Chapter Thirteen
Val
"I'm really not in the mood to do this," I mumbled as I worked hard to pull myself from the brinks of depression. I shouldn't have taken my friends to my mother's earlier that day. It had all of us in a shitty mood as we headed out to Ben Thatcher's party. It was sure to be a lot of fun, but being in our current state, it was going to take more than some handsome guys and good beer to pull us through.
"Me, either, but we're not letting your mother win." Katelyn reached over and squeezed my arm. She was riding shotgun and my other two friends were in the back, chattering about something.
"True. I just wish I had something to look forward to." I ran my fingers through my hair and pulled into the half-frozen field in front of Ben's house.
"Maybe that cute football player will be here tonight." Katelyn lifted her eyebrows at me.
"Kade? No, thanks. He's a good guy, but I'm going to butter him up for Amy back there." I smirked and turned the car off.
"I'd love you forever and a day if you could do it." Amy squeezed my shoulders from behind me before we all piled out of the car. "Something tells me that you're much more his type than me, though."
"You never know." I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and let out a long breath and started to chant, "I'm going to have fun. I'm going to have fun."
"Yes, we all are." Lucinda moved up on my other side as we approached the large house ahead of us. All the lights were on and music was blaring from the open front door. Seeing that we were halfway out in the country, there was nothing to be concerned with, nor anyone to really bother. Ben's nearest neighbors were a mile back toward town.
"Woohoo, more pretty girls." Some random guy greeted us at the door and lifted his beer toward us. "The liquor is in the kitchen and condoms in the bathroom. We're sure glad you girls are here."
"Brother." I rolled my eyes as I slipped past him and tried to settle myself. I might be hanging over the edge of a shitty mood, but the party would help. I didn't mind mingling so much, and there were plenty of people in the room that I didn't know.
"There she is!" Dill reached out and grabbed my hand, pulling me into a group of basketball guys. "She totally scored the first three points. Tell them, Val. They don't believe me."
I shrugged. "No clue what this guy is talking about. I'm head of the homemaking group at UMN."
He laughed loudly as I turned to find my friends again.
Katelyn was wrapped around Martin in a far corner of the living room. A twinge of jealousy raced through me. I didn't want a perfect match by any means, but it would have been bliss to simply find a guy that I could spend my time with, maybe invest in a little.
"Here you go, my friend." Amy handed me a glass of blue punch. "Bottoms up. This night is sure to get better after we have a few of these."
"Who's designated driver? I thought I was?" I accepted her offer and took a quick sip. The tangy punch was delicious, and I could see myself taking out a pitcher of it all on my own.
"Lucinda is going to take your turn. You need tonight more than the rest of us." Amy brushed my hair with her fingers as her eyes moved across me. "Did you invite Tate tonight?"
"No, but I wonder if he went through with the try outs today." I turned to find Martin and Katelyn taking a momentary break from their make-out session and decided to go straight to the source. "Let's go find out."
"You do that. I'm starving. I'll catch up with you in a minute." Amy smiled before heading back into the kitchen, where I assumed Lucinda was.
"It's my lucky day." Kade moved in front of me as I started to walk toward Martin.
"Oh, hey." I took a tentative step back and smiled at the handsome football player.
"Hey, yourself. You look damn good tonight." His eyes moved over my face and surprisingly enough, stayed there. "You wanna dance?"
"I do, but let me touch base with some friends first. Find me in a little bit after I've had too many of these to refuse you." I lifted my glass, and he chuckled.
"I'll hold you to it." He moved out of my way, and I continued to forge a path through the large crowd of people milling about in the living room.
"Hey, guys." I stopped beside Katelyn and turned to see where Kade walked off to. He was a cute guy and would fit into my life quite well from what I could tell, but I wasn't crazy about him. I wasn't sure I was crazy about Tate, either, but the warm desire that filled me when I thought about him and his unruly tats and dark eyes left my heart beating a little too fast.
"Hey." Martin pulled me into a quick hug. "Great choice on Tate. He killed it this morning. Tied my fucking score, and I'm the best swimmer on the team. I love it."
"Really?" Excitement pumped through me as I laughed. "That's great news!"
"He didn't text you?" Katelyn's smile faded. "That's not cool."
"No, it's okay. Really. We're just friends and barely that. I didn't get him the try out to get anything in return for it. I was paying him back for being so good to me the other night when I was stranded." I took a long drink of my drink, hoping that my friends wouldn't be able to see just how disappointed I was that Tate hadn't told me the good news himself.
