A flash of brown hair flies past me and almost tackles Tessa to the ground. Tess laughs as she hugs her sister. I didn't even know she was in town, and judging by the happy smile on Tessa's face, I don't think she did either.
“Congratulations, Little Lennon,” Colby says, giving me a hug.
I cringe. “Okay, that nickname has to go. I'm eighteen now. I'm not so little.”
He chuckles and rests his arm on top of my head, showing me how short I am. “You're always going to be Little Lennon. Sorry, babe.”
I roll my eyes playfully and shove him away from me. “You're lucky you're my best friend.”
“Aye!” Tess glares. “Nuh-uh.”
“Okay, other than you.”
Colby laughs. “Fake news. You're just using me for my house.”
Now that makes me smile. “Damn. You caught me.”
THE POOL IS GLOWING from all the lights Colby had put in when he moved into this place. The decorations are set up nicely, and the DJ is playing all the right music. It's the perfect celebration, and our entire class would agree as they mosey around the house. Half of them are just relieved to have graduated, while the other half are excited to be at Colby Hendrix's house.
I'm standing with Colby and Asher, with Kellan's arms wrapped around my waist, listening to Asher make fun of Colby for the time a girl bit his dick. Colby shakes at the memory, smacking Asher in the stomach and telling him it was a very traumatizing time and how he still gets nervous during blow jobs.
“Now this is a party!”
A familiar voice booms across the yard, and Kellan tenses against me. I turn around to find Cade, flanked by the two friends I always see him with. He's looking right at me—strong, determined, and daring.
Of course, he's crashing my graduation party. Why did I expect anything less?
8
CADE
Bryce brings the joint to his mouth, inhaling deeply and holding it in. Jayden is already high as a kite and dancing to music that isn't actually playing. I considered smoking, but I think I have better plans for tonight.
“Are you two morons done?” I ask exasperatedly.
Bryce chuckles and lets out the smoke in the process. “What's got your panties in a twist?”
Not what. More like who. Seeing Lennon before she left for her graduation was the worst kind of torture. She's gorgeous even on her worst day, but the way she looked today was something else. The other people in the room didn't even occur to me. They didn't matter. Just her.
“Fuck off. I just want to get there.”
Him and Jayden share a look and try not to laugh. It's Jayden who finally breaks.
“Aw, Cade misses his girlfriend.” He goes to pinch my cheeks, but I slap his hands away.
I get up and grab my keys off Bryce's dresser. “One, she's not my girlfriend. And two, I'm not going there for her. I'm going there to get under Kellan's skin.”
Okay, so maybe the second part isn't entirely true, and these two assholes know that.
“Because you're pissed he's dating your girlfriend and you're not,” Bryce calls me out on my shit.
I roll my eyes and head out of the room. “If you're not in my car in three minutes, I'm leaving without your asses.”
WE PULL UP TO the fancy house, and honestly, I'm surprised it's not bigger. You'd think a professional NFL player would live in some big-ass mansion, but Lennon's house could swallow this one whole. I park in front of the driveway, not caring that I'm blocking the cars in the driveway from getting out. You can hear the loud music from a block away. It's only a matter of time before the neighbors call for a noise complaint, unless someone already paid them off.
Bryce and Jayden follow me through the house and into the backyard. Like a gravitational pull, I find Lennon instantly, and my jaw ticks. She's laughing with Colby Hendrix and Asher Hawthorne, but she's comfortably tucked into Kellan's arms as he holds her from behind.
“Now this is a party!” I shout, and all heads whip toward me.
Lennon looks like she wants to kill me. Like if given the chance and the right weapon, she wouldn't hesitate to put me in the ground. They all walk toward me, and Kellan tries to slot himself between me and his girlfriend. Stupid prick. He's really starting to piss me off.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” she growls.
I feign innocence with a boyish grin. “What do you mean? It's a party.”
She places one hand on her hip and juts it to the side. “A party you weren't invited to.”
“Well, I'm here, aren't I?”
Colby looks me up and down, unsure what to make of me, then he turns to Lennon. “I'll kick him out if you want. I'm leaving it up to you.”
Lennon goes quiet as she stares back at me. When she doesn't say anything right away, Kellan nudges her.
“Why are you even thinking about it?” he asks. “Get him out of here.”
I snort. “Go ahead, princess. Kick me out. I'm sure your dad will love to hear about how you had me thrown out of your graduation party. You know, with how much he wants me to fit in and all.”
That gets to her, just like I knew it would. If there's one thing Lennon doesn't like to do, it's upset Daddy Dearest. He can get her to do just about anything he wants with a single look.
She sighs and runs her fingers through her hair. “Just fucking leave him.”
Kellan's glare intensifies as she shakes her head and walks away. I smirk triumphantly, winking at Kellan just to piss him off a little more. Step one, done.
ONE THING ABOUT RICH pricks—they always get the best alcohol. I'm not a lightweight, but it only took a few drinks to put a good buzz on. Seeing Kellan all over Lennon, I fucking need it. It's like he's claiming his territory. He may as well just piss on her at this point.
“Look who it is.” A voice I haven't heard in a while gets my attention.
Knox Vaughn appears in front of me, and it's like a blast from the past. The two of us met a few years ago at the skate park and really hit it off. He's one of the most down to earth people I know, and I always wondered why we lost touch.
“No shit! What's up, man?”
“Not too much,” he answers. “What's new with you?”
I shrug and take a sip of my beer. “Eh, you know. Surfing, skating, drinking, and smoking.”
He chuckles. “Living the life.”
“Exactly.”
A girl comes up next to him that looks a lot like Lennon's friend. With no effort on her part, the toughest guy I know becomes soft in an instant. He wraps his arm around her and kisses her cheek.
“Cade, this is my girlfriend, Delaney,” he says. “Delaney, Cade Knight.”
I smile politely, trying not to show how shocked I am by Knox having a girlfriend. “It's nice to meet you.”
“You, too,” she says. “I've heard a lot about you.”
My brows raise. “Oh really?”
She giggles. “Well, my twin sister is best friends with Lennon.”