Chapter Four

“Never let a boy lay a hand on you,” my grandmother says sternly, pointing a finger in my face. She looks angry. But I don’t remember doing anything wrong. And a boy definitely didn’t touch me. “Do you understand me? Not ever.”

I nod, too scared to ask what she means.

“House party in Oaklawn, huh?” Tony pulls into the circular driveway lined with cars.

“Hey,” Tori declares defensively, “we never go to house parties.”

“Maybe because no one we know owns a house.” I eye the people wearing plaid and jeans, standing outside the house, holding red Solo cups. It’s like walking onto the set of a CW show. I had no idea that these kinds of parties really existed.

“You’d never catch me at one of these white-boy parties,” Tony says with a chuckle.

“We’re not staying. I told Lincoln I’d meet him here; that’s all. Nina’s picking us up after she gets off work,” Tori explains, as if she has to keep defending why we’re here.

I don’t know why she’s so sensitive about it. Maybe because she always wants her four older brothers to think she’s badass, and this party is anything but.

“Don’t call me if you get stuck,” Tony tells his sister. “Lana, call me if you need a ride.”

His dark eyes find me in the rearview mirror and I wink.

“Asshole,” Tori throws at him, getting out of the car. “C’mon, Lana.”

I grab my bag and slide out.

“Don’t have too much fun without me,” Tony says to me, flashing a devilish smile before driving away.

“You two need to get it over with,” Tori grumbles, walking toward the open front door of the huge white house.

“He’s hot, but I’m not hooking up with your brother,” I tell her again.

“The flirting is making me nauseous.”

“Too bad,” I say with a laugh. “It’s better than hearing me scream his name in the room next to yours.”

“Ew,” she groans, scrunching her nose in disgust.

“Exactly,” I reply, smiling.

“Fine. I get it,” Tori snaps, nudging through the packed bodies in search of alcohol—or at least, I hope she is.

Without warning, Tori turns around and faces me. I stop short.

“What?” I try to look over her shoulder, thinking she saw someone she doesn’t want to run into.

“Be nice,” she instructs, almost threatening.

“You’re telling me to be nice?” I let out a short laugh at the irony.

“Whatever,” she says with an eye roll. “I just mean that I know these aren’t exactly our people, but I want to see what Lincoln’s all about. He’s … different. And I don’t want you ruining it with your honesty.”

I laugh. “I will try,” I assure her. “But I make no promises.”

She sighs and turns back around, leading us through a huge crowded room, everyone drinking and laughing. We finally emerge into a large open kitchen, but I still don’t see any alcohol, only abandoned red cups and half-eaten bowls of chips and pretzels.

“Where do we get a drink?”

I’m suddenly nervous. Maybe we needed to bring our own, even though Tori promised me they’d have plenty here. We never go to parties where the alcohol is free. It always costs something.

Tori scans the crowd until a smile emerges on her face. I follow her gaze and find Lincoln. It’s actually hard to miss him since he towers over everyone … and he’s like the only black guy here.

“I need alcohol,” I tell her as she starts in his direction.

She doesn’t respond. Maybe she didn’t hear me, but I can’t stay at this party and remain sober. I squeeze through the crowd and spot a keg on the back porch.

“Of course there’s a keg,” I mumble, feeling stupid for doubting that this party wouldn’t supply drinks.

The apartment parties we’ve been to, you have to fend for yourself—bring your own and then guard it for the night, so no one steals your stash. Girls usually flirt—or some loose interpretation of that word—to get drinks, but that also means being stuck with that guy for the rest of the party.

I always make sure we come stocked with our own alcohol. There’s no way I’m going to be dependent upon a guy for drinks, and I’m definitely not owing him for my buzz.

I tug on my bag and struggle to get through the crowd until I’m finally outside in the open space of the deck, slightly annoyed. I don’t usually carry big purses, and getting caught on everyone who walks by is driving me crazy. I need to stash it somewhere. I’m not worried about it being taken. It’s not like anyone here is going to care about a beaten-up tote. I’m wearing the leather jacket with my tip money hidden in the inside pocket, and my phone’s zipped in the outer one. I pat the other pocket to make sure I put the “party in a bag” in there. I walk down the steps and around the side of the deck, hiding my tote in the darkest corner underneath. If anyone really wants the hideous uniform and shitty sneakers, they can have them.

“What’re you doing over here?” I hear as soon as I stand back up. “Are you getting sick?”

“Uh, no,” I reply sharply. “What are you doing over here? Looking for a victim?” I walk past the gargantuan dude who stares after me silently.

As I wait in line at the keg, I can feel the eyes on me. From everywhere. I scan the crowd and curse Tori under my breath. Of course they’re staring—with my ass cheeks peeking out of my lacy shorts and the cleavage revealed within the cowl of the low-cut halter. Where we usually go out, no one would think twice about what I’m wearing. Not here. I’m getting scanned up and down, like they’re trying to decide if they should threaten me to stay away from their boyfriends or offer me fifty for twenty minutes in the backseat.