Probably for the better.
"He's supposed to be here tonight. I told him you would be here, too." Martin shrugged and lifted to his toes to look around.
My heart leapt into my chest, and it was hard to breathe all of a sudden. I forced myself to stay focused on them instead of turning and searching the crowd manically like I wanted to.
"Awesome. Well, I'm sure I'll run into him, then. Thanks again for letting him try out." I moved in beside Katelyn and let my eyes scan the crowd slowly until I found Amy and Lucinda. "Alright... I've been relieved of my designated driver duties, so I'm off to find something stronger. I'd like to forget today happened."
"No shit, right?" Katelyn rubbed my back softly. "You deserve a great guy that makes you forget your last name is Scott."
"Another shitty day with your folks?" Martin asked with sincere concern on his face.
"Yep. Every day is a shitty day with my parents." I forced a smile and moved away from them. I couldn't help but notice that Kade was talking with a pretty girl in the corner of the room. Some part of me wanted to be jealous over it, but it was for the better. I didn't want to date someone that left me lukewarm. I wanted my next boyfriend to be the first one that made me soar high just by watching him walk into the room.
Tate.
A loud group in the corner of the living room was cutting up and having entirely too much fun. Carolyn was in the middle of it, and her laughter sent a nasty shiver down my spine. I hated the fact that wherever I was, that bitch was, too. There was no getting rid of her, and honestly, the one way to really get back at her for being so horrible was to take the presidency away. I didn't want to run the Gammas, but between needing to prove to her that she wasn't queen and wanting to shut my mother up, I was going to have to grab the leadership role in May.
"Should have done it last weekend when she was getting stoned to death in the kitchen," I mumbled and moved up to the edge of the crowd. A cute boy with dark-rimmed glasses and a crooked smile glanced over at me.
"Oh, hi." His mouth lifted farther.
"Hi there." I turned as I realized that the guy who was currently the center of attention in Carolyn's crowd was Tate. I touched his back, tapping lightly until he turned.
His eyes lit up in a way that stole my breath. He might not have texted, but he was glad to see me.
"Val, what a great surprise." He moved toward me and pulled me into an unexpected hug.
I returned the favor and wrapped my arms around him, squeezing him softly before moving back a little and letting out a laugh. "Congratulations, you ass. You couldn't text me that you go on the team?"
"I told him to." The boy beside me moved closer to us and crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm Sam, Tate's best friend."
"Oh." I turned to Sam. "Nice to meet you."
"You, as well." Sam lifted his eyebrow and glanced over to Tate, who stood in silence. "You weren't lying. She is breathtaking."
"Right?" Tate released me and took my hand, instead. "Come on. Let's get you something good to drink. That's glorified Kool-Aid."
"Sam, come meet my friends." I grabbed his hand with my free one as Tate moved us toward the kitchen. I couldn't help but feel a moment of victory as I caught the look on Carolyn's face. I wanted to tell her that I was sure her beloved would show up soon, but I let it go. No need to rub salt in her wounds, though she would do so to me without another thought. I almost enjoyed the fact that I didn't have to react to her or anyone else if I didn't want to. I could just be me.
"You look incredible." Tate glanced back. His light brown hair was disheveled and his eyes a tad glossy. I didn't look incredible, but he sure as fuck did. His lips were dark pink, and I couldn't help but wonder how good they would feel against mine or what his tongue might taste like.
"So do you, but you always do." I squeezed his hand and released both his and Sam's grasp as I stopped in front of Amy and Lucinda.
My friends turned to me and both gave me their own form of a questioning look.
"Guys, this is Tate and his friend Sam." I motioned toward each of the guys as I introduced them. "Boys, this is Lucinda and Amy."
They all took turns shaking hands and getting to know each other as I moved to the snack table and picked up a few pretzels. Tate moved up beside me and bumped his shoulder against mine.
"I'm sorry." His smile was beautiful and stole my breath. He was the most rugged, unruly-looking guy I'd entertained the idea of dating, and yet there was something about him that left me thinking he was a sensitive, good-guy type.
"No need to be. I was just kidding. I know you’re busy." I shrugged and turned to find him staring intently at me.
"No, I'm just worried." He shrugged and picked up a beer from the big bucket filled with them just beside us.
