A Beautiful Choice (Beautiful, #5)

“Okay, don’t hurry back,” I muttered under my breath. Turning around, I took in my surroundings. Couples grinding in the middle of the living room. Drunk people running outside to puke in the lawn. People making out on the couches. There were no sober people. Oh wait, I forgot to include myself.

“Oh, Danny,” I heard a familiar voice giggle from behind me.

Turning around, I searched out the voice and my jaw dropped. “You have got to be fucking kidding me.” I could not believe Taylor was here. Like, why the fuck of all the parties did she come here? I knew my job tonight was to keep Ryder away from her, because him sober finding out she was here, it would be a mistake. But him white girl wasted? Huge disastrous, tornado destroying everything, hurricane taking everything with it, utter disaster.

Darting into the kitchen, I stopped at the entrance and saw Ryder and Gab playing flip cup—my favorite drinking game in the world.

Sucking down the small amount of beer in his cup, Ryder quickly flipped his cup upwards, however, not as fast as me. Looking up, Ryder waved his hand over towards me. “Sar-bear, get your cute little ass over here! We need to win the next round.”

Kicking off the side of the door, I ran over towards my two favorite guys and pushed in between the two of them. While Ryder slapped me on the ass, Gabe pushed him away. Grabbing me by the waist, he pulled me up against him. “Hey, baby,” he slurred.

Turning towards him, I took a deep sniff of his alcohol-infused breath. “Oh my God, Gabe, how much have you had to drink?”

While Gabe slurred an answer, I turned and glared over at Ryder.

Sucking down half of his beer, Ryder asked, “What?”

“What?” I glared at him. “Are you serious?” Pointing back towards Gabe, I said, “Oh, the fact that you got my boyfriend wasted. I don’t know. Don’t mind me,” I said with a smartass tone.

“Oh, lighten up, Sar-bear,” Ryder said as he tried to wrap me up in his arms.

“Don’t Sar-bear me,” I said as I pushed him off me.

Waving his hand, Ryder grabbed a cold beer and cracked it open. As he handed it to me, he said, “Drink up and have a good time like the rest of us.”

As I took the beer from him, I thought, “What the fuck. I’m gonna have some fun.” Lifting the beer to my mouth, I took a generous gulp and allowed the foamy liquid to burn my throat.

“Thatta girl,” Ryder said with a smirk on his face.

***

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Ryder screamed at Taylor.

Falling to the couch behind me, my head spun as I took in my blurry surroundings. I couldn’t believe how drunk I was. Looking to my left, I saw Gabe was staring wide eyed and mouth slightly parted at Ryder standing in the middle of the room. His muscles were pushed out and the veins in his neck looked like they were about to burst.

“I’m allowed to be here, Ryder,” Taylor screamed back at him.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Ryder screamed. “You fucking cheated on me, you bitch!”

“So what?” Taylor screamed back. “We were never going to be anything after this year!” Pointing over towards Gabe and I, Taylor screamed, “These two idiots actually think they’re going to be able to make their relationship work! If you even want to call it that!”

“Seriously, you bitch!” I screamed as I stood up from the couch. “You’re the biggest slut in school! The only reason Ryder was with you was because you spread your legs.”

As Taylor started to walk towards me, this guy walked up behind her and grabbed her by her waist. “Come on, babe, let’s get going.”

Turning back to look at him, Taylor smiled. As she turned back to us, she said, “Fuck you, Ryder.” Turning towards me, she said, “…and fuck you, Sarah.” As she turned back to her guy for the night, she said, “Come on, Danny.” Grabbing his hand, they walked out of the house, and as soon as the door closed, I turned to Ryder. I started to shake my head when Ryder pointed towards me. “Don’t you dare say anything stupid.”

“I can’t believe you dated her,” I said as I shook my head with disgust. Making a retching sound, I shrieked, “Oh my God, Ryder! And you fucked her. Jesus Christ, I pray you were wearing a condom.”

“Well, that’s none of your business, Sarah, but yes I wore a condom. Thank God for that!” he said as he fell to his knees and held his hands up to the ceiling in a prayer position. “Thank God for that!” Ryder walked over to the unopened whiskey bottle. After he opened it, Ryder took a large swig. “Ugh,” he let out after swallowing. He held the bottle up in the air. “Can I get an amen?”

“Amen!” everyone yelled.

Looking out at the crowd, I couldn’t believe how easy Ryder had it. He could get a room to do whatever he wanted. I just wondered what kind of girl he would eventually end up marrying. Personally, I think she’ll be extremely quiet and he’ll have to work to get her. Better yet? Keep her.

Giggling, I looked over at Gabe, who was about to fall asleep on the couch in the corner. “I’m gonna get going!” I yelled over to Ryder.

“Why don’t you stay here?” Ryder asked. “I just don’t want anything to happen to you guys.”

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