“
You’re such a
cerdo
.” She turned to face Aspen and they started girl talking about clothes and that British guy who sparkled in all those vampire movies. Jay turned and plopped down beside me, tossing Pris’s apple core into her bag. We did study animals and I totally disagreed with her. I wasn’t a pig. I just happened to like girls. A lot.
“
Are you still holding out on me about the party?” Jaden asked.
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t ask you about your hook-ups. Don’t ask me about mine.” This time, it was only partly because I didn’t care. The other part was because I already knew. Alex told me her friend Dana had it bad for Jay. I’d seen them talking and hanging all over each other at the party. Another lesson I could give PA. Two plus two always made four. Talking at a party, plus a crush equaled some kind of hook-up. Or at least the prospect of one.
“
Yeah, but--” Jaden started, but stopped when a high-pitched voice cut him off.
“
Hey, Jaden. Sebastian.” Speak of the she-devils. Dana with her short blond hair and Alex with her even shorter skirt stood beside us. Dana played with her hair as she spoke.
“
Hey,” I glanced up, trying not to take in the sight too long, knowing if I acted disinterested, it would make them all the more interested in me. I know that makes me sound like a jerk, and maybe in some ways I was, but girls play games, too. Guys are just more likely to admit to it. It wasn’t as if I was playing any games with them that they wouldn’t play with me. I know girls. An act like this wouldn’t work with all of them and there’s a group of ladies out there I wouldn’t even try it with. Girls like Dana and Alex though… they liked the chase just as much as I did. There was nothing wrong with that.
Plus, the girls I went for always knew the score up front. I never pretended to want anything long term, because, even though I enjoyed the chase, okay and the capture too, I would never hurt someone the way my mom had been hurt. I’d picked up the pieces too many times to do that to someone else.
“
What’s up?” Jaden gave them a little wave, acting the same as me. We’d done this enough together to know how it worked.
“
I had fun with you at the party, Seb.” Alex winked at me and I cringed. Seb? I shouldn’t even have to mention that’s a lame nickname. Turns out I didn’t. As I opened my mouth to speak, Aspen cut me off.
“
He hates that nickname.”
I smiled at her. She hated these girls, but I knew she told Alex for my benefit, just as much as she did to stick it to her.
“
I’m sorry, Denver. I didn’t realize I was talking to you. Why don’t you go back to being the “friend”? Don’t blame me that you’re stuck there because you didn’t have the guts to go for it. The jealous look is never attractive.”
My whole body tensed at her words. Across from me, Pris pushed to her feet. “Back-off, Barbie. Don’t talk to my friend that way.” Aspen stood up, too.
“
Pris, chill.” She narrowed her eyes at me, and then sat back down. I shot a glance at Jaden and he nodded his head. I knew he’d agree with me. Our friends came before getting some. “Listen, I know we hung out this weekend, but that doesn’t give you the right to talk shit to my girls.” I crossed my arms. “I’m not trying to be a prick to you either, but if we’re going to hang out, you can’t treat them like crap.”
I was stuck between two walls of estrogen: Pris and Aspen on one side who wanted me to kick these girls to the curb so fast their heads knocked together and Alex and Dana who I couldn’t completely blow off because I did have my tongue down Alex’s throat this weekend. I didn’t do the dating thing, but I wasn’t a total ass, either.
“
Why don’t you call me tonight?” I told her, hoping to get her to go away before Pris killed them. She gave me a sassy little wink and ran her hand through my hair. Yeah, this definitely wasn’t going to last long. I hated it when girls played with my hair.
“
Okay. You can come over if you want. My parents won’t be home.” She grabbed Dana’s hand as Dana said goodbye to Jaden and pulled her away.
Jay’s head whipped toward me, his smile saying the same thoughts that ran through my head. No parents? What guy could pass up that opportunity?
“
Do you even
like
them?” Aspen asked.
I turned toward her and gave her one of my best smiles. “She’s hot, Woodstock.”
Aspen flipped me off and stood up. “You guys suck.” She turned to Pris. “Come on. Let’s go.”
Jaden and I started laughing as they walked off. “Come on. You know you guys love us!” I yelled after them.
They didn’t turn around and after our laughter died, Jaden spoke. “Aspen’s got a nice ass. When did that happen?”
I don’t know why, but I nudged Jaden hard with my shoulder. Apparently, hard enough to make him fall backward. “What the hell?” he asked.
I shook my head. What the hell was right. “Nothin’,” I told him, a little surprised myself that it annoyed me when he brought up Aspen’s butt. “Come on. If we hurry, we might be able to catch up with Alex and Dana before lunch is over.”
***
“
Are you writing love letters over there or what?” Jaden tapped his hands on the steering wheel to the beat of a song playing. I didn’t know who the band was. Some pop crap I didn’t listen to. We were on our way to Alex’s. We
had
managed to catch up with them after the girls took off. After a little more digging, we’d found out her parents were going to be out at least until midnight. We made plans for dinner, which Jaden and I picked up on our way and then to watch a movie I had no intention of watching.
Watching a movie was code for making out.
The dinner cost me twenty bucks from my car funds so, yeah, I was messaging my client on the way. “To your mama.”
“
Dude, you’re so lame
.”
“
Whatever.” I finished my email to PA with directions on how and when to drop the money off and hit send. “This summer needs to be epic. Seriously, man. We need to come up with some sort of plan or something. I’m tired of the same old thing.” Though I couldn’t wait for summer to begin, I knew exactly what it would be. Sitting around town, working, hanging with the girls, parties and Mom’s new man.
