care in the world. Deciding to dive in the pool amongst the happy crowd, I breezily situated myself on a huge, sprinkled donut floatie, armed with sungla.s.ses, a bottle of Corona with a thin slice of lime, a cheesy grin, and nothing else.
The sun was setting low, and before I knew it, college kids started flowing into the party, as well. It was how it usually went when someone was throwing a house party around this part of town-eventually the word spread around, and unknown people started joining in without proper invitation. Santa Barbara was highly known across the country as one of the wildest raging party universities, and weekends usually highlighted that very issue.
Just like any normal party, hot men came flooding in, one delicious six-pack treat after the other. Summer was a serious threat to one's hungry eyes, most especially for people who were bent on trying to get over someone they loved.
One guy in particular caught my attention. Well, I supposed it was hard not to since he kept smas.h.i.+ng against my fun-inspired, sprinkled donut.
The delicious treat in question had light brown hair with au natural, sun-streaked highlights; an outrageous display of chiseled chest; a pa.s.sable smile; and a seemingly good-natured personality from where I was studying him. He was throwing a football in the pool; hence, the constant donut b.u.mping. Not bad if I had to admit.
He isn't up to Brody's hotness factor level, but he's good enough, I thought as my eyes zeroed in on him, gazing up at my inflatable thrown.
”Are you planning to come out of your seat, little Miss Princess?” he finally asked after his mild attempts in trying to engage me.
He was cheesy to say the least. Not all men were born equals; that was for d.a.m.n sure.
”Who're you calling little, huh?” I raised my brow at him, not particularly wanting to intimidate yet wanting to gauge his tolerance for b.i.t.c.hiness because, well, I couldn't stand wimps. ”If you're trying to flirt with me, you need to do a better job, 'cause you suck big f.u.c.king time, Mister Whatever.”
”My name's Rob, Miss Potty Mouth Suns.h.i.+ne.” He gave an amused laugh, making him seem friendlier and less of a target to my rather sour att.i.tude.
I couldn't help smiling. The man was as cheesy and corny as they went, but he still kept trying. Besides, the guy had sarcastic wit, and I had to give him props for that at least.
Looking around, he made a frown, appearing puzzled. ”I don't see you with any friends around... Are you new, or have they all abandoned you?”
Still peering down at him, I didn't thaw just yet at his rather forward behavior. ”Why? What's it to you?”
”I'm trying to see if I should do the same, if they did decide to leave you, that is. And if you're new ... Well, I can potentially be your first friend.” He was teasing with an infectious grin, and I couldn't help feeling at ease with him. There was always something special about a guy who could win a woman's smile. It was one thing to make someone's heart palpitate at the sight of you, but winning them through smiles and laughter? There was always room for that, as well.
”That's too generous of you. Are you sure you want to make such a big sacrifice?” Copying his mocking manner, I bottomed out my drink before I daringly sucked out the lime and had my tongue push it back in the bottle, knowing all too well he was taking in everything I did.
”I think I just might.” He cleared his throat before pinning me down with his eager, determined, hazel eyes that left me wondering what he thought of me. ”So, which one are you? New around here or your friends left you hanging all by yourself?”
Since he was someone I didn't truly know, lying wouldn't hurt, would it? ”You're right; I'm kind of the new chick around town. I'm originally from the east coast, but I had to get away from parents and all that. You get my drift.”
The side of his lip lifted for a cute smirk before resorting back to his flagrantly flirty self. ”Cool, cool. I can dig that.”
Just when he and I had started to truly converse, a man dressed in an all-out Hawaiian outfit hollered at him, getting his immediate attention. ”Yo, man, you in?” he bellowed with both of his hands cupping his mouth before he nodded in Rob's direction.
He gave me a thoughtful look before directing his gaze towards his friend. ”I'll skip. You guys go on ahead. I'm chill.” He saluted them, watching them from afar as they exited the pool area then strolled around the garden to G.o.d knew where.
Prying into anyone's business wasn't really my thing, unless of course it entailed anything Brody. Then that would be a different story, but apart from him, other people's business didn't interest me. Somehow, though, I felt inclined to press him about what his friend wanted from him.
”What are you skipping out on?”
He made a sly smile, carefree. ”Guy stuff.”
If there was a typical guy move, this was it-acting all secretive and s.h.i.+t-and I had to admit, I was a sucker for it.
”Care to elaborate on that?”
”They were asking if I wanted to hit.”
My ears instantly perked up. ”Hit what? Like a joint?”
He paused, weighing me on how trustworthy I'd be. ”Uh ... sort of.”
Since we were on the subject, I wasn't one to let go of it easily. I needed to know more about their shenanigans.
”Sort of like what?”
His smile, though it still remained, wasn't the same as before. There was a serious tone about him.
”It's similar to that, but a little harder.”
Most every guy I knew had a medical marijuana card, so weed was practically abundant around here. But tougher stuff? Not around my friends. We were, after all, in high school, so we were limited on what we could score.
”Can I see how they do it?” I was thinking of all sorts of things it could be. It wasn't necessarily because it was forbidden or frowned upon, but because of curiosity and an odd fascination of substances that altered the mind. When people smoked weed, I would sometimes look at them as if they were a specimen I was studying, transfixed at their erratic behavior or random choices while under the influence.