“Lolli Bear!”

I turn to find Parker running toward me, an unshakable smile on his face.

My eyes bulge when I realize he isn’t slowing down, and within seconds, I’m squealing and being thrown over his shoulder, spinning around.

“What the hell, Parker?” I laugh, then grunt as my stomach smashes into his shoulder.

“We’re three-time State Champions, Lolli! You’re coming to the party tonight if I have to carry you there myself.”

I think about telling him I already fought with Mia about it and lost, but why burst his happy bubble?

“Okay, Hero. I’ll go to the party.”

“Ye-”

“If you put me down.”

I’m on feet in two seconds flat.

“Perfect.” He smiles and throws his right arm over my shoulder. Kissing my temple, he asks, “You gonna drink with me tonight, Lolli Bear?”

“Actually,” I take a second to think about the crazy week I’ve had, “a few drinks sound pretty damn good right now.” I smile, wrapping my arm around his waist.

We’re laughing as we reach the group of people waiting around for everyone to head to the party.

My eyes instantly find Nate’s.

His eyes instantly find my fingers wrapped around Parker’s side, then Parker’s arm around my shoulder.

I wait for him to meet my gaze again, but instead his shoulders tense, and he turns for Austin’s running truck.

Parker’s oblivious, but gives me a small nod as I slip away from him and the conversation he just started with Blaine, the tight end.

A few girls pile into Austin’s cab seats and Nate’s reaching for the front handle right as I approach.

“Good game, Handsome.”

His biceps flex and he slowly turns, a deep pinch in his brow as he looks down at me.

“Hi, Lolli!” The girls giggle in excitement in the back seat.

I laugh, waving. “Hey, guys!”

One leans over the front seat, and I see it’s the dark-haired girl from my government class, Casey. “You going to-”

“She’s coming,” Austin’s quick to interrupt her on a laugh.

She smiles and throws herself back against the seat.

“You’re going to the party tonight?” Nate asks, his tone accusatory.

“I am.” I hold his eyes and ignore the scoff he gives me at my answer. Boys will be boys, after all. “You gonna drive me or not?” I raise an eyebrow at him.

It takes a second, but finally, his smirk appears and he pushes off Austin’s truck. “See you there, my man,” he calls out, not bothering to look back when Austin protests.

Nate steps into my space, so I’m forced to look up at his perfect face.

Me being this close to him makes me want to kiss him, so I raise onto my toes. Right as my arms wrap around his neck, his slide across my back, pulling me closer.

“You really want to go to the party tonight?” His eyes search mine, a weary expression on his face.

I nod. “I could use a few drinks. Been a long week, Handsome.”

He blows out a breath, looking around in thought. “Yeah, it has.”

“That was your last official high school game.”

He nods, glancing at the stadium lights as they shut off in the distance. “We have the annual spring game the school puts on for fun, but yeah. Season’s over. It’s crazy.”

I grin and pat his chest. “You’ll be playing under bigger, better lights in no time.” I wink at him when his brown eyes make their way back to me.

The corner of his mouth starts to crook up, but it falls flat, quickly transforming into a frown when Parker plants himself next to us.

“Ready, Lolli?” He smiles, bouncing from one foot to the other, clearly eager to get his grown man on.

Laughing, I shift in Nate’s arms, feeling his body tense immediately. I can only assume it’s because he thought I was moving away from him, considering he relaxes a second later when I turn to lean my back against his chest. “I’m going with Nate.”

“NO!” I hear from my left and right, and suddenly, Mia’s standing there with us.

My head jerks back and Nate’s arms tighten around me.

“Uh...” I look back and forth between the two.

“Nate is riding with Austin and the floozies in the back. You,” she points to me, “are riding with me and Parker.”

Something’s fishy, and it ain’t the floozies.

I narrow my eyes at Mia and stand taller. “Why?”

She cuts a quick glance at Nate, her eyes flying back to me as she shrugs. “I have a quick pit stop to make and I need you to go with me.” She smiles a big, cheesy smile I can’t help but laugh at.

“Fine,” I roll my eyes. “Get that ugly ass look off your face and wait for me by…wait. Whose car?”

Mia bounces away, lacing her arm through Parker’s. “My Jeep. Be there in five.”

When I step out of Nate’s arms, he grumbles, “What was that all about?”

With a quick glance in the direction the two headed off in, I shrug, turning back to Nate. “You never know with Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm.”

He nods, a crease forming between his thick brows as he watches them hop into Mia’s Jeep.

“Alright, guess I’ll see you in a bit.” I pull out of his embrace.

He looks back at me, his eyes tight. He doesn’t say anything, just nods, leaning down to kiss my forehead, before walking back to Austin’s truck.