“Who are you, and why are you at my party?”

There’s a guy in a blue polo shirt and khaki shorts next to me. He looks like most of the guys here—throw in a baseball hat here or there or a random button-down hanging over a T-shirt.

“I’m here for the free beer,” I tell him with a sardonic smile.

He smiles back. “Then let’s make that happen. Excuse me, guys,” he tells everyone waiting ahead of me in line. “The lady needs a beer.”

A moment later, he hands me a filled red Solo cup. “Here you go.”

“Thank you.” I take it from him and offer a small smile, not enough to encourage him to stick around.

“My name’s Blake. Let me know if you need anything, okay?” And, just like that, he’s rushing off to help some other girl in need of a shot. “Whitney, I have Fireball for you!”

“Who are you anyway?” a girl asks from behind me. “Who’d you come here with?”

It’s not a friendly let-me-introduce-myself question. It’s a total territorial you-have-some-nerve-showing-up-here question.

“It’s not about who I came here with,” I tell her with a smirk. “You should be worried about who I leave with.”

She gasps in mock horror. I fight the urge to roll my eyes.

I enter the house and find an empty spot in the corner of the kitchen. I don’t bother looking for Tori and Lincoln. I’m not third-wheeling it. I’m prepared to hang out here, lean against the counter and observe the spectacle happening around me ’til it’s time to go.

“Where are you from?”

“Can you believe she even thinks she has a chance with him?”

“You’re not from Oaklawn, right? I know I’d remember you.”

“And did you see what she’s wearing? That diet’s definitely not working.”

“Oh shit!”

Girls scream as a drunken ass collides with them, barely making it in time to throw up in the sink.

I’m a captive audience to the Middle America drama. The gossip. The terrible pop music blaring through the speakers. The amateurs who can’t handle what’s in their cups. The couple pressed against the wall, making out, his hand up her shirt. And, yes, I’m aware a guy’s standing next to me, trying to get me to talk to him.

“What did you say your name was?”

When he refuses to take a hint after I continue to blatantly ignore him, I release an impatient breath and say to his face, “Go away.”

He looks offended. I laugh at him.

“Bitch.”

“Undeniably,” I agree.

He scowls and shoves a path to the living room where a group of girls are failing to make dancing happen.

And then … I see his bright blue eyes. The same captivating shade as his brother. And, most likely, their father’s. The eyes that wouldn’t look away when he saw me at school earlier today and that hold me in place now.

He smiles, and a deep dimple creases his right cheek.

“Shit,” I breathe out.

He remains focused on me as he navigates the crowd. People talk to him along the way. He responds but doesn’t take his eyes off me and never stops moving in my direction. I am pinned to this spot, anticipating his approach until he’s finally in front of me. And I mean right in front of me. His hand rests on the counter next to my waist as he bends down, and his lips brush my ear.

“Hey, Lana.”

A shiver shoots down my spine.

“How do you know me?”

He doesn’t pull away. My mouth is so close to his skin, I could easily suck on his neck.

“Who doesn’t know you?” he says, his voice a low rumble that sends a jolt through my heart. He leans away to look me in the eye.

I laugh. “Just about everyone here.”

“This isn’t usually your scene.” There’s an ease rolling off him, like he’s comfortable with the attention. He’s definitely getting plenty of that from just about everyone around us—for completely different reasons than I am.

“No, it isn’t.” I nod toward Tori, who’s laughing flirtatiously at something Lincoln said, placing her hand on his arm. “Being a good friend. So you’re the Joey Harrison? I thought you were a myth.”

He laughs, standing to his full height. And I’m regretfully aware of the distance between us.

“Yeah, I don’t come home much anymore.”

“Where do you hide?” I take a gulp of the chilled beer, needing to cool down.

“I go to a private school up north.”

I smirk. “Of course you do.”

He narrows his eyes, confused by my response.

“I’m glad you’re here.” He hasn’t glanced around once.

I can’t say I’m uncomfortable with his unwavering attention, but it’s definitely intense.

“Are you now?” I tease with a grin, trying to appear unaffected.

He flashes a devilish smile before taking a sip of his beer. “Want to get out of here? We were thinking of trying another party.”

“Who’s ‘we’?” I’ve learned that committing to leaving with a group of guys can lead to complications later.

“Lincoln, me and Vic.” He nods to the guy leaning against the counter across from us.

I hadn’t noticed him before now. He stands out worse than I do in his leather jacket with his clean-shaven head and a large tattoo scrawled up his neck and etched across his skull. He looks like sunshine walking. By that I mean, depressing as hell.

