“Nice jewels.” Dom reaches out and slips his finger beneath my necklace. I flinch before I swat his hand away. “Flexing the gold?”
“Marcus wears three chains around his neck,” I say in defense of myself as we walk toward the house. I can hear music playing, and I wonder what his parents’ neighbors think of this.
Hope we don’t get ratted out to the cops and they show up, ruining our night.
“You bunch of pretty boys.” He laughs. “I’m the guido who should be rockin’ the chains. My grandpa has so many photos of himself back in the ‘70s with his hairy chest exposed and thick gold chains around his neck.”
I don’t bother saying anything in response. Dom is making me feel dumb for wearing the necklace, but I blame it on me being extra sensitive tonight. Too damn worried over what Addie might think.
The moment we enter the house and everyone shouts their greetings at us, my worry eases. Tori practically runs to Dom, wrapping him up in a big hug and nearly spilling her beer all over his shirt.
I glance around the crowded room, looking for Addie, and when I spot her, anger fills me when I see who she’s talking to. Or more like, who’s talking to her.
Fucking Liam, with Danny right by his side.
Moving through the clusters of people, I head straight for them, Liam spotting me first, a nasty sneer forming on his face.
“Coming to infringe on my territory, Callahan?” he practically yells.
Addie glances over her shoulder with wide eyes, relief filling them when she spots me. “Hey, Beck.”
“Hey.” I stand right next to her, my arm back around her shoulders in a protective gesture. “Are they bothering you?”
“Jesus, we were just talking.” Liam rolls his eyes. “No need to get all territorial. Don’t forget I was the one who took her to dinner last night.”
“You mean you’re the one who took advantage of her when she bought your meal?” I throw back at him, tucking her more closely to me. “Give me a break.”
Liam’s expression hardens. “Who the hell said that?” His gaze drops to Addie. “Did you tell him?”
I tighten my arm around Addie’s shoulders. “Keep her out of this.”
Liam’s gaze flicks up to mine. “Why don’t you stay out of this. We had a good thing going until you pushed yourself into the middle of it.”
“Too late. I’m already in it.” I smile, feeling like a smug asshole as I say, “Face it, Snatcher. You lost this round.”
Liam rears back, his gaze narrowed. “You are such an asshole, Callahan. She’s going to see right through your good boy act and when she realizes what she lost, I’m going to be long gone.” He smacks Danny in the chest as he turns to leave. “Come on, let’s go.”
We watch them leave, Addie swooping out from under my arm, so she can turn to face me. “He lost this round? Does that mean you win?”
Oh shit.
Addie looks kind of pissed.
“I just said that to make him walk. And look.” I wave a hand in the direction he took off in. “It worked.”
She rolls her eyes. “I’m not some prize for you two to fight over.”
“I didn’t mean it like that.” I grab her hand and pull her to me, noticing how she doesn’t resist. “Come on, Adds. I don’t want to fight with you. I’m sorry I said all that shit. I was just trying to piss Liam off, not you.”
Addie contemplates me, her fingers curling around mine, making sparks shoot up my arm. What the fuck am I going to do if I actually get to hold her in my arms? Kiss her? I’ll probably drop dead from pure fucking joy.
“I didn’t know you had it in you to be so…” Her voice drifts.
“So what?” I tug her even closer, until her body bumps against mine. Marcus’ house is pretty small and it’s crammed with people, which means we’re already standing pretty close. It’s only going to get worse as the night goes on. But I’m not complaining if it means I get to be this close to Addie all night.
“Territorial,” she says, her gaze scanning my face. “It’s a new side of you I haven’t seen before.”
“I was just matching his asshole energy,” I mutter.
She laughs. “You’re not an asshole, Beck.”
Liam was most definitely giving off asshole vibes though, the fucker. I’m done thinking about him.
I want to focus on the pretty girl in front of me instead.
Addie is giving me a different kind of energy tonight than usual. She seems more open. A little flirtier. Her gaze is warm and she’s not pulling away from me. Our bodies are pressed together and our hands are still linked—it feels intimate.
I like it.
“What was he saying to you anyway?” I ask, reaching out and tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear.
A shiver moves through her. I actually felt it. “He was just trying to convince me to give him another chance.”
“Were you tempted?” My gaze zeroes in on her lips and stays there. They’re lush and pink and so damn pretty.
Jesus, I’m getting carried away. And I haven’t even had anything to drink yet.
“Not even close.” Her smile is small. “I don’t like Liam.”
“Who do you like then?” I lean into her, fucking tempted to kiss her.
Not here though. Not now, in front of everyone. My first kiss with Addie needs to be special.
Private.
Her gaze lingers on mine. “I think you know.”
“Guyyyyyyyys!”
We both jolt and turn to see Tori heading our way, a red Solo cup in each hand. “You don’t have drinks! I brought these for you!”
I take one from her and so does Addie, who grimaces when the beer spills on her hand. “Thanks, Tor.”
“My pleasure.” Tori beams at us and glances around, before returning her gaze to me. “I want you to know that I’m not going to drink like I did the last time you saw me at a party.”
“Good to know,” I tell her before I take a sip of mostly foam.
“And I’m sorry if I freaked you out when I threw up everywhere. It was gross, I know.” Her expression is solemn, and I almost want to laugh.
“It’s okay, Tori. Really.” I contemplate her. “Hey, I know how you can make it up to me.”
“Make what up?” Tori frowns.
“When you threw up at my party.” I lean against the wall behind me and take another sip of my foamy beer. “You can send me all of those photos you took of me and Adds on the football field.”
“Adds? That’s so cute.” Tori sends Addie a knowing smile. “You don’t need my help there—Adds can give you all of them. I Airdropped the photos to her earlier.”
“Oh, so you’ve already got the photos, huh?” I smile at Addie.
She nudges me. “I can send them to you.”
“You two are so cute in practically every single photo,” Tori gushes. “You guys would make such an adorable couple.”
“Tori, oh my God, stop.” Addie’s cheeks are crimson.
I laugh and shake my head. “Tori, I like you. And I like the way you think. Keep talking.”
“See, Addie? I told you he likes you. Hey!” Tori yelps when Dom approaches her from behind, wrapping his arms around her. “Where’s my beer?”