Page 5 of Shamed
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he and his friends turn up tonight.” Marni lifts her head again, a smirk on her lips. “They were totally listening when we were talking about it at school. I was getting a kick out of it.”
“He has nice eyes,” Jersey comments.
“Hey, what about my eyes?” Matt’s whine from beside me sounds a little more slurred than before.
“Yours are pretty, too.” Jersey flutters her lashes at him and then steps over, extending her hand. “I’ve cooled down enough. Want to dance?”
“Fuck, yeah.” Matt ignores her hand and takes hold of her hips instead, pulling himself up and pressing into her. She giggles as they shuffle off to dance inside, and I watch them with a small smile. Maybe they’ll finally get together tonight.
“Jacob seems like a nice guy, if you’re into nice guys,” Jim adds.
I return my attention to him. “He does seem nice,” I agree. “But no, I’m not into him.” Or anyone from our school.
Dylan mumbles something, but before I can ask what he said, Marni is speaking again, done with the subject. “Anyway.” Turning, she faces Seth. “Kiss. Marry. Or fuck. Me. Jennifer. And Jersey.”
I’m pretty sure she’s hoping for a specific answer now that she knows what’s below his belt.
“I’m not playing that fucking game.”
“Boo, you’re no fun.” Marni pouts at him.
“I’m plenty fun.” Seth winks at her, then smiles mischievously up at me. “I’m just not done talking about Jacob and Jennifer.”
It’s not that he’s actually interested in the subject, he just likes stirring up shit and embarrassing people.
My look is unimpressed. “There is no me and Jacob.”
“No, but there could be.”
“Nah, she’ll probably just lead him on andthentell him she’s not interested,” Dylan grumbles, not looking at me as he pushes to his feet. “I’m going to go get a beer. Anyone want one?”
Everyone declines, preferring to stick to the hard liquor, then Dylan leaves. But not before sending one last indecipherablelook my way as he shoves his hand through his brown mop of hair. I glare at his retreating back.Asshole.
Eventually, everyone heads back inside for various reasons, but I insist on staying outside a little longer, enjoying the cool air and the now empty front yard.
Marni promised to return with a drink for me after using the bathroom and dancing to only one song.
Leaning back on my hands, I look up at the stars and smile. I am thoroughly buzzed, and it has my mind filling with ridiculous things, like wondering if Marni will get to see Seth’s anaconda tonight, then thinking back to what was said about Jacob.
I wonder if it’s true or they’re just bullshitting me. Obsessed?
I’ve never encouraged it, but I guess that doesn’t stop feelings from growing. Maybe Ihavebeen too nice to him?
Jersey was right; he does have nice eyes, but I think his friend Mase’s eyes stand out more to me. So dark they could be black, matching his inky hair. And there’s a mysteriousness about them, like they’re hiding secrets or something.
Jacob’s are pretty like the ocean . . . or that shade of nail polish I got last week. I laugh at myself. Yep, that would be the three drinks. Or is it four?
I’m just getting ready to push myself up and probably stumble inside in search of Marni, when a drink appears in front of my face from an arm over my shoulder.
“Guess who?” someone whispers into my ear.
I reach for the drink and try to look over my shoulder at who I think is Marni, since she said she was coming back. The whisper was quiet and the music blasting through the windows is still pretty loud.
But whoever it is takes hold of my chin with their other hand, stopping me from seeing them.
The fingers are thick and rough, masculine—not Marni. They also have red sleeves covering their arms, which didn’t immediately occur to me.
Definitely not Marni.
