“Excuse me?” she said. “I’m out of my league?”
Didn’t she get it? “Look, I drove here. I can let Andrew and Ash catch a ride with Dee, and take you home.” Sounded like a good plan to me, but the look on her face said it was no-go. “Are you actually considering going to the party with that idiot?”
“Are you going?” She pulled her hand free.
“It doesn’t matter what I’m doing.” And I wasn’t ready to let her go yet. “You’re not going to that party.”
“You can’t tell me what to do, Daemon.”
Frustration whipped through me. Didn’t she get that I was trying to look out for her? This wasn’t a “who is the boss of me” contest. “Dee is taking you home. And I swear, if I have to throw you over my shoulder and carry you out of here, I will.”
Her hand fisted against my chest. “I’d like to see you try.”
I smiled. “I bet you would.”
“Whatever. You’re the one who’s going to cause a scene carrying me out of here.”
I made a sound low in my throat, but she actually smiled up at me, a mixture of smugness and innocence. “Because your local alien teacher is watching us as we speak. What do you think he’s going to believe when you toss me over your shoulder, buddy?”
Son…of a biscuit. She was talking about Matthew.
“Thought so,” she said.
I was still seriously considering throwing her over my shoulder and carrying her out of here with the whole school watching. I think I also wanted to kiss her…with the entire school watching. Probably do things that would make that flush turn a deeper shade of red.
Her glare turned defiant, and damn if a part of me didn’t really, really like that.
A smile formed on my lips. “I keep underestimating you, Kitten.”
Chapter 19
The field where all the keg parties were held was roughly two miles outside of Petersburg and was accessed by a beaten-down dirt road that most would miss unless they knew it was there. I parked near the road, so I didn’t end up blocked in.
Climbing out of the car, I slipped my keys into my pocket as I scanned the lines of vehicles haphazardly parked. Off in the distance, the orangey glow from the bonfire beckoned as I closed the door. The scent of gasoline and burning, damp wood was strong. Shadows moved around the fire. Laughter rang out, mingling with shouts. Music blared from speakers.
I’d left the dance a few minutes after Kat walked out with Simon. Ash and Andrew were still back at the school, and I wasn’t sure if they would end up here or not. Field parties weren’t their thing. I’d been to a few, with…with Dawson. I wasn’t really keen on Dee being here, even with Adam, but she wasn’t who I was worried about.
I knew Kat could handle herself. Deep down, I knew that. How could I not? But that didn’t mean she didn’t need help or that she wasn’t in over her head with someone like Simon.
Walking around the cars, trampled cornstalks crunched under my steps. As I neared the bonfire, a girl stumbled out from behind a truck, blocking my path. A red Solo cup dangled precariously from her fingers as she teetered on heels. Dark brown hair was piled up and clumps of dried grass and cornhusks clung to her silvery dress.
The girl, whom I vaguely recognized, couldn’t have been older than fifteen. Her chin lifted, and her glazed eyes roamed over me. “Daemon?”
Unable to figure out her name, I nodded. “Are you okay?”
“Yep.” She giggled, raising her cup to her lips. “Why you ask?”
I arched a brow. “You have dirt and pieces of corn all over your dress.”
Another giggle echoed out of her. “I might’ve fallen a time…or four. These shoes—” She lifted her leg to show me and wobbled suddenly. My hand snapped out, catching her arm and steadying her as she continued to lift her heeled foot. “These shoes are ah-mazing, but they are not suited for field parties.”
“No doubt,” I murmured, letting go of her arm when I was sure she wasn’t going to face-plant on the car next to her. “Are you here with someone?”
“Uh-huh. I’m here with Jon. He’s my boyfriend,” she explained, grinning as she swayed forward. “Unless you wanna be here with me, then I’m not here with anyone. Jon doesn’t exist. Nope.”
I smiled slightly. “Sorry, babe, but I’m here for someone else.”
“For shame!” She smiled broadly and then whispered, “That was bad of me to say Jon doesn’t exist, right? He’s really nice. Can it be our secret?”
Amusement flickered through me. “It’ll be our secret.”
“Yay!” She hobbled unsteadily as she clapped her hand against her cup. Beer sloshed over the side.
I could’ve left the girl there, roaming aimlessly for whatever reason between cars, but that seemed wrong for a multitude of reasons. “Let’s go find Jon.”