“I’m not sure what we’re doing, but we’re leaving as soon as our friend gets here.” I scan the kitchen and locate the clock on the microwave. “Which should be soon.”

Joey pulls his phone from his pocket, examining the screen. “Excuse me a second?”

“Take all the seconds you need,” I tell him, impressed by the request.

He has more manners than most adults I know. But then again, I work at a dive bar.

Joey exits the sliding door onto the deck, his phone to his ear.

I glance over at the scowling mass across from me and try to figure out how that friendship happened. Vic doesn’t make eye contact, but I can almost hear him growling. Charming.

“Where’s Joey? I saw him talking to you,” Tori asks, appearing out of nowhere. “Please don’t tell me you pissed him off already.”

“I’m not that big of a bitch,” I reply defensively.

Tori shoots me a look, silently challenging my statement.

I roll my eyes. “He’s outside on the phone.”

“That must be where Lincoln went,” she tells me. “So, do you mind if we hang out with them tonight?”

“Tori, did you meet Vic?” I grin wickedly and nod toward him. “He’s with the guys.”

Tori turns with a huge smile to greet him, but before she can open her mouth to say anything, she takes him in, and the smile vanishes. “Oh no,” she says, eyeing him up and down, openly judging. She turns back to me. “Seriously? Nina is not going to be okay with”—she eyes him and makes a face like he smells foul—“him.”

I keep wearing my wicked grin, amused by her reaction.

“This is bullshit,” she complains loud enough for Vic to hear her.

“When is Nina getting here?”

“I was about to text her,” she says, opening her purse and pulling out her phone.

“Hey, ladies,” Joey greets us, a beautiful smile spread across his face. “Wanna come to The Point with us? I got on the list.”

“You did?” Tori’s brows rise. “I thought The Point was exclusive and impossible to get into?”

Joey shrugs with a confident grin. A smile blooms on Tori’s face, her eyes lit. Tori knows I’ve been dying to get into a Point party for forever but haven’t been able to get access. She doesn’t even have to ask if I want to go; she already knows the answer.

“The only problem is, we need a ride. My brother took my Jeep, and I have to get it from him when we get there.”

“Umm … let me see if I can make that happen,” Tori says, lifting her phone to her ear and walking out onto the deck, away from the noise.

“How did you get on the list?” I ask Joey, beyond impressed.

“My brother owes me,” he explains vaguely.

“We have a ride!” Tori announces a minute later. “Nina hooked us up. She’ll be here in thirty.”

I consider for a second who Nina could be getting a ride from. Maybe one of the girls at the club? I hope so because I don’t want her to feel like she needs to entertain Doom and Gloom all night.

“Play a round of beer pong with me while we wait?” Joey takes my hand like he’s about to lead me away.

“Uh, no,” I respond, not moving.

“You’ve never played before,” he accuses with a smirk.

I open my mouth to deny it, bothered by his assumption. But I can’t lie. “No.”

He pulls me after him, not allowing me to resist. “C’mon. We’re doing this.”

After filling our keg cups, Joey leads me downstairs to the finished basement where a small crowd surrounds a ping-pong table. There’s a couple standing at either end of the table with a cluster of cups spread out in front of them. A girl takes aim with a ping-pong ball before tossing it, landing it in a cup. Everyone chants, “Drink,” as the other couple takes gulps from their beers and then removes the cup from the table.

Resting his free hand on my hip, Joey bends down to explain the rules, speaking directly into my ear, the way he did earlier. At the low murmur of his voice, I catch myself inadvertently leaning into him as I listen. When I feel his chest against my back, I stand up straighter, pulling away. I don’t let guys touch me, not so intimately anyway. I need to know they’re worth my time before I get close. But I keep gravitating toward Joey. His hands feel like they belong on my body. I step away from him, and his hand falls away. With the release of his touch, I’m snapped awake—once again very aware of the vacant space between us.

“Harrison, do you have a partner yet? You play winner,” a guy in a pink polo shirt calls to Joey from across the room.

Joey grins and points to me. The pink polo shirt guy smiles wide, like he approves of Joey’s choice. I fight back the urge to roll my eyes—oh-so glad I have his approval.

Within a few minutes, one cup remains on the farthest side of the table, and the guy on the opposite end sinks the ball. Everyone hollers and cheers while the losing couple chugs their beers.

“This is a stupid game,” I observe out loud.

Joey laughs and takes my hand to lead me to the losers’ end.

“Think of it as one of those carnival games,” Joey says from behind me so that only I can hear. “You know, the ones where you have to toss a ring around a bottle or throw darts at balloons. Except we need to get a ping-pong ball into a bunch of cups and force people to drink.”

“Do I get a prize if we win?” I ask sarcastically, realizing too late that he could easily misinterpret that question.