As soon as I jump into Mia’s Jeep, I start, “Okay, assholes. Spill it.”

Parker, who’s in the driver seat, howls in laughter as he takes off, while Mia squeals from her spot in the passenger seat. “Tonight is going to be so much fun!”

And that’s all I get until we’re walking into my house a few minutes later.

“Okay, Lolli.” Mia shoves me into my bathroom. “Quickest shower of your life, go. Shave whatever needs shaving, hair in a hairnet; we don’t have time to dry it.” She picks up one of my curls and nods in approval. “Thank God you did your hair before the game.” Then she’s running down the hall. “Be right back!” she yells before I hear the front door close.

I don’t bother arguing, because, what the fuck’s the point?

On a curse, I slam the bathroom door closed. “I know this is somehow your fault, Hero!”

His laughter booms from the other side of the door. “It’ll be worth it, trust me.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I mutter and do as I’m told.

Thankfully, I’m a fresh and clean, and an always bare kind of girl, so my ‘to be shaved’ areas are on point.

Approximately two minutes later, I wrap the towel around me and rip the shower cap off my head, letting my curls hang loose, and head into my bedroom for some answers, but in the short distance from A to B, I hear some commotion.

As I make my way around the corner, I see Parker smirking, lying on my bed with his arms crossed behind his head, and Nate standing in front of him, a scowl on his face.

“Uh.” Both their gazes turn to me. “Hi?”

Nate’s scowl deepens, while Parker doubles over in laughter.

Then I hear more yelling coming down the hallway.

“What the hell, Austin?” Mia shrieks. “I told you we’d meet you guys there!”

He laughs. “I know, but the guy’s relentless. He saw your Jeep in the driveway, saw you, and you alone - as in, not Parker and Lolli - run over to your house, and practically jumped out the truck. What’s a man to do?”

“Argggh!” She grunts, her voice getting closer. “You are so not getting any tonight.”

She comes around the corner, Austin hot on her heels, and Nate jolts out of his frozen state.

“Shut your damn eyes!” He points at Austin, who stands in front of me, smiling. “You!” He whips around, pointing at Parker. “Get. The fuck. Off her bed, and go wait in the living room!”

Parker laughs and hustles out of the room as they all make their way down the hall.

“Give me five minutes!” Nate yells out, then gently shoves me into my room, his chest heaving.

“What the fuck is going on right now?” I ask, my eyes shifting around the now empty room.

Nate drops his chin to his chest, and when he looks back up, it’s a slow, scorching perusal that starts at my toes and spreads until the hairs on the back of my neck are standing up.

He has my back against the door and his mouth on mine before I can protest, not that I would.

A needy moan leaves my lips as my legs are lifted to wrap around him. Using the door and his body to support me, his hands trail down my throat, my chest, until they reach the edge of my towel just above my thighs. Right when his hands start to push the towel up further, there’s a loud bang on the door.

“Oh, hell no!” Mia yells. “Nate, get your ass out of there and get to the damn party!”

Neither of us move.

After a good thirty seconds of silence, she lets out a humorless laugh. “Okay, fine.” I can hear the smirk in her voice. “Get your ass out of there and get to your party, playboy!”

My gaze flies to Nate’s and a sexy ass smile takes over his face. “Cat’s out of the bag.” He winks.

Still a little breathless, I ask, “Today’s your birthday?”

He presses his hard-on into me on a roll, and I bite my lip to keep from moaning with my cousin on the other side of the door.

“Eighteen, Kalani.” He kisses me, hard, one more time before dropping me to me feet and sauntering out the door.

Bastard.

“You do realize, had you told me about Nate’s birthday, not only could I have gotten him a gift or something, but I would’ve gone home to get ready willingly, right?” I tell Mia as we jump out of her Jeep.

“Okay, first off, you are the gift, honey.” She motions toward my body from head to toes. “Wrapped up in pretty shiny wrapping and everything.” She shimmies while I roll my eyes. “Second, I call bullshit.”

Rounding her hood, I look at her with raised brows.

“Please, had you known, you and Nate would be between the sheets already, party forgotten.” She stops and thinks for a second. “To give him credit though, he didn’t even want to tell you. Wasn’t going to have a party or anything. It was kind of a surprise, well, until he burst into your room, and found Parker lying on your bed 30 minutes ago.” She stops to check her lipstick in a random car’s window. “Never thought I’d say this, but I think he actually likes you.”

When I scoff, she places her hands on my arms, halting my steps. “I’m serious, Lolli.” Her eyes grow concerned. “At first, I thought I had to watch out for you, but seeing as how you’re all stone cold and shit, I’m starting to think it’s him I need to watch out for.” She drops her hand with a shrug. “Just be careful. With him. With yourself.”

