Page 23 of Inseparable
“He’ll probably be there.”
“I know.” He’s the main reason I want to attend. Now that my initial anger has faded, guilt is doing a number on me. I didn’t mean for him to think I was flirting with Ayden on purpose, and now that I’ve had time to think over what he said, I’m not feeling as hurt as I was before. Don’t get me wrong; I still don’t understand it, and the hurt won’t fade anytime soon, but I do believe him when he said he cares about me. I can’t compel Devin to act a certain way, and if he wants to deny the attraction between us, I can’t make him change his mind.
If it means losing him as a friend, then I’ll willingly endure the heartache to keep him in my life. I’ll find a way of mending things with him, and repairing my punctured heart, starting with an explanation. “I need to fix things with him.”
Ayden opens and closes his mouth in quick succession. He drums his fingers off his knee and then exhales noisily. “Okay. Let’s go. I could do with getting out of here.”
In the bathroom, I slick some more lip gloss on my lips, dab some powder on my shiny nose, and run my fingers through my hair, while Ayden goes to update our parents.
I run to my house to grab my coat and scarf while Ayden starts up the Jeep. I blow circles in the frigid air as I walk briskly to his car. “Brrr.” Rubbing my gloved hands together, I plonk my butt on the passenger seat. “It’s freezing out.”
“I know. The windshield is already frosting over. I think it might snow.”
He drives slowly and carefully on the icy roads. Cars line both sides of the street outside Zach’s house, and thethump,thumpof music greets my ears as we climb out of the Jeep. I strip off my cardigan, smoothing my top down, exposing more cleavage than normal. Ayden cusses under his breath. “Jesus, Lina. I can’t let you go in there like that. They’ll eat you alive.”
I waggle my brows, dumping my cardigan on the seat and shucking into my coat before I get frostbite. “They can try.”
Ayden rolls his eyes, taking my hand and leading me toward the house. Zach is one of Ayden’s football buddies, and his parents always go out of town on Thanksgiving, giving him and his older brother free rein to throw parties. Although this is my first time attending, I’ve heard tales from previous years—Zach’s Thanksgiving parties are legendary.
A few people from school are outside smoking, and they all tip their head at Ayden as he holds my elbow and ushers me into the house. I’m hit by a wall of heat, smoke, and pungent smells as we step inside. I unbutton my coat and remove the scarf from my neck, fanning my face with my hands. A few of Ayden’s teammates high-five him as we pass. “This way,” he says, steering me toward the back of the house.
“Ange!” Mariah screams my name across the kitchen, enthusiastically waving her hands in the air. A grin graces my lips as I cross to her. “You made it.” She grabs me into a hug.
“Hey, man.” Cody greets Ayden with a slap on the back, handing him a beer.
“Nah, I’m good. I’m driving.” He grabs a soda out of the ice bucket instead, popping the lid.
I shuck out of my coat, folding it in a pile and placing it on the windowsill. “I’ll take it.” I have my greedy hand out before Cody can whip the beer away.
Ayden frowns a little but wisely says nothing. We chat as we sip our drinks, watching a few idiots out in the back garden trying, unsuccessfully, to light a bonfire. I surreptitiously scan the kitchen, but there’s no sign of Devin. Maybe he didn’t come after all.
After a bit, Mariah links her arm through mine. “Let’s dance.”
She drags me out to the main living room, pushing her way into the middle of the thrusting crowd. I’ve a nice buzz from the beer, my limbs are already loose, and I never need much persuasion to dance anyway. We dance for a few songs, and then I need the bathroom. “I’ll come with,” Mariah hollers in my ear, and we shove our way through the crowd. The downstairs bathroom is locked, and there’s already a line, so we traipse upstairs, standing behind a few girls already waiting. I dab a hand across my damp brow and lift the hem of my top, flapping it up and down in a desperate attempt to cool off.
“Girl, you’re on fire tonight.” Mariah smiles, knocking my elbow. “Did you see all the dudes checking you out on the dance floor?”
“Nope.” Truth. I get lost in the music and the sway of my body when I dance, and everything else fades into the background.
“You’re so clueless.” She rolls her eyes. “What am I going to do with you?”
“Get the fuck out!” a familiar male voice roars from somewhere behind me, and my head whips around.
“Sorry!” Two girls squeal, clamping hands over their mouths, as they quickly close one of the bedroom doors. They start giggling. “She’s such a lucky bitch,” the dark-haired girl says, and while I don’t know her name, I recognize her from the cheerleading squad.
The blonde bobs her head, agreeing. “Becky played it perfectly. She knew he’d come around.”
An icy chill creeps up my spine as her words register, and I’m no longer hot. Bile rises in my throat, and I take a step forward.
“Don’t.” Mariah’s warning is soft and low.
“I need to see this for myself.” With blood thrumming in my ears, and my heart jackknifing in my chest, I walk toward the bedroom. The two girls convulse with laughter as they pass me, sending amused looks in my direction.
My palms are sweaty as my hand curls around the door handle. Mariah tugs on my elbow, beseeching me with her eyes. “You won’t ever be able to un-see what you’re about to see.”
“I know.”
But I’m still doing this.