Joey laughs, revealing the deep dimple with his beautiful smile. “If we win, I’ll make sure you go home with a prize,” he promises, “even if I have to buy you a stuffed monkey.”

I grin, grateful that he didn’t turn the comment into an invitation to get in my shorts. “I’d prefer a zebra.”

This makes him laugh again.

“Ready?” the guy at the other end calls to us impatiently.

“Let’s win me a zebra,” I say, earning strange looks from the spectators who heard me.

And we do win. It may have helped that the other team just played three games and were kinda drunk. Or it could have had something to do with the fact that I’m pretty damn good at this stupid game. Not bragging or anything, but I’m impressive, sinking the ping-pong ball in cup after cup, earning cheers and high fives from the onlookers. And a bear squeeze of a hug from Joey when I nailed the winning shot, which made it difficult to breathe for more than one reason. Wow, he’s built.

Who knew that the best way to fit in at a party was to kill them at their own game?

“Who’s up next?” one of the losers asks. They have names, but I don’t remember them.

“We’ve gotta go.” Joey’s announcement is met with groans.

That’s when I notice the same bitchy girl from earlier glaring at me from across the room. When he takes ahold of my hand, like we’re meant to be together, I can’t help but smirk at her, which only makes her angrier. So, of course, I laugh.

“What?” Joey asks, looking in their direction. He must catch on before I say anything because he pulls me closer, settling his hand on the small of my back as he guides me away.

I check my phone while we climb the stairs and find a text from Tori from two minutes ago. Nina’s out front. Waiting.

“They’re out front,” I tell Joey, abandoning my empty beer cup next to some expensive-looking sculptures on a table in the hallway.

As soon as we step outside, I remember, “Oh. My bag.”

“Where’d you leave it?” Joey asks.

“I’ll be right back,” I tell him, releasing his grasp to rush along the side of the house. I duck down in the shadows and reach under the deck for my bag.

When I stand, there’s someone behind me.

“Got it,” I say, assuming it’s Joey.

Except this guy’s much bigger.

“Knew you’d show up to find me,” he says, hovering a little too close.

“You’re delusional,” I tell him, moving to walk past him.

He grabs my arm, whipping me around to face him. “Where do you think you’re going?”

I stare up at the same annoying guy from earlier today at school. The guy who obviously won’t take no for an answer. I search for his name but can’t bring it to the surface. God, I really suck with names.

“Don’t touch me.” I slip my free hand into my jacket pocket.

“You think you’re too good for me?”

“Yes,” I say, realizing too late that the answer should’ve remained in my head. “But don’t take it personally. I’m too good for most guys.”

That didn’t help. His grip on my arm tightens as his cockiness turns bitter.

“You’re such a fucking bitch.”

“I should really have that tattooed somewhere,” I say, removing my hand from my pocket and pressing the button. “Now let go of me or I’m going to tattoo my name on your balls.”

He glances down at the blade glistening between his legs.

“Lana?”

I don’t redirect my eyes from the douche who’s cutting off the circulation in my arm.

I gently tap the crotch of his jeans with the flat part of the blade. He jolts away like I’ve shocked him. I don’t hesitate to escape, finding Joey waiting for me at the front corner of the house. I ease the blade back into the handle and conceal it in my pocket just as I reach him.

Joey eyes me curiously, glancing behind me. “Everything okay?”

I provide the most honest answer I can offer at this second. “I need a drink.”

Nina, Tori and Lincoln are standing beside a car I don’t recognize. It’s huge and old. It looks like a tan tank with a black canvas top. When I look more closely, I notice Gary, Nina’s boss from the strip club, in the driver’s seat. What the hell? He’s the biggest perv in existence. Way too many hands touching girls who are barely legal. I met him once and had to shower immediately after from just being molested by his eyes. Why is he here?

“Finally!” Tori exclaims when she sees us approaching. She grabs my arm and pulls me away from everyone. “Where have you been? You didn’t get in a fight or anything, right? I was getting worried when I couldn’t find you. I had a bad feeling because half of these girls are skanks, and I was about to claw someone if I had to stay at this party a single second longer, so I knew you were probably on the edge of taking someone out. Is everything okay?”

“Take a breath, Tor.” I raise my hands for her to see that they’re blood-free.

There’s obvious relief in her eyes.

When we turn back to the car, everyone’s seated inside, not leaving us many options. Tori glares at Vic, who is sitting in the middle of the backseat, between Joey and Lincoln. I know she wanted to be the one sitting near Lincoln. She opens the passenger door and slides in beside Nina.

I’m about to squeeze in after her when she looks up at me and says, “Sit in the back,” followed by a wink.

She closes the door before I can respond.

When I open the back door, Joey is smiling up at me.

“Hey,” I say, unable to hide my smile.

He pats his lap. “C’mon in, pretty girl.”