I nod, not at all agreeing with her. “’Kay, well, I’m glad Parker ended up leaving with the boys earlier since we’re having this little heart to stone.”

“Can I ask you something, Lolli?”

I search her face, nodding.

“Why is it that you and Parker are such good friends? I mean, how did that happen? He’s always been a busybody, but he never really took to anyone like he did you.”

I stand silently, looking past her shoulder.

I hate sharing, but she must need this. I was wondering if mine and Parker’s friendship, the fact that I spend a lot of time with him and not her, affected her. I guess it does.

“Parker…he’s…like me, but in an opposite form, if that makes sense. He throws parties, loves big groups, and seeks out big crowds, where I like to be by myself and hate visitors.” When her brows pull in, I continue. “He avoids that intimate setting because he refuses to get to the point of showing who he is, Mia, like me. Sometimes, what’s going on inside isn’t meant for everyone to see. Someone will come along that he’ll talk to, but right now, this is what makes sense to him.”

“How do you know that?”

“I can’t explain it, Meems. It is what it is. We…get each other without having to say it. It works for us.”

“Right.” She frowns at her feet.

I glance at the house behind me. “Can we get some drinks now?”

She holds eye contact for a few seconds, then smiles. “Yes, Lollipop,” she says, shaking her head exuberantly. “Let’s get some drinks.”

I smooth the edge of my skirt before we walk toward the door.

Apparently, Mia had stashed an outfit at her house for me that was intended for tonight. So here I am, donned in a black tube top and a badass, blood-red – Alrick High Knights red - pencil skirt that comes up just past my belly button and halfway down my thigh. The skirt is a stretchy material, so it forms to my curves perfectly. Paired with sparkly black four-inch heels, and red bow studded earrings, it has to be said... my outfit’s banging. My long dark hair is left loose in big barrel curls, with smoky eyes, and red lips to match, and I’m ready to party.

“You sure I’m not going to fall out of this top?” I ask Mia, making sure I’m all tucked in.

“Honey, the D’s are safe, trust me. You paid good money for that top.” She laughs. “Sans the whole ‘no bra needed’ thing.”

I laugh. “Whatever you say. Let’s go inside. It’s cold as shit out here and I’m in a skirt like it’s summer.”

Once we’ve made it into the house, I don’t bother looking around for Nate or anyone else right away. I know they’re around, so Mia and I make our way into Parker’s dad’s kitchen, which acts as the bar tonight.

“What’ll it be, ladies?” A kid I recognize from the JV team asks, a proud smile on his lips.

Must be an honor to serve drinks at the QB’s birthday party. I can’t help but roll my eyes.

I look at Mia, with raised eyebrows.

“Oh yeah. Bartender, DJ, catered food service. He gets all the perks.” She laughs. “Vodka cran for me.” She blows the boy a kiss.

“And for you, Lolli?” He smiles at me.

“Tequila. Two shots and a lime, if you got it.”

“Gotcha.”

Within a minute, we have our drinks in hand and exit the kitchen to join the crowd.

“Okay, girl.” Mia raises her glass. “To a fun night of the triple D’s.”

“And those would be...?”

“Drinks, dancing, and dick.” She winks. “In that order.”

We both double over in laughter.

“I thought you told Austin he wasn’t getting any?”

“It’s a dead threat and he knows it. Why punish myself?” she says, and we laugh harder.

“Alright, I’m ready.” I toss my first shot back, setting the glass down quickly to suck the lime dry.

Right as I bring number two to my lips, my hand freezes, and I look to my right.

Nate’s leaning against the wall, staring right at me. As soon as our eyes meet, he pushes off the wall and glides toward me.

He changed, too.

Gone are the faded jeans and white tee. He’s wearing a black button-up with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The shirt lays untucked over a pair of dark jeans that stretch nicely across his thick thighs and those Palladium boots I love. His face is freshly shaven and begging to be rubbed on, while his hair is stuck in a perfect sideswipe – that natural ‘just rolled out of bed’, or ‘just pulled on’, look.

I’d like to pull on it.

I lick my lips.

God. Damn. He’s sexy. I may even beg...

“I know I would...”

My head snaps to Mia.

She laughs and walks backward. “Yes, bitch.” She widens her eyes mockingly. “You said that out loud. We’re dancing, so don’t ditch me,” she adds as she skips off toward a group of girls.

I return my gaze to Nate, and watch as his eyes roam my body. He bites his lower lip and all I can think is how bad I wish it were me. Gettin’ bit or doing the biting, I’m not picky.

“You better stop looking at me like that,” he rasps, stepping in front of me.

“Like what?” I ask, my eyes still trained on his luscious lips.

