Take (Need #2)(23)

My heart hammers against my ribs as I stomp off down the street. The party isn’t too far, and I plan to drink, so heels be damned, I’m walking. It also helps give me a Brayden breather and time to calm down.

The block is already parked up with cars when I arrive, and I can’t wait to find my girls. I pull out my phone to check a text I got on my way from Jenna, hoping she’s already here.

Sam IS well endowed. See you . . . sometime. lol!

A smile spreads on my face, and I shake my head. Looks like Jenna is getting exactly what she wanted for graduation.

I wave to some people I know who are hanging out on the lawn as I walk in. The music is loud, thumping all over the whole-house speaker system. There’s no view of Ashley or Marilyn, so I head toward the kitchen where the drink of the day is undoubtedly being served.

After dealing with Brayden before I left, I need a drink. Something strong to erase the tingling I can still feel from where he touched me.

It’s still pretty early, but the place has a ton of people, forcing me to weave through and giving the drink hand gesture to a few friends trying to pull me over. Before I can turn back around I slam into someone, my hands out, stopping on a belt.

“Hi, Kira.”

I crane my head back to look up at my tallest friend, reigning in at six foot eight. “Hey, Thomas.”

If basketball doesn’t work out for him, he’s got brains to fall back on. That, and classic farm-boy good looks.

“How are you?”

“Not bad. Haven’t seen you in a while.”

We were lab partners back in chemistry, and he’s helped me out more than once when calculus tried to kill me.

He chuckles. “Since Tuesday?”

I shrug. “Hey, in high school terms, that is forever.”

“Glad to be missed.”

“Yeah, well, soon you’ll be some bigshot at IU and you’ll forget all about me.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” he says. “Are you excited about college?”

“Definitely. You?”

“It’s gonna be hard, the practice schedule is intense, but I get to play for Indiana University.”

“That’s awesome.” I smile up at him, genuinely happy and excited for him.

“Too bad you won’t be there.”

“OSU calls,” I say with a shrug. “And I’m stoked that Ryan transferred and will be there.”

Thomas’s eyes dart around. “Is he here?”

I shake my head. “Not yet. That I’ve seen, at least.”

He blows out a breath. “Cool.”

“Why cool?”

His eyes go wide. “Oh . . . N-no reason.”

I quirk my brow at him. “Tell me.”

“It’s just . . . I’m talking to you, and the guy is scary protective of you.”

Ah, I get it now. The Austin incident.

Jerk is always getting in my way.

“Are the rumors that bad?”

He lets out a nervous chuckle. “He always kept guys away from you, him and Brayden Hunt, but that was next level when he attacked Austin.”

I purse my lips. “Yeah, it was.”

“Ever since then, it’s been kinda hard to work up the courage to ask you out.”

I blink up at him. “What?”

He smiles and ducks his head. “You’re not with Austin, I hear. Can . . . can I take you out sometime?”

I stare back at him in shock. I like Thomas, and I can totally see him being a great boyfriend, but I’ve never thought of him that way.

Probably Brayden’s fault. I’m sure I can probably blame him for just about everything for the past few years.

“No,” I whisper, hating that I’m turning a great guy down. “I’m sorry. I’m a mess right now.”

His expression falls and he swallows hard. “Too late, then.”

“Or too early.” I smile up at him. “If things were different, I would say yes.”

He chuckles. “Thanks for the pity yes.”

“Hey, it’s not like that. I like you, but . . .”

“It’s complicated?”

“Extremely.”

“Well, if things become uncomplicated, give me a call,” he says as he backs away with a wave.

Turning down a guy with so many good points? I must be insane.

I take a left to the kitchen, suddenly bummed. What would it be like to date a nice guy like that? To not have two f*ckers being a pain in my ass?

Maybe I should become a nun.

The counters are covered with red Solo cups and what looks like an entire liquor store worth of booze. Then there’s the keg in the middle of the room.

Perusing the display of bottles, I spot a familiar label and twist the top off.

Mmm, raspberry-flavored vodka.

“What did he want?”

I jump, the bottle slipping from my lips, vodka spilling down my chin. “Shit!”

Austin steps in front of me, offering up his shirt.

“You scared me,” I say, wiping my chin off.

He gives me that sexy smile of his. The one that should turn me into a puddle of goo, but as usual, it’s only mild excitement.

“You’re cute when you’re scared.” He looks down at my bottle. “What are you drinking?”