I had no idea how Cami wasn’t worried about her house. The place was massive and covered in decor that I knew had to cost a fortune, but she didn’t seem concerned at all as she poured us both vodka and soda into cups.
I accepted the drink without a complaint and took a quick sip as I checked my phone. Allie was on her way, but I needed her here now.
I may have had to suffer school without her, but I refused to suffer this party.
“Josie, this is Chad.” I was leaning against the wall as Cami walked up to me with a guy I had never seen before. If he went to Clermont Bay Prep, I didn’t recognize him.
“Chad. This is Josie.” I pushed off the wall and reached out my hand to him when he pushed his in my direction.
“It’s nice to meet you, Chad.”
“Likewise.” He was handsome and his smile was kind.
“Do you go to Prep?” I took another sip of the drink and tried to calm my nerves.
“I did.” He nodded. “I graduated last year.”
“Oh, cool.” I scanned the growing crowd. It felt a little weird that he would still want to be partying with a bunch of high schoolers, but I guess these were his friends.
“You going to Prep? I swear I would have remembered you.” He grinned and his eyes sparked with mischief.
I nodded at his question and smiled. “It’s my first year there.”
“The new girl?” He chuckled. “That can be a bit rough.”
“Yeah. They aren’t gentle.”
He laughed at that, truly laughed, and his smile revealed the smallest dimple on his cheek. Chad was more than just handsome. Something about him seemed charming, even.
But I couldn’t stop myself from comparing him to Beck.
His eyes seemed dull compared to Beck’s hazel ones that held so much emotion. His smile almost fake.
I knew that was harsh. I knew that the way he smiled at me had nothing to do with Beck, but my stomach didn’t tighten when he grinned. My heart rate didn’t kick up.
“Hey, girl.” Allie walked up, and I couldn’t stop smiling as I looked at her outfit. She was the only other girl I had seen so far who was also wearing jeans. She still looked amazing, but she somehow made me feel more at ease.
She made me feel like I wasn’t a complete outsider.
“Hi.” I hugged her, and she whispered in my ear.
“Who’s this tool?”
I couldn’t stop my small laugh as I turned her toward Chad. “Allie, this is Chad. Chad, Allie.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Allie.” He gave her the exact same smile he had been giving me.
“You too. Wait.” She snapped her fingers. “I think I know you. Did you play baseball last year?”
“I did.” His grin became even larger.
“I thought so. We almost smoked you guys.”
I couldn’t stop smiling as his fell.
“You a Clermont High girl?”
“Guilty.” She did a little curtsy, and God, I was so glad she was here.
“Captain.” Carson walked up behind Chad and slapped him on the back. “I didn’t realize you’d be here tonight.”
If Carson was here, that meant Beck wouldn’t be far behind. I couldn’t stop myself from searching behind Carson for him. I didn’t care if he knew what I was doing. I just didn’t want to be surprised when he walked in. I didn’t want to be caught off guard.
“Let’s go grab a drink.” Allie pulled her gaze away from Carson to talk to me, but Carson was staring at her. He looked pissed off. Like he didn’t want to see her here, maybe us, but I didn’t really care what he thought.
I linked my arm in Allie’s. “It was nice to meet you, Chad. I’ll see you around later?”
“For sure.” He smiled again, and now all I could think about was how different it was from his. He was already ruining this for me, and he wasn’t even here yet.
Allie and I walked arm in arm through the party, and I was surprised by how many people had accumulated so quickly. I had no idea where Cami was. She had disappeared the moment she dropped Chad at my feet.
“Where did you find him?” She looked at me like I was insane, but I thought he seemed nice.
“Cami.”
“Of course, you did.” She rolled her eyes. She hadn’t said anything about Cami when I told her that she had been friendly to me at school, but I could tell that she wasn’t her biggest fan.
“He seems nice.”
“He seems like a douche.” She pulled me to the table and grabbed a bottle of liquor. “Plus, he went to Prep.”
“I go to Prep.” I chuckled.
“Semantics.” She waved me off. “You’re nothing like the rest of them.”
She had a point there.
“I can find you a nice, hot Clermont High guy if you’re interested.”
“I’m not interested.” I grabbed the drink she handed me and took a sip. I had no idea what it was, but it tasted far better than what Cami had made.
“Because of Beck.” She waggled her eyebrows, and I slapped her arm.
“No. Because I’m not interested.”
“Okay.” She winked at me because she knew better than anyone else how I was feeling. I hadn’t told her the full extent of what had happened between the two of us, but she knew enough.
“Plus.” I leaned closer to her. “Beck is off-limits, remember?”
“Not according to him.”
“He’s a liar.” That fact was plain and simple.
“Who’s a liar?”
We jumped at the sound of Beck’s voice, and I whirled in his direction. My heart skyrocketed without even seeing him.
“No one.” My answer came out so quickly that even I felt suspicious.
“Okay.” He looked between Allie and me. “You’ve been avoiding me.”
I took a long sip of my drink to try to calm myself down. “I haven’t been avoiding you. I’ve been busy.”
He was looking me over, checking me out without even trying to hide it, and Allie was smiling like a fool. “Doing what?”
“Work. School. Hanging out with your girlfriend.”
Allie snorted out a laugh and almost choked on her drink. But Beck didn’t seem affected.
He didn’t care that I knew about her.
He apparently thought I wouldn’t care, but he was wrong.
“You look gorgeous tonight. Has anyone told you that?” His eyes looked so possessive. He looked at me like he wanted me, like he didn’t care that I had just mentioned his fucking girlfriend.
Even though both of us knew the truth. But that truth didn’t stop the butterflies from taking off in my stomach.
“Don’t.” I started to speak just as Allie did.
“Chad Johnson did. He was practically drooling over her when I got here.”
I wanted to punch Allie.
“Chad Johnson?” Beck made a face and part of me thought he might be a little jealous. “He’s almost twenty and still hanging out at high school parties.”
“So, what?” I pushed some hair behind my ear. “His opinion must be wrong?”
“No.” He shook his head, and I noticed his eyes seemed darker than before. Chad’s eyes weren’t only duller than Beck’s, they were nothing compared to his. “I said you looked gorgeous.”