“Fine. Vanessa is being a bitch, though. Isn’t she supposed to be mingling? I swear she’s ignoring everyone except for that quarterback. She’s been all over him. I think he’s scared of her.”
“You should go talk to him, Cush. He’s on your soccer team, isn’t he?”
“He’s JV, but yeah.”
“RiAnne says, “I’m headed back out there. Help yourselves.”
“Do you want something?” I ask Cush.
He takes a step closer to me. “Just you.”
“I meant do you want a drink?”
“Naw, I gotta drive you home, plus I need to stick to water. Coach wants us fully hydrated. We could have three games tomorrow.”
I think about how I always had to stay sober, so I could get Sander home. It’s really nice to have someone worry about getting you home. Not that I’m going to get drunk, but maybe I can let loose a little. Not be so strict with myself.
“Well in that case, I’m doing a couple shots.”
“If you get drunk, I might have to take advantage of you,” he says with a sly grin as he pulls me into his arms.
“Do I have to get drunk for that?” I tease back, like I would have before we kissed.
He looks at me for a beat and smiles widely. “Probably not. So I’ll go find Alex and try to rescue him from Vanessa’s evil clutches.”
“Just talk sports. Vanessa’s eyes will glaze over, and she’ll walk away.”
While I’m contemplating what kind of shot I want, Mandy and her friend, Alicia, wander in. “We heard there was booze in here,” they giggle.
“There is. I was just contemplating what kind of shot I want.”
“So, did you really dump Sander? Are you and Cush dating now? He is sooo hot. Hotter than Sander, I think. He seems more manly,” Mandy says.
“And did you see he’s, like, the only guy in a white jacket? You two look amazing together. Your dress is so pretty,” Alicia says sweetly.
“Thanks. And no, I didn’t dump Sander. I suggested we break up, but it was a mutual thing. We’re still friends.”
“That’s so cool. What about Cush?”
“Cush and I . . . ” I laugh and shake my head. I have no idea what Cush and I are. We’re good friends, who just shared a ridiculously steamy kiss. A kiss I should have gathered my wits about faster and pulled away from sooner. But I don’t want to say that. I mutter out, “He’s hot. That’s all that really matters, right?”
The girls nod at me and giggle, but I mentally cringe. I so did not mean to say that. For it to sound like I’m some shallow little bitch who is only here with him because he’s hot. I try to fix it. “I didn’t mean I’m only here with him because he’s hot. We’re friends.”
They both stare at me blankly, so I pour three shots of passion fruit rum. “Cheers,” I say.
“So why are we here tonight? I mean, we’ve been to some of Cush’s parties, but nothing like this,” Alicia says.
“Honestly, Vanessa is trying to decide who is worthy of sitting at our table next year.”
The girls’ eyes get big.
“Sit at the popular table. With the hottest guys. Um, sign us up,” Mandy says.
“You’re both cheerleaders. You’re already popular.”
“Not like you.”
I pour three more shots. “I’m not sure if I’m even going to be sitting there next year.”
“Are you moving?” Mandy asks.
I clink their glasses and toss back my shot.
And wonder why the hell I just said that.
The girls freshen up in RiAnne’s bathroom and I go back out to the party. I spot Vanessa walking away from Alex and Cush, rolling her eyes at them.
I think the sports talk must have worked.
She looks pretty in her red dress. With her dark hair, she always looks great in bright colors.
“Love your dress,” she sneers at me. “Very virginal.”
I am so done with her nasty comments, and I’m not putting up with them anymore.
“That’s enough, okay. I know what happened with you and Cush, and I know what happened with me and Cush. While I may look virginal, I can assure you that I’m not,” I lie.
I so lie.
Her face maintains its perfect shape, but I can tell she’s pissed at me. The corners of her eyes have widened, and she’s tapping her foot. She starts to open her mouth, which I know will spew more nastiness.
I’m not even going to let her get started.
“This party is kinda boring,” I whisper to her. Then I say much louder with my happy, breezy voice, “So Cush and I are heading out. We have another party to go to but wanted to at least make an appearance. Thanks for inviting us.”
Her mouth falls open in disbelief. I’ve never seen her look so surprised. She is an expert at always looking calm and collected no matter what feelings are roiling beneath the surface.
I walk away, leaving her standing alone with her mouth wide open.
“Let’s go,” I say to Cush, grabbing his hand.