Page 87 of Finding Kyler
I crank out a laugh. “You and Rachel would get on like a house on fire. Borrow whatever you want, Rose.”
“I don’t get you.” She walks out with a swath of black material draped over her arm. “You have the most sought after designer clothes in your closet and you live in jeans. What a waste.”
“It’s not me.” I press my lips together, blotting my lipstick as I peer at my reflection in the mirror.
“You’re going to indulge me for one night.” Her tone brokers no argument.
I swivel on my seat, raising an eyebrow. “I am?”
“Yep.” She flings the black dress at me. “You put that on, and I’ll find a dress for me. We’re going to rock up to that party andnailit.”
Twenty minutes later, I’m regretting allowing her to talk me into wearing this pathetic excuse for a dress. The black lace mini clings to my every curve leaving little to the imagination. With thin straps, a dipped neckline, and a shockingly short hem, which barely covers my ass, I’m feeling rather exposed. Thank God, I won the battle of the shoes, and I’m wearing my combat boots and not the sky-high peep-toes Rose wanted me to wear. She’s wearing a similar style mini in a floral patterned print that oddly works well with her pink hair.
I insist that we detour to Lana’s en route. After several minutes of pleading, I finally get Lana to pinky swear that she’ll follow us to the party.
“You two should come with a health warning,” Brad jokes, hopping down the steps to greet Rose and me. He gives us a quick once-over, and his smile is appreciative. “You look amazing.”
I take in his appearance. Tonight, he’s wearing jeans with a plain white tee and a blue-and-red-checkered shirt that’s fully unbuttoned. If I wasn’t so obsessed with my cousin, I could totally see myself crushing on Brad. “You look good, too.”
He leads us through the heaving crowd out toward the back. A few guys reach for me as we pass, but I manage to duck out of their way. Rose continuously flashes her middle finger as a myriad of wolf-whistles are aimed our way. Kalvin grabs me into a headlock the minute I step foot in the kitchen, gleefully messing up my hair. “You’re such an ass,” I moan, punching him in the gut.
He frees me, palming his sore stomach. “And you’ve got a real mean violent streak.” He looks me up and down. “But I’ll forgive you because you’ve just given me hours’ worth of visual stimulation that I’m gonna put to good use.” He winks, tapping the side of his head.
“You’re grossing me out again.” Brad thrusts a wine cooler into my hand, and I smile up at him. Kal stiffens, and I shoot him a cautionary look, but he’s not paying any attention to us. Lana has entered the kitchen, scanning the room with anxious eyes. My hand shoots up and I wave her forward.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Kalvin demands, looming over her with a scowl on his face.
“Back off, asshole,” I snap, looping my arm through Lana’s and pulling her over to my side. “I invited Lana. She’s my friend.”
“She’s not welcome here,” he growls.
“I should leave,” Lana mumbles, looking down at her feet.
“You’re going nowhere. Stay here while I talk to mycousin.” It takes considerable effort to call him that and not one of the multiple insults currently flitting through my mind. I gesture to Brad to keep an eye on Lana while I drag my cousin outside.
“You were unbelievably rude to Lana. What the hell is your problem?”
At least he has the decency to look ashamed. “She doesn’t belong here, Faye.”
“Don’t be such a condescending prick! I thought you two used to be friends? How can you treat her like this?”
He hooks his hands in his pockets. “Thisisme being a friend to her.”
“That’s a cop out! I’d hate to see how you treat your enemies.”
“It’s not!” He gnashes his teeth at me. “You see those bitches in there?” He points into the house. “They’ve been horrible to Lana in the past. You’ve no idea how they’ve used her to try to get to us. Keeping her away is the best way of protecting her. That’s all I’m trying to do.”
I suck in my cheeks as I consider his words. “You mean that.”
“Yes,” he hisses.
“But why do you have to be such a jerk about it?”
He walks around me, opening the door. “Haven’t you figured it out yet?”
I shoot him a puzzled look. He leans into my face, and the look of revulsion and self-loathing shocks me. “Because I am a jerk.” He pushes into the kitchen, brushing furiously past both Rose and Lana as he storms out.
Lana takes one look at me, her eyes filling with tears, before she runs out of the room.