My attempt to change the subject worked. “Did you know Pris’s parents are renting her a beach house for her birthday? It’s supposed to be some girl-fest thing with her and Aspen, but damn, that would be tight if we could go. Beach chicks, no parents. Think you can work it? Talk to Aspen and get her to put a word in with Pris or something?”
I played with my eyebrow ring like I always did when thinking. “Why me?”
“
Because you guys are like BFFs or something. I think you’re secretly in love. Oh, maybe you’ll run off to some hippie commune together one day!”
My friend was an idiot. “You need serious help. First of all, I might be a little closer to Woodstock, but that’s only because we’ve lived down the street from each other forever. I had to drink my first cup of soy milk with her. People bond over that shit.”
Jaden laughed.
“
Second, we’re not secretly in love. I’m not even sure she’s into guys. She’s had, like, one boyfriend or something. Even if she is, I do hook-ups, not love. Aspen wouldn’t be down for that. But since Pris wishes you would die a fiery death, I’m sure you’re right. I can probably score us an invite way before you can. Plus, I just have better skills than you do.”
About that time we pulled onto Alex’s street. Six o’clock on the dot. Damn we were good. Jay parked a block away, just to be on the safe side. Escaping the parentals was always easier if you didn’t run the risk of getting blocked into their driveway.
“
I’m going to let that go because we’re here and I definitely think it would put a damper on our night if I kicked your ass.” Jaden snickered as he got out and slammed the door. Slipping my phone in the pocket of my baggy, low-slung shorts, I was right behind him. He had the drinks in his hands and I had bags of burgers and fries in mine.
Alex opened the door before we had the chance to knock. I took in the view. Short skirt, tight shirt, her hand on her waist with the sassy, I am woman look. Nice.
“
Come on in.” She held the door open, closing it when Jaden and I walked inside. Dana stood behind her.
“
How you doin’?” Jaden asked, his voice all funny like he was trying to be cool. I held in my laugh. I’d have to give him some pointers on that.
Alex led the way up to her room, shaking her butt as she went.
See? That was a nice butt. What had Jaden been talking about earlier when he commented on Aspen’s? She didn’t have near the curves as Alex did. Woodstock’s was smaller…tighter…
Whoa?
Had I been checking out Aspen’s ass, too? I mean, I noticed the sliver of skin. When had I started noticing the rest of her?
Jaden closed the bedroom door behind us. I squinted at the bright burst of yellow that jumped out at me. “Wow…”
“
What can I say? Just call me Little Miss Sunshine,” Alex purred. A floral scent itched my nose when she stepped closer to me. The girl was lucky she had a nice butt.
Dana and Jaden curled up on the couch in Alex’s room. She was one of those rich kids like Pris where Daddy went all out for her. With Pris, you’d never know it. She didn’t flaunt that her parents had more money than Bill Gates.
Alex’s room had to be about three of mine. It looked like a small apartment and had a flat screen on the wall. After grabbing two sodas from Jay I climbed onto the bed. I patted the spot beside me. “Sit with me?” I asked.
She did just that. We ate our food and talked about the upcoming summer. Before I knew it, the movie was on and the lights were down.
I know it might seem like it, but I’m not a jerk. I usually gave a girl at least thirty minutes into the movie before I tried anything. It’s the adjustment period, where I really got a feel for what she wanted. Is she sitting close to me? Leaning toward me? Was her hand strategically placed between us for me to hold? All those are signs, little beacons that let me know if there will be anything more not. I never moved forward unless I was absolutely sure.
With Alex, I didn’t have to wait. As soon as we finished eating her slinky little hand slid up my leg and every radar in my body beamed.
Hell yes! Houston, we have the green light!
Before I knew it, the credits were rolling. I had no idea what the movie had been about, my jaw hurt and I had my hand on the curvy backside I’d been admiring earlier. It’s a wonder I heard the noise at all, but like I said, my damn jaw hurt from the marathon kiss session. Not that I was complaining, but it was starting to cramp up.
“
Princess?” The closed door didn’t do enough to muffle the very dad-like voice on the other side.
“
Oh shit!” Jaden said from the couch. I jerked away from Alex. A little too far, because I tumbled off the side of the bed, making a loud thump.
“
Shh,” I loudly shushed Jaden like Alex’s dad didn’t already hear his curse and my fall.
“
Alexandra!” The door rattled. Someone had been smart enough to lock it. I scrambled to my feet. My sore jaw was nothing compared to my heart trying to jump out of my chest. Jaden’s wide eyes scanned the room, obviously as freaked as I was. I don’t know what he had to worry about. He was only kissing the friend. I’m the one who had my hand up his princess’s skirt.
Alex and Dana started pacing the room.
It was only 8:30. “I thought you said they weren’t coming home till midnight!” I don’t know why it mattered to me. They were here and we were dead unless we could get out of there.
“
Hold on, Daddy! I’m getting dressed,” she replied.
I hit my forehead with the palm of my hand. Lying wasn’t going to work at this point and if she was going to lie, getting dressed was probably the dumbest one she could come up with.
A loud crash sounded from the hallway. “Alexandra, you open this door right now!”
I ran for the window and pulled it open. Thank God for trees. “Come on, Jay!” I crawled onto the branch, hoping like hell the thing wouldn’t snap.
“
Hurry!” Jaden practically pushed me out of the way to join me. As soon as he did, I heard a crack. Fumbling my way toward the trunk of the tree, I wrapped my arms around it like it had been Alex about five minutes ago. Jaden latched on behind me, his arms round me too.