I’m so lost in Parker that it takes a long moment before the incessant knocking on his door finally registers.
“Get dressed, lovebirds,” Giovanni’s teasing voice penetrates through the door. “We have a party downstairs.”
I stiffen against Parker. I didn’t know there was going to be a party.
“Ignore him,” he whispers, nuzzling my neck.
“If you’re not out in ten minutes, I can’t guarantee that this whole house won’t be party central.”
Parker curses under his breath and sits up. Running his fingers through his disheveled hair, he says, “We need to—”
“Go downstairs, I know,” I cut him off, sliding off the bed and grabbing my shorts from the floor, putting it on.
“I can’t have the party spilling inside the house. Mom will be disturbed.”
“I know,” I repeat, rounding the corner of his king-size bed and slipping my arms around his waist. I rise up on my tiptoes and kiss his delectable lips. “Believe me, I understand. I didn’t before, but I do now.”
He grins. “You’re fucking awesome, do you know that?”
I give him a smug smirk. “That I’ve always known.”
*******
Giovanni didn’t lie. A raging party is waiting for us downstairs. While most of the crowd are outside the main house, a few managed to sneak in. But one snarl from Parker and they’re quick to return outside. It’s actually amusing to watch—and quite a turn on.
Once the main house is cleared, Parker and I head for the main balcony where Jamie had invited me all those weeks ago during one of Parker's parties. Parker and I were barely talking then. We've come far from that night.
Stepping out onto the balcony, I’m surprised to see both my best friends there. Quinn is dancing with Giovanni, along with two other cheerleaders. I don’t miss the way Bennett is staring at her a few feet away, as if he can’t take his eyes off her even if he tries. Brayden is seated in one corner, engaged in a conversation with a guy I recognize from our Foreign Language class. The guy’s whispering something into his ear and making him laugh.
I mentally file the scene away to ask him about it later.
“Where’s Jamie?” Parker asks Bennett, taking the seat across the coffee table. And before I can react, he pulls me down to sit on his lap.
My cheeks flame but I don’t move, telling myself he’s plenty comfortable to sit on compared to a chair.
“Probably hooking up with Mystery Girl again—who the fuck knows?” Bennett shrugs, taking a pull of his beer without glancing away from Quinn.
If I have to hazard a guess, I’d say Jamie is with Carson. But I don’t voice it out. There’s a reason Jamie isn’t telling his friends about her, and whatever it is, it’s none of my business.
“I’ll grab us some drinks,” Parker whispers in my ear, kissing the side of my head before I can stand to let him rise from the chair.
“Don’t you two look domesticated already,” Bennett snorts as Parker heads for the cooler sitting in one corner. “You gonna put a ring on the big guy’s hand any time soon?”
“You gonna stop screwing around and ask Quinn out any time soon?” I shoot back.
That makes him scowl. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I have eyes, you know. And I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who has a working pair.”
“Well, gorgeous, it’s clear that your eyes are dysfunctional. I suggest you get them checked before they get worse.”
“Please. Everyone knows you got it bad for Quinn Peters,” a female voice interjects with a scoff. It’s Aria. Snatching the beer from Bennett’s grip, she takes a few gulps before putting it on the table and plopping down on the chair next to him. “It’s not some big secret like you think it to be.”
Bennett glares at her, his cheeks reddening a little, but doesn't say anything. There’s no use denying it, anyway. He knows she’s right.
Aria is about to guzzle down the beer again when Parker returns and deftly snatches it from her. “You’re not drinking this.”
“Because I don’t drink when you’re not looking, right?” She rolls her eyes at her brother, who simply ignores her jab and settles on the seat next to me before handing me a Corona.
I take a small sip, secretly disappointed that he didn’t reclaim his old seat. Then jolt a little when I feel his lips on my ears.
“If you want to sit back on my lap, feel free to do so, Peaches.”
My cheeks flame. How can he read my mind so easily? “I’m comfortable here, thanks.”
Parker just chuckles, obviously not believing it for a second. Then steals a kiss from my lips
Aria groans. “Can you two tone down the PDA? At least while I’m here?”
Parker turns to his sister and narrows his eyes. “Why are you here? Why aren’t you with your friends?”
Aria inspects her nails. "Is it illegal to hang out with my brother and his friends?"
"Aria," he growls, making the hair on my arms stand on end.
She rolls her eyes, clearly not the least bit intimidated. "They're busy hooking up with guys, okay? That's why I'm here. Or do you want me to go join them?" She moves up from her seat.
"Sit your ass down."
She grins. "Thought so."
Parker glares at her.
I smother a laugh. Clearly, he has his hands full dealing with Aria alone.
"Remind me to thank my parents for not giving me a sister," Bennett snickers, clearly thinking the same. "They sure saved me the headache."
"Like you'd know how to handle one if they did," Giovanni interjects, a beer bottle in his hand, apparently done with dancing.
"Right?" Aria giggles, tucking her hair behind her ear. The gesture piques at my curiosity, even more when she shoots him a long look.
Does Aria have a crush on Giovanni?
But before I can dwell on that thought, Quinn drops on my lap unceremoniously, startling the hell out of me. "Sawyer, you're here! What took you so long?"
I bite