"Worried? About what?" I took a step closer to him as he turned and touched the side of my face.
"A lot of things." His eyes moved around my face as if he were trying to memorize me.
"Well, stop worrying." I lifted to my toes and started to move in for a kiss, but two hands grabbed me and pulled be back. Dill.
"Come on, lover girl. It's beer bong time. You're such a fucking hot shot on the courts...let's see how you handle these balls." He laughed and grabbed Tate, too. "Come on, man. No need to let this one out of your sights. Half the fucking room is hoping for her attention."
"Oh, please." I rolled my eyes and smiled over at Tate as we were half dragged through the room. "You don't have to do this."
"If you're doing it, I'm in." He reached for my hand and squeezed my fingers softly. "After this, we're getting out of here."
"Yes. Please." I turned as we were shoved into the middle of the crowd where the beer pong table was. I didn't usually participate in stupid drinking games, but the energy in the crowd was too much to deny anyone anything.
We played for a bit, laughing as the other had to drink until I was having a hard time staying on my feet. Tate grabbed me and pulled off to the side with a large smile on his lips.
"You're drunk." He smirked.
"Yep. You're not." I slid my hands up his chest and moved a little closer. "You feel good."
"Good. Let's get out of here. I'm still good to drive. Let me see if we can take Sam's truck. The bike is going to leave us half frozen." He ran his hands over my shoulders, and I wanted to move in for another try at a kiss, but it wasn't the time. Besides, I figured I should give him the chance to lean in for the first kiss. But if he didn't, I would, and soon.
"Sounds good." I walked to the kitchen and told Amy about leaving with Tate. She didn't seem too thrilled, but I promised to text her before walking toward the side door where Tate stood waiting for me.
"You ready? I wanted to take you up to the frozen lake by my place. That sound okay?" He bit at his lip as he watched me.
"Yeah. I'd love to get to know you a little better, but if you're an axe murderer, tell me now. I'm in no mood to defend myself tonight." I smirked as he chuckled. I grabbed my coat from the pile on the floor by the door and waited for him to do the same.
"Why do you have to be so damn cute?" He opened the door and touched the small of my back as I walked out into the night.
"Am I cute?" I smiled at him as we made our way to the truck.
"Impossibly so." He helped me get into my side and then walked around to his side.
Butterflies danced around my stomach and lust teased me with the idea of a hot make-out session. I wasn't usually the type of girl to jump in the sack with someone, and I wasn't going to be sleeping with Tate that night, but cuddling up to him sounded divine.
"You like to ice skate?" He maneuvered the truck out of the overcrowded field and turned us the opposite way from town.
"I sure do." I leaned my head back and took a shallow breath. The smell of his cologne was delicious, and I started to wonder if I'd had a little too much to drink.
"Good. I'll take you soon, if you're up for it." He reached out and squeezed my hand. "I'm sorry about not calling. I really wanted to, but my life is too complicated for anything more than a friendship right now."
His words drilled into the center of me, wiping out my hope for something more happening between us. Of course, his life was too complicated to consider taking me out for a date. Why guys had to think it was all or none, black or white always left me confused.
"No, it's good. I'm interested in a friendship. I just got out of a nasty relationship, anyway." I moved up to turn the heater on higher and swallowed the hot ball of rejection lodged itself in my throat.
I had berated myself 10 different ways by the time Tate pulled the truck to a stop.
"Well, shit. The road’s blocked." He let out a frustrated growl.
"It's okay. We'll go another time." I pulled out my phone. "Besides, it looks like my friends are ready to get home. It was nice just getting away."
"Yeah, but we didn't learn anything about each other." He growled again and turned the truck around. "I should have brought the fucking bike. At least we could have gone around the blockage."
For someone who wanted a friendship, he sure seemed upset.
I forced myself to make idle chit-chat with him until we got back to the party. He was either bipolar or I was making shit up where the two of us were concerned. Why things couldn't just go the way I expected them too in one area of my life was beyond me.
"Hey, let's go out for something to eat soon." He glanced over at me as we parked back out amongst the cars.
"Sure. You have my number." I gave him a tight smile and got out of the truck without another word. Not only had I almost kissed him earlier and looked like an idiot, but I'd left the party thinking something was going to happen more than the disappointment of hearing that I was being friend-zoned.
"Whatever. You don't even know him." I walked back in to find Amy talking with Kade in the kitchen.
At least something is going right tonight.