Take Me with You (Take Me #2)(36)

“Because you won’t ask him to define it,” Cheyenne said.

“Have you asked Vin?” Shelby snapped.

“No, but I don’t want a relationship. I’m cool with this limbo we’re in. I get to f*ck him when I want, but I don’t always have to listen to the stupid things that come out of his mouth.”

“At least you’re talking some sense now,” I said. “Sometimes, I wonder if you even remember he tried to drug me.”

“I don’t think he intended anything bad to happen.”

It was my turn to roll my eyes. “Please. He wanted to sleep with me.”

“Well, nothing bad did happen, and he doesn’t do that shit anymore.” Cheyenne leaned forward and sighed. “He’d kill me if I ever mentioned this, but he told me once he felt really bad about what happened that night.”

“Vin has feelings?” I asked in disbelief.

“All I’m saying is, I think a little bit more is up there than he lets on.” Cheyenne held her hands up. “Don’t let him know I said that.”

I shrugged. I couldn’t change what had happened or that Vin was a fact of life around Grant. My eyes left the girls as they chatted more about what Shelby should do.

Seriously, Grant…where are you?

“I am not going to go hang on him like some desperate tramp!” Shelby cried.

“Oh my God. Miller probably didn’t even invite Sydney. Grant probably did. Just act normal and things will be fine. There are more important things to worry about,” I said before tipping back my bottle.

All three girls looked at me, surprised.

“Look, Aribel is giving good relationship advice,” Cheyenne said. “You should take it. It’s probably the first and last time.”

“Ha-ha. You’re hilarious.” I grabbed Shelby’s arm. “Come on. Let’s go say hi. It’ll be fine.”

“What? Now?” Shelby asked frantically.

“No time like the present.”

Really, I wanted any excuse not to think about or talk about Grant.

“Sydney!” I called, walking over to Grant’s cousin.

She was a vivacious brunette, wearing one of her tamer outfits—a studded white sleeveless crop top and skintight leather leggings with a sheer stripe down the sides, starting at her hips and disappearing at the knees where they met her heeled black leather boots. The last time I had seen her she was in a miniskirt and cowboy boots at a ski lodge.

“Ari, hey! Happy birthday.” Sydney rushed forward and threw her arms around me. “It’s good to see you.”

“Thanks. You, too.”

Sydney and I hadn’t necessarily bonded the last time we were together, but despite all the craziness she brought, I found I did like her.

“How is Tennessee?” I asked.

She currently went to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. I couldn’t believe she had driven up during the middle of the week for my birthday while she had school. I never would have done that.

“Fine. Still plenty of Southern cock to keep me occupied,” she said rather loudly in Miller’s direction.

My eyes bugged, and I looked away. “Well, that’s…great.”

“Did you say cock?” Vin asked. He grabbed his junk in his right hand and adjusted himself through his pants. “I’ve got some for you right here, baby.”

Sydney smiled sweetly. “Let me think about it.” She tapped her lips twice and then dropped her smile. “Thought about it. No, thanks.”

I shifted, so I couldn’t see the glares passing between Vin and Miller. Having Sydney here was dangerous for everyone involved.

“So, what crazy plan does Grant have cooked up?” Sydney asked. “I’m sure you’ve heard rumors or some shit, right? Is he going to f*cking jump out of a cake? Is he bringing strippers? He’s not answering his damn phone, and I want the juice.”

“You’re asking me? I’m the birthday girl. I didn’t even know he was throwing this party.”

“How could you not know? He’s been planning it for a month!”

“Well, we’ve been kind of…” I didn’t know what to say or why I was even considering confiding in Sydney. “We got into an argument about the band.”

“What about the band?”

I sighed. I didn’t really want to talk about this right now. “Nothing has happened yet, but they’re still being scouted pretty hard by Pacific.”

“What? That’s amazing! I can’t believe Miller hasn’t said anything!” she cried. “I mean…not that we’re talking.”

She tried to play it off so cool that I instantly knew that Sydney wasn’t just f*cking around with Miller. She liked him as much as he liked her.

Oh, boy.

“God, you two shouldn’t be fighting over that. You should be f*cking celebrating! Where is Grant f*cking McDermott? We need to drink!” She dug around in the bag hanging at her hip. “I’m going to give him another call. He should be here by now.”

Yeah…

My eyes searched the crowd again as if I could make him appear out of thin air.

Why wasn’t he here?

I couldn’t move.

What the f*ck? What the f*ck? What the f*ck?