Crushed (Torn #7)(14)

“Well, lucky me. I better behave, then,” I exclaimed with pleasure. He was getting cocky. It was too amusing to resist laughing.

“I like you,” he said honestly as he faced me. “I have this feeling you and I might be a good thing.”

Taking a moment to consider him, I was on the fence about everything. Mainly because … Well, I just wasn’t into anyone other than Brody.

“You’re not so bad yourself. We shall see.”

He stayed quiet for a bit before pressing on the subject he had brought up before. “So, have you decided to give me your number yet?”

I found Rob’s persistence cute in a weird way. “I might if you promise not to be a stalker.”

“Damn, you’re harsh but f*uking sexy as hell, and it’s hard to resist you.”

We both laughed at that. Then it went from laughter to kissing rather too suddenly. In the blink of an eye, his lips were on mine and too eager for my liking.

Okay, I shouldn’t panic. It was normal. There was also the fact that, since Rob wasn’t aware I was in high school still, a minor at that, I didn’t want to alarm him by acting like I wasn’t okay with him attacking my lips. I mean, I wasn’t at first, but the more he did it, the more I found myself starting to like it. I could feel the warmth of his body as he deepened the kiss. It was as if he wanted to take charge, sort of leaning us over so we were lying down while making out. I wasn’t ready for that, though. Kissing was one thing, but kissing like that … Well, that could lead to sex, and since little ole me was still a virgin, I sure as hell didn’t plan to lose it in the back of an SUV with some random guy I had met at Brody’s party. That would be a disaster. Though I doubted my friends would think of it that way. My first time should mean something, though, and this wasn’t what I was looking for. Therefore, when his hand started to roam freely, I knew I had to put a kibosh on his plans.

“Listen, I have to go,” I swiftly said after I yanked my lips from his. “I’m going back inside to get my things and leave. Call me sometime. I might just be up for a date night.”

Before Rob had the chance to say another word, I hopped off the truck and immediately began to run towards Brody’s house. Going home wasn’t part of the plan, but I was actually considering getting a room somewhere around the beach. I thought I’d had my fair share of fun for tonight with partying.

“Amber?”

I heard my name the moment I stepped into the front door. Scouting the area, I found Brody leaning against the wall like he had been waiting for me the whole time.

“Umm, yes?” My retort sounded as dumb as they went, but I was too speechless to really function. Besides, I was a little drunk and a little high. Also, given that this guy intimated the bejesus out of me, I didn’t want him to know what I had been up to.

He was frowning as he closed in on me. “What the f*uk is wrong with you?” he asked accusingly.

Busted.





Chapter Six





“What do you mean by that? Don’t I look okay to you?” I tried to smile, but his flashing eyes made it die on the way to forming.

“Go to my bedroom. Now. I’ll meet you in five minutes.” He was gritting the words out, never a good sign.

“Why will it take you five minutes to get there?” I petulantly asked, and he released an irritated sigh.

“Because I need some time before I choke the precious life out of you since you’re doing a fine job of that yourself … so I propose a better solution.”

Was that a joke, or was that a joke?

“Are you being serious right now?”

“My room. Right. The f*uk. Now. Amber!”

Asshole!

Holding up my hands in surrender, I glared at him. “Okay, I’m going there now. f*uk.”

Not daring to glance at him before I sprinted away, I made my way towards the stairs to the second floor where his bedroom was located in the left wing. There was yellow tape sectioning it off from the party, like the kind around a crime scene. Funny how thinking that made me remember Brody’s mild threat about wanting to choke me since I was already pushing myself in that direction. I mean, I got that he was angry with me, but seriously? He wasn’t my brother, nor was he my boyfriend. He was a concerned friend, and he didn’t have to be mean about it, either.

Finding his room without any hardship, I went inside, feeling somewhat aggravated because of how Brody had treated me downstairs. It didn’t matter that we had been surrounded by random partygoers; it had still been humiliating to be treated in such a manner. I doubted he had the guts to give the same treatment to Lindsey. She would have most likely chewed him up and spit him out in a heartbeat. I supposed maybe that was why there was such a vast difference between how he treated us.

She was daring, unapologetic, and downright vicious. No one—not one person I knew—would want to be on her bad side. She was as crazy as she was beautiful. Maybe that was why Brody didn’t want to cross the line with her—he would only get one chance, and if he failed that, he would most likely lose her forever. Some men might not have the courage to take the bait and jump in for a chance. After all, sometimes it was best to leave it hanging and wonder about what could have been. Brody might not readily admit to it, but I felt like that could be one of the reasons he was holding back. When it came to me, on the other hand, it looked as if he had plenty of opinions. It just went to show how he saw me and how different I was from Lindsey. It was depressing, I admitted. However, at the same time, it was revealing. Holding on to my love for him would only bring me increasing levels of unhappiness.