Page 79 of The Time It Takes
Her eyes glanced somewhere behind me, and I knew exactly whom they went to. When we spoke on the phone earlier, I told her about almost kissing Oliver. I might have even told her how badly I wanted to. She warned me that I shouldn’t kiss my best friend. It could go wrong in so many ways. I told her it could also go so, so right.
I realized that was a mistake.
Taylor threw his arm around my shoulders, and I noticed Dylan looking elsewhere. My narrowed eyes darted between Dylan and Phoebe. She shrugged and took a sip of her drink, feigning innocence.
She’d told him.
I couldn’t believe it. I scowled at her. That was the last time I’d open my mouth around her. So much for confidentiality within our friendship.
“I didn’t say anything,” she exclaimed far too coolly.
“No, but apparently, I’ve said too much.” I turned on my heels, bringing Taylor with me before she could say anything else to me.
‘Dirty Little Secret’ by The All-American Rejects started to play on the stereo system. I glanced over to find Ben controlling the music and my eyes hardened when they met his. His eyes danced with a knowing gleam that told me he knew everything without me having to say anything at all.
How long had he known?
The flashing lights in the pool were all too tempting.
I glanced at Taylor who was looking at me with a funny expression that took me far too long to understand. I shook my head, but it was too late. He hauled me into his arms and plunged us both into the water. Sadly, my drink went under with us. When I found my footing and shot above the surface I was laughing hysterically as I splashed him.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something coming our way fast. Too fast. Next thing I knew, someone was jumping into the pool—cannonball style.
Dean.
When he stood, he grinned at me before Taylor tackled him. “You almost landed on her, moron.”
Dean laughed despite drowning. He righted himself quickly and shoved Taylor away from him. “I’m not the one who just threw her into the pool,” he shot back, winking at me.
He reached into the front of his trunks and pulled out three cans, lifting them in the air as an offering. “Beer?”
My face scrunched. “Please tell me you’re wearing briefs under your trunks.”
Dean hesitated before nodding at me. “Sure, yeah. Whatever.” The smirk that spread across his face was answer enough. Taylor snatched one out of his hand.
I gaped at him, and he only offered me a shrug before cracking it open. I looked around the pool for what used to be my drink before giving up.
“Oh, what the hell, toss me one.” I opened my hands and Dean threw me a can.
We spent at least forty minutes, three beers, and two more shots of tequila in the pool before I decided to get out. I realized briefly that the mixture may not have been a good idea, but there was no going back now.
“Whatyougonnado?” I mumbled to myself as I made my way to the dance floor.
I was drunk and thinking of Oliver being touched by someone else. It made me sick to my stomach. I searched for him but didn’t see him anywhere, but all I knew was that I wanted to kiss him. It was probably better that he was being occupied elsewhere at the moment.
My head spun first, and my body followed. I spun around and around and around, probably not even on beat with the music, but I didn’t care. My feet and my mind were going aloof. I had officially logged out.
I was dancing with Phoebe and Dean and Taylor and maybe even Dylan—until I wasn’t.
The lights blended around me.
I found my way to a stranger’s arms, and he felt so warm that I didn’t care. The song that started to play was meant for a different kind of dancing.
I was out of my senses enough to enjoy myself and the hard body against my own. The body didn’t need a face. It just needed to be vengeful enough to piss Oliver off. Two could play his stupid game.
I’d regret this when it came time for school on Monday, but I couldn’t seem to care about that right now. The music flowed from my head all the way down to my toes. The stranger’s hands were all over me, so I put my hands all over him. Reality felt irrelevant. I’d drifted far away from that place.
Then suddenly there was a hand on my shoulder spinning me around and yanking me forward.
