Broken Hill High (Broken Hill High #1)(29)

Tora – Reminds me of someone else I know! I’m not dating Josh. He made it up. I had no intentions of going to that party.

I hand him back the phone and it’s returned a moment later with a blank screen. I feel a little disappointed that he didn’t write anything back, but then, I shouldn’t. I should be pleased that I got it out of the way. I’ve said my peace, I thanked him for watching my back, now it’s time to move on.

Jesse comes out a moment later, juggling as many bottles as he can possibly fit in his hands and arms, hell, there’s even a few jammed into the pockets of his jeans. Parker gets up and helps while I let out a breath of relief that there’s a distraction from the brooding guy behind me.

“I invited a few people over,” Jesse tells everyone, prompting the guys to get on their phones and start hashing out text messages.

Nate groans from behind me. “Great. Another fucking party,” he says under his breath.

I relax back into my chair and get comfortable as it looks like I’ll be here for a while.

Half an hour later, the whole house and back yard is swarming with people. It’s turned into one of the biggest pool parties I’ve ever seen. I’d say my whole senior year is here along with people from the public school.

Music is blaring, Courtney and Bec have shown up, and drinks are flowing. I usually don’t like to drink at parties as I prefer to drive, but seeing as though I’ll be staying here tonight, I take my chance to finally let loose. I can worry about all my problems tomorrow.





Chapter 10


I sit on my sunbed with Courtney and Bec while Brooke continues making out with Maxen on the bed beside us, just as she’s been doing for the past hour.

I’m happy Courtney and Bec showed up when they did as I had just finished the drink that Jesse had given me earlier and they instantly replaced it. I haven’t needed to get up since.

I’m so chill right now. I’ve got a good buzz going, Nate left me alone, I feel hella sexy in my bikini, and I’ve got my girls by my side.

We laugh and I get so lost in our conversation that I don’t even notice the cheerleaders have arrived with the whole football team. I let out a heavy sigh. I’m not ready for the fun to be sucked out of this party.

Josh is there by my side in an instant. I don’t miss the way his eyes travel up and down the length of my body before landing on the drink in my hand and grinning.

He pushes his way onto the sunbed next to me, forcing Courtney to have to move down. “Hey, babe,” he says as he grabs my waist and hoists me on top of his lap before I get a chance to pull away. He wraps his arms around me and presses a kiss to my cheek. “Where have you been? You weren’t at the party last night.”

“Oh, yeah. Sorry,” I tell him with a cringe. “I couldn’t make it.”

“It’s fine. You’re here now,” he says as he tries to pull me in for a kiss.

I pull back with a cringe. “No, don’t,” I tell him, really not wanting to continue this little thing we have going here. I mean, it’s definitely run its course. I don’t know what I was thinking having a crush on him for the past year. “I’m sick,” I explain. “I’ve got the flu.”

“Ugh,” he groans, pulling back slightly. “So, what are you doing here if you’re not well?”

“Haven’t you heard?” I ask with a sigh. “I kind of live here now. Well, at least temporarily.”

“What?” he questions as his eyes darken. “With Nate and Jesse?”

“Yeah.”

“So, you have a bedroom upstairs then?”

I let out a frustrated groan as I try to push myself off him. “It’s not happening, Josh. Not now, not ever,” I tell him. “I know you’re just trying to get me in bed, and quite honestly, I’m not interested.”

I finally get myself off him and he scoffs as he gets to his feet. “Whatever,” he says with a laugh. “You’re too much work anyway. You would have been a dead root.”

My eyes follow him as he leaves only to find a different pair of dark eyes already cast on mine. I should have expected it, yet every time, he catches me off guard. Nate would have just seen that whole thing between me and Josh and from the way he’s not glaring at me, I’d dare say he’s pleased I just got rid of him.

Feeling good, me and the girls get ourselves up and start making our way around the party. We say hi to all our friends and dance amongst the other bodies. The whole time, I feel Nate’s eyes on me, but not specifically on my eyes, they’re roaming all over my body, making me feel extremely exposed.

I go back and check on Brooke a few times but she’s absolutely fine messing around with Maxen.

I walk into the kitchen to pour myself another drink when I find Nate with Ashley up against the wall. Her legs are wrapped around his waist and his hands are firmly on her ass as they make out.

A fierce jealousy cuts through me and has me choking on my own breath. Where the hell did that come from? “Woah, babe,” Jesse says from beside me as he claps a hand on my back to stop me from choking. “You all good?”

His question has Nate breaking away from Ashley to find out what’s going on, and I hate that he sees me right now. “Yeah,” I say, looking at the table and focusing on pouring a drink so I can avoid meeting Nate’s eyes. “I’m good.”