“Screw this. You said something about a party. Is that a no-go since your ‘mom’”—I make the air quotes around the word—“said no?”
Tinsley gives me a devious smile. “I’m only allowed to go to parties with Keaton or Finley there, but,” she winks, “what ‘Mom’ doesn’t know won’t hurt her.”
Putting the car back into gear, I smile. “Let’s find us a party.”
Fifteen minutes later, we pull up to a large gated house. It’s as luxurious as my house but not as intricate as Yates Manor.
“Whose house is this again?” I ask as the gate opens to let us in.
“Rachel Simmons. She’s in your grade. She has a huge crush on Keaton, so she invites me to all of her parties, hoping he comes. He never does, and usually neither do I, but you only live once, right?”
I park the car, smiling. “Right.”
Linking arms, we make our way up to the door. It opens before we get up the steps, a man waiting inside the door for us.
“Welcome. The gathering is on the back deck. Please follow me.” He leads the way, opening the sliding glass door to direct us outside.
My eyes widen at the sight before me.
When Tinsley said it was a party, I thought there would be ten, maybe twenty, people here. The crowd before me looks to be the entire Brighton Academy senior class, which is roughly one hundred fifty students, if I had to guess. The deck is decorated with hanging lights and some fabric draped to make elegant streamers.
Surrounding the deck are chairs and tables with people hanging around each set—some occupied by couples not scared of showing their PDA. I avert my eyes at one particular couple dry humping on the table to my right. We make our way to the table across the deck where it looks like the drinks are all arranged. Halfway there, I get jostled, losing grip of Tinsley. She’s swallowed up in the crowd immediately.
“Sorry,” I yell as I make my way forward.
My arm is jerked back, and for a moment I panic. I turn to face my attacker, breathing a sigh of relief when I see Rachel.
“What are you doing here?” she yells over the music.
“I came with Tinsley.”
“What?” she yells.
I don’t have time to play her yelling game, so I grab her arm and pull her with me towards the table. My panic at losing Tinsley is setting in, and I figure Tinsley will make her way there. She’s standing next to the table looking worried, but relief fills her face as she sees me.
“I thought I lost you.” She hugs me tight.
“Never. You’re stuck with me.”
“You promise?” That slight tinge of vulnerability melts me.
In that moment, I know that I will never leave her again. We might have just reconnected, but I need her just as much as she needs me.
“Promise.”
“Tinsley, you came. I’m so excited you’re here. Did Keaton come with you?” Rachel asks, looking around for him, I presume.
“Nope. We’re having a girls’ night.”
Rachel’s smile dims but stays in place. “Great. Get some drinks, ladies. Let’s get crunk.”
I grab two beers, one for Tinsley and myself, checking to make sure they are sealed before I open the bottles. I hand her one and whisper in her ear, “I won’t drink this, but you can. I’ll drive us home.”
She gives me a grateful smile before taking a large swig of her beer.
Rachel disappears minutes later, mumbling an excuse about having to check on something. That’s fine with me, though. I’m here for Tinsley and to experience a high school party like a normal teen, although I suspect this isn’t how the public-school kids party.
Hell, I’ve already seen two servers making their way around with glasses of drinks and food.
After thirty minutes and two beers for Tinsley, I finally start to relax. Tinsley isn’t drunk, but it’s obvious she’s buzzed.
“This is my favorite song. Let’s dance.” Tinsley pulls me to the makeshift dance floor without waiting for my response.
At first, I sway around her while she sings about partying like she’s on some island or something. It’s a song I’m not familiar with. For a moment, that familiar pang of regret hits. How much did I miss out on by transferring schools on a whim to follow a dream that ended?
I used to know all the current music, but at HDA, they only wanted you listening to ballet-approved songs.
Tinsley grabs my arm and spins in a circle, bringing me back to the present. Once the song is over, we stay on the floor for the next one too. The more we dance, the more I lose myself in the music. The movement of my body fills my soul with the same satisfaction that I used to get from ballet.
Closing my eyes, I allow my body to take over, moving the way it wants to naturally instead of thinking about each move.
The song switches to a slow, sensual song. I open my eyes to confirm Tinsley is still with me, smiling at her as she sways with the music. I get caught up in the music again until I see Tinsley stop, her eyes widening over my shoulder. Before I can turn to see what has her attention, an arm wraps around my waist, pulling back into a hard chest.
I gasp as a warm breath touches my ear.
“You’re in trouble now.”
✽✽✽
Keaton
“That was interesting. Is that her?” Sage ambushes me as soon as I make my way back into the house.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
She wraps her arm around my shoulder. “Oh, my boy is smitten.” She pinches my cheek as we make our way into the entertainment room.
“Stop it.” I push her off.
Reed pauses his movie as we make our way in. “What’s going on?”
“Our boy’s in love. With a girl. A real girl.” Sage widens her eyes like she’s surprised.
“You’re such a dick. I’m not in love, but if I were, it would be with a girl.” I take a seat
