Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 88080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Charlotte: Get over here now, sis. We have so much to talk about.
Me: Be there in five.
I’ll probably get my ass handed to me by Roan, but I’m not going to worry about that right now. My best friend needs me and I need her.
And I seriously need to break things off with Kayden.
“Gross,” Charlotte complains. “Tarrin was just blowing Cal last night. She won’t be happy until she’s had the dick of every man in this town in her mouth.”
Sure enough, Tarrin is on her knees, giving head to some guy who appears to be a few years older than us. I make a gagging motion with my finger that has Charlotte laughing. Tonight, she looks like her usual self. Flawless and effortlessly beautiful. Charlotte is charismatic and confident. It’s just who she is.
“Hey, babe,” Ryan says, popping up beside us, a predatory glint in his eyes as he roams his gaze up her body in appreciation. “About time you got here.”
All her confidence wilts right in front of my eyes.
I don’t like the sudden change in her.
Her shoulders hunch, her head bows, and she leans toward him. If I weren’t staring right at her when he showed up, I would’ve missed the entire transformation. It’s weird. I don’t think she even realizes how weird it is.
“Roux, will you be okay if Char and I get alone for a while?” He pins me with a hard glare, daring me to say no.
“Actually, I want to hang with you guys if that’s okay.” I smile sweetly at him, knowing he’s pissed. Screw him.
He grits his teeth. “Twenty minutes is all we need.”
Charlotte speaks up, aiding him. “Didn’t you need to tell Kayden something?”
I deflate at her words. “Yeah, but…”
“We won’t be gone long,” she rushes out. “Promise. We can make fun of Tarrin together in a little bit.”
Reluctantly, I nod. I can’t force her to stay away from her creepy boyfriend. Not if she doesn’t want to. And I do need to speak to Kayden.
“He’s in the basement. It’s crazy down there,” Ryan warns. “Be careful.”
Like he cares.
“Meet you here in half an hour,” I tell Charlotte. Then, I give Ryan a pointed look. “If you’re not here, I’m coming looking for you.”
She laughs as she pulls Ryan away. “We’ll be here.”
As soon as they disappear down a hallway, I go on a hunt for Kayden. This party has a lot of the usual Campfire Chaos subjects, minus the Hoodlums, and a lot of older guys I don’t recognize. They’re not people my brother and Jordy went to school with either.
They’re harder.
Scarier.
Sketchy.
A couple of guys standing in the kitchen wearing matching red bandanas eye me up like I’m a piece of meat. Yikes. Maybe coming to this party was a bad idea. I rush past them to the open door to the basement. Music thumps loudly from downstairs. It’s dark down there aside from some strobe lights blinking in tandem with the bass. Several people make out on the stairs and I’m pretty sure one couple is having sex. I finally make it to the bottom, my eyes squinting against the blinking lights to try and find Kayden.
Ahh, there he is.
Looking like the king of his domain, perched on the back of a sofa with girls hanging all over him. Disgust roils through me. He’s not exactly doing anything with them, aside from not pushing them away, but it irritates me anyway.
As though I have room to talk.
I let Jordy freaking Martinez give me hickeys last night.
At the memory of his mouth on me and how that made me feel, I flush. Heat burns across my flesh, making me crave him all the more. It just drives home the fact I need to break things off with Kayden. When I reach him, I can tell he’s high as hell. His lids are hooded and he has a lazy smile on his face. He’s shirtless and the two girls kneeling on the cushions on either side of him pet his ripped chest in appreciation.
I stand right in front of the sofa between it and the coffee table, glaring at him until he realizes who I am. His dark eyes latch onto mine. At first, he grins wider, seemingly pleased to see me. Then, he remembers his predicament.
He snarls out something to the girls, swatting their hands away. Both of them pout when he reaches for me. I shake my head, walking off. I’m not talking to him about anything with those two lingering. I’ve nearly reached the stairs when two strong arms hug me from behind.
“Hey, Roux-Roux.” Kayden nips at my ear through my hair. “Missed you, baby.”
I struggle against his hold to no avail. “Let me go.”
“Don’t be mad,” he begs. “You know it’s not like that with them. They’re just flirting, but I never act on it. You’re my girl.”