A Kiss Like This (Kiss and Make Up #3)(24)

Just when I think maybe, just maybe, he is about to put the moves on me, he backs up to give me a wide berth, and I pull the door wide open. Music from the state-of-the-art sound system immediately pounds up the staircase, the bass vibrating the walls up and down the hall until it reaches his bedroom and assaults my eardrums—and probably his too.

“How can you stand living in a party house?” I ask as we step out into the hall, him shutting the door behind him and checking to make sure it’s locked. “This is nuts.”

If possible, there are even more bodies crowding the hallway than before.

Caleb is close, leaning in to whisper in my ear. His warm breath against my neck nearly causes me to shiver, but I’m able to resist the urge. Thank God. “It’s not always this bad. The boys are getting it all out of their system before our season starts.”

I feel his hand on the small of my back as we navigate our way down the long corridor, guiding me as we side-step students along the way, getting shoved and jostled as people stand, dance, and yell to each other over the music—most of them blocking a straight path to the stairwell.

Eventually, we make it back to our friends, who are standing in the same spot in the living room, creating a small conversation circle near the fireplace.

I walk over to Jenna and Molly, inserting myself in between them. “What did I miss?” I ask, taking the cup of beer Jenna holds out to me and taking a sip to pacify her. It’s warm and flat, but at this point, I don’t care.

“Um, no. You don’t get to ask us what you missed. First you tell us where you and Caleb Lockhart disappeared to,” Jenna demands with a mischievous glimmer in her eye, her large silver hoop earrings shining in the dim overhead light.

“Nowhere. Just the bathroom.” I avoid her eyes and chew on the rim of the red cup.

Stephan Randolph’s girlfriend, Chelsea, has joined them, tapping Jenna on the arm and giving her a commiserating look. “Just the bathroom. That’s what they all say.”

“Seriously. He took me to the bathroom. To um, clean me off.” I point to my shirt, which isn’t as damp as it had been. “I mean, specifically, he let me use his bathroom. He didn’t clean me off.” They stare at me and I shake my head, flustered. “You know what I mean.”

Molly giggles and puts her arm around my shoulders, giving me a reassuring squeeze. “We know what you mean.”

“He took you up to his bedroom?” Chelsea asks, eyebrows shot up into her forehead.

I shrug casually but my face is burning up. “It wasn’t a big deal. The line down here was really long. He was being nice.”

Chelsea smirks. “I’m sorry, Abby, but Showtime doesn’t do nice. He does pissed off. He does angry. He does moody.”

“Although!” Jenna stabs her forefinger in the air. “Sometimes pissed-off and angry sex is the best kind of sex. Not that you would know, sweetie.” She pats me on the arm.

Okay, that was kind of mean.

Frustrated, I grit my teeth and ask, “Would someone please just change the subject?” Before I have a coronary. “Tell me what I missed while I was gone.”

“All the good stuff. We were just planning a quickie in the Dells. Oops, did that sound naughty?” Jenna winks, taking her cup back and holding it to her lips. “The guys thought it would be fun to rent a cabin near a waterpark next weekend before school ends and they start pre-season training camp.” She takes a drag from her beer. “I personally have always wanted to go to Yogi Bear National Park.”

Molly rolls her eyes. “I told you, we are not going to Yogi Bear National Park. Stop trying to make Yogi happen.”

“Why? I made fetch happen.” Jenna smirks.

“You’re kind of an idiot,” I tease, lips pulled in a big grin. I tilt my head and catch Caleb staring at me from my peripheral view, but he quickly jerks his head away. My stomach plunges, and the butterflies that have recently taken residence in my belly flutter wildly as if they’re trying to break free. “So, um… who’s all going?”

I can barely get the words out of my throat.

“Everyone,” Molly replies, giving me a knowing smile. “Blaze and his girlfriend, Shelby, are going to take care of the details. The plan is for everyone to stay in one cabin—if they can find one with enough beds—probably at the Wild Outdoors Resort or something. We’ll split the cost and pitch in for groceries.”

“Wait.” I halt the conversation. “Blaze has a girlfriend?” He was such a flirt!

“Yeah. She’s got him on a tight leash, too,” Molly says at the same time Jenna mutters, “Unfortunately.”

“Anyway,” Molly continues, “if you want to go—and you will go—we have to let Shelby know by tomorrow afternoon so she can call the resort and book the place. It’ll be fun. We’ll hit the waterpark or whatever for a day and sit around playing board games at night.”

“I call Cards Against Humanity,” Jenna says, grinning wickedly and wiggling her eyebrows. “That game is wicked awesome.” She shoots me a side-glance. “Hey. Since we’re both single, you can be my roomie. I promise to keep the hands to myself in bed.” She makes spirit fingers for emphasis.

The simple mention of the word bed has me blushing all over again, and I cast a hasty glance at Caleb to make sure he’s not looking our way. “Oh my god, shut up,” I hiss.