His response is to grab my lime from between my knuckles and place the peel side in his mouth. He lifts my hand and I take the cue.

Purely for show, I tilt my head back slowly, and pour the golden liquid down my throat. My head barely makes it back to its righted position before Nate’s hands are on the sides of my face, bringing my lips to his.

I merely have a chance to lick the lime, before he releases it and locks his mouth to mine in a deep, needy kiss.

His fingertips run down my neck and body until those rough hands of his find my hips.

I pull back and smile up at him. “Happy Birthday, Handsome.”

“Best one yet,” he winks, stepping back slightly.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” I ask, genuinely curious.

He shrugs. “Because I didn’t want you to feel like you had to come out if you didn’t want to, and I wasn’t gonna if you weren’t.”

He reaches up and tucks my hair behind my ear.

“But... it’s your birthday.”

“And I wanted to spend it with you.”

When my brows pull in, he smiles and grabs my hand. “Come on, Gorgeous. We need another drink.”

I nod and allow him to pull me through the house.

Nate does have special privileges, because our shots are already ready to go and handed to us right as we step up to the makeshift bar.

“You on tequila tonight, too?” I smirk.

“I’m on what you’re on.”

“Alright,” I laugh. Raising my glass, we cheers before knocking back another shot. “I’m on three. What’s your number, Handsome?”

“Like he knows,” an annoyingly familiar, grating voice says from behind me.

With a roll of my eyes, I turn, giving Liv a fake as fuck smile. “Bet he knows the exact number after you.” Her eyes narrow. “Or, maybe not.” I pop my hip out, like an Olivia clone. “I’m betting it’s taken a lot to erase that train wreck of a memory.”

Her head swivels, nearly shaking with rage, while her arms cross over her lackluster chest.

“Oh, wait,” I mock. “I forgot. Nate doesn’t even remember the second time.” Her eyes fly to Nate for confirmation, and he coughs to cover his laugh. “Guess you are pretty easy to forget after all.”

She flips her long blonde hair over her shoulder before shoving past me.

“You know,” I study Liv’s stiff posture as she trudges off. “Maybe you should give it to her. She clearly needs some kind of release. Bitch is wound tight.”

When he doesn’t respond, I look up, finding his eyes narrowed in on me. “What?”

He opens his mouth to say something, but is cut off when Austin throws his arm around his neck. “Let’s go, my man. Shots!” he yells, dragging a laughing Nate off with him, but not before he glances back, his hand outstretched for me to take.

Shots are being passed in all directions as LMFAO’s “Shots” booms through the speakers. I decline, until a smiling Nate holds one out to me.

The music dies down and suddenly Austin’s voice takes over.

“Alright y’all. It’s December 11th, we just won the State Championship, and it’s my right-hand man’s birthday!” Everyone cheers. “Who knows when his ass’ll disappear with the fine ass lady on his arm tonight…Hi, Lolli,” he winks, earning a few laughs and Nate’s arms snake around me, pulling my back into his chest. “So, let’s wish him a happy mutha fuckin’ birthdaaay!”

Everyone yells and we all take our shots.

A little while later, our close-knit group settles in the den where there are less partygoers.

Nate drops down onto the edge of the couch. He tries pulling me down with him, but I evade on a laugh. Spinning to stand behind him, I lean down to whisper in his ear, “It’s true, you know, what they say…”

He raises an eyebrow and I smile wide. “Tequila makes her clothes fall off...” I throw my head back, laughing as he chokes on his own spit. Raising my final shot of the evening, I knock it back, sans the lime.

His eyes follow my movements as I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand.

The music has died down some, everyone around growing drunker by the minute, so I decide it’s about that time.

“Alright, it’s been real, but I’m out like trout,” I announce to whoever’s listening, turning to leave.

Nate’s strong arms wrap around me in seconds. “You’re leaving me?” he whispers.

“I am,” I giggle.

He sways us slightly. Dropping his head, he nestles into the crook of my neck, his arms tightening around me. “Don’t go...” His voice is so quiet I almost miss it.

But I don’t. And now, for some reason, my breath gets caught in my lungs, and there’s a tightness in my chest.

Tequila. It’s the tequila.

Yeah, I got to go...

I take a half of a step.

“Kalani...” His voice is light and almost... vulnerable.

Shit.

With my eyes squeezed shut, I whisper, “Come with me, Handsome.”

He freezes, which makes me grin, confirming it was the right move. He wasn’t expecting an invitation, but I know he sure as shit wanted one.

Nate stands to his full height and gently turns me so he can look me in the eyes.

There is no indecision in mine and I’m not drunk. Relaxed and horny, sure, but not drunk.

He smiles, grabs my hand, and together, we sneak out of his party.