Sweet Peril (The Sweet Trilogy #2)(77)

“Relax, girl.”

“I’m not ready!”

He shrugged one shoulder. “Maybe you need a drink?”

I gave my head an adamant shake, while that greedy little voice inside me had a tantrum.

“Look, Anna. I’m not trying to be a creeper here. I got your back tonight. You can drink.”

I bit my lip. It would be so nice to let go, and I knew Blake had no expectations except that I have fun and be willing to take risks. He may have been the world’s biggest flirt, but I didn’t get any vibes of attraction from him. He was safe. It was my own self I didn’t trust.

“I don’t want to get drunk,” I told him.

“I won’t let you.”

“Once I start drinking, I want more. And I’ll get mad and sneaky. I might be mean if you don’t let me have more.”

“You think you can take me?” He laughed. “I ain’t scared of you, girl.”

“But . . .” I felt my argument weakening. “I don’t have a stamp like you.” I pointed to his hand. I could have used my fake ID, but I hadn’t been planning on drinking.

“Nobody’s paying attention. Trust me. Come on.”

I rejoiced on the inside. He was the exact friend I needed at my side tonight.

Blake got me a beer, then scared away a guy who tried to hit on me, telling him to step away from his best friend’s girl. It warmed me to know Kaidan had a best friend and to hear Blake call me Kai’s girl.

By the time I’d had my drink and we made it to the center of the dance floor, I was relaxed and ready to go. Blake had requested the song we’d practiced to, and when it came on Blake got serious while I attempted not to break into laughter. It didn’t take long for the crowd to spread, creating an opening where Blake and I were in motion, synchronized and more fluid than when we’d practiced at Kaidan’s place. I could not believe I was doing this. Veronica would freaking love it. Having an audience made me tighten my moves and halfway through I finally lost my nervous smile. I found myself playing it up the more people cheered.

I’d worn my hair down and straight. Blake said hair was a girl’s best prop. Mine swished with my movements. I understood what he meant now, and I used all my assets to give these people a show. Everyone whistled and cheered. The song ended and I hugged Blake, laughing and out of breath.

And so the night went, with Blake keeping me at a steady buzz, never letting me stop moving long enough to overthink or overanalyze what might be happening on the other side of the world. Even after we got back to Kaidan’s place, Blake was intent on wearing me out. He made me change into my bathing suit, while he borrowed Kai’s swim trunks, and the two of us went swimming in the middle of the night. We weren’t the only ones there, but when Blake began doing trick flips and dives, others came out of their apartments to watch. Someone turned on music and brought drinks, making it an official starlight pool party. I kept my cell phone nearby, checking it occasionally, but no calls came.

I thought about Jay and Veronica back home. They thought I was visiting Dad, but I’d told them I might be seeing Kai. They didn’t understand the dynamics there, about how my family and Kai’s were “related,” except that our dads were somehow connected.

With a drunken grin, I climbed from the pool, picked up my phone, and texted Jay and Veronica.

Guess what? Me and Kai are BFGF!

I giggled, waiting.

Two seconds later it rang. Veronica. When I answered she said, “Shut the front door, you are not!” I laughed and she went on. “Are you really boyfriend-girlfriend? Oh, my gawd! How did this happen? What time is it there? Have you even gone to sleep? This is totally worth being woken up before six for. Tell me every single detail, and I swear if you leave anything out I’ll kill you. And if he’s stringing you along, he’s so dead!”

I couldn’t stop laughing through her entire rambling tirade. A text came in from Jay saying:

If this is a joke u r in big trbl 4 wakin me up. Call me when u get home.

I tried to explain everything to Veronica in as much detail as possible without making it sound strange. She kept screeching in my ear.

“I’ll let you go back to sleep,” I told her after I was done gushing. “Do me a favor and tell Jay something for me, would you?”

“Sure,” she said, yawning now.

“Tell him Kai so wrote that single. I was right.”

“You got it. In your face, Jay, from Anna. Good night, girl. I’m happy for you. But I meant what I said about killing him if he’s playing you.”

“I know, sweets. Don’t worry.”

We hung up, and Blake was standing there with another drink. When I finished it, he yanked me into the water, making me go around and around the edges with him and all the other people to cause a whirlpool effect that dragged us around like a current.

We got hungry around three in the morning, and ordered a ton of pizza from an all-night pizza place. Afterward, Blake talked a guy into letting him borrow his skateboard, and he once again entertained all of us. If it had wheels, Blake could work it.

“Is he your boyfriend?” a girl behind me asked.

I turned to the group of girls watching Blake. They were all coifed and beautiful in their bikinis, not having gone in the water. My wet hair was pulled back in a ponytail by this point and I was wrapped in a towel. “No, he’s my boyfriend’s best friend. We’re watching his place while he’s . . . out of town.”