“Oh.”
“Can I get you anything?”
“No, thank you. Maybe in a bit.”
“The kitchen is stocked if you want anything. Please, help yourself.”
“Thank you.”
I stood there, not sure what to do. Usually, as a bodyguard at events, I’d been more of a shadow figure, trying to make myself as invisible as possible on the sidelines. But my clients didn’t usually introduce me to their family members like I was a friend—or a date—and refrain from telling them I was security, then leave me to “mingle.”
I looked around. Justice had turned away to talk to some guys, doing the hosting thing.
Mia looped her arm through mine. “Come with me.”
Maybe she’d taken pity on me. Did I look that socially inept?
She introduced me around to some of her friends. They all seemed nice. High, maybe, but nice.
All the while, I kept looking around, watching the yard fill up. Summer seemed safe here. It was her brother’s house. And everyone seemed to be having a good time.
So what was that prickle at the back of my neck about?
Mia stopped to chat with some friends, and I stood by, trying not to look too awkward or out-of-place. In my simple black jeans and leather jacket, I definitely wasn’t dressed like most of the people here were. There was more faux fur, glitter and ruffles than I’d ever seen in one place—and I’d once had a drag queen as a client.
It was like everyone was in costume, and yet I got the feeling they dressed like this all the time.
I wasn’t the only one not drinking, though. There were conspicuously few people with drinks in hand. And if people weren’t drinking alcohol at a party this cool, there was usually only one reason.
I wondered what kinds of drugs were going around.
I kept an eye on Summer up in that DJ treehouse the whole time. And I wondered if she’d left me with her sister-in-law on purpose, knowing that Mia would show me around.
Maybe she was hoping I’d loosen up a bit.
I wandered over to a small table nearby, where a few girls stood under the giant purple elephant. There were a bunch of pink drinks in little cups, and a sign someone had painted with a heart on it was on the table.
“Would you like a love bomb?” one of the girls asked me. She wore sparkly makeup and what looked like a custom-made pixie costume. It was elaborate, fluttery layers of pink and silver, with glittery wings.
“What is it?” I asked her.
She leaned closer to me and put a finger on my chest, lingeringly. “You’re not a cop, are you?”
“Nope.”
“You look like one,” she said, looking me over, with a big smile on her face.
“Thank you,” I said.
She laughed, and Mia appeared, slipping her arm through mine again. “He’s here with Justice’s sister.”
“It’s pomegranate juice,” pixie girl said. “With agave nectar and ecstasy.”
“It’s pure pharmaceutical grade MDMA,” Mia corrected her. “I mixed them.”
“We’re giving out hugs, too,” pixie girl offered.
“I’m thirsty,” I said. “I think I’ll grab a beer.” I glanced at Mia. “Kitchen, right?”
“Help yourself,” she said, her arm slipping from mine. I could feel them watching me as I headed back up to the house.
Fortunately, I was pretty sure they were checking out my ass more than anything.
As I climbed the steps to the back deck, I found Andre hanging out in the corner, watching over the party in the yard. He was doing his duty to try to blend in, holding a beer in his hand.
“Eyes on Summer,” I told him.
“Glued,” he said.
“I’ve got a weird feeling.”
“About what?”
“Don’t know yet. I’m gonna take a look around.”
He nodded and I headed into the house.
I ran into Summer’s brother inside, and I talked to him for a bit. He was definitely a music/tech geek, kind of like Summer in that way, maybe. Seemed like a good guy. Was totally friendly with me.
But by eleven o’clock he was openly snorting lines of what I assumed was coke in the living room with some of his buddies.
One of them had walked in and dropped a baggie of white powder right on the coffee table before he even said hello. Dealer, maybe. He had that vibe about him.
Justice leapt up to shake his hand. I noticed he didn’t hug him, which stood out.
A few other guys piled in with the coke fairy, and they all looked sketchy as fuck. A space was cleared on the coffee table as they talked, and lines were cut right on the varnished surface of the table with someone’s drivers license. I got to my feet and edged out of the circle around the table before someone invited me to partake.
Justice didn’t seem to notice.
More people flowed in as I made my way through the house. It was getting crowded inside.
Eventually, I helped myself to a beer from the kitchen.
When I headed out back again, Andre was right where I left him, keeping an eye on Summer.
“She been up there the whole time?” I could see her in the treehouse, talking to the DJ.
“Yup. I think she’s about to take over.”
“What?” I leaned in to hear him better.
“She’s gonna play a few songs, I think.”
I watched, and she did seem to be taking over. Both her and the other DJ were standing at the deck, but then he stepped back and she was there alone.
“I’ll take a walk around?” Andre offered.
“Yeah. Stay away from the love bombs.”
He gave me a questioning look, and I sipped my beer. I wasn’t really drinking it, but a couple of sips wouldn’t hurt.
Andre headed into the house. He’d probably find the bathroom, dump his beer down the sink, get a fresh one, and scope things out.
That’s what I’d do.
I watched the crowd in the backyard. There were a lot of people dancing now.
And I watched Summer.
Fuck, the woman was hot. I could see her up there in her black mesh shirt. She’d ditched her jacket and her
