REBECCA’S POV
<b>58 </b>
20 vouchers
“Look, I can’t have you drinking at my party,” Scott stated, trying to keep things chill. “Maybe you should just stay calm and eat a slice of pizza. Drew has never looked at another girl the way I’ve seen him look at you,” he said with a half–smile. “I’ve never even seen him dance before tonight.”
I sighed and nced toward the crowd. “You’re right. I’m just overreacting. Maybe I could eat something.”
“That’s the spirit. Stay here, and let me go grab you a fresh batch from the kitchen. Pepsi or Coke?”
“Surprise me,” I said, trying to sound more upbeat than I felt.
Scott jogged off into the house. The fact that he even had cooks and a pizza oven impressed me. And this house was huge. It had a backyard the size of a football field, pool lights changing colors like a rave, and a patio that looked straight out of a luxury magazine.
I vaguely remembered him telling me earlier that after his parents died in a car ident a few years ago, he inherited everything. Poor guy.
I was rocking gently to the beat, letting the bass shake through my body, trying not to think about Drew and Edith. That’s when I felt arms circle me from behind. My entire body stiffened. His skin was cold, and he reeked of cheap perfume and booze.
“You’ve been teasing me all night,” a rugged voice rasped in my ear. I tried to wiggle out of his grip, but his arms were like a steel trap, locking me in ce against his chest.
“Let me go,” I hissed, my voice shaking more than I wanted it to.
He chuckled low before finally releasing me.
I spun around and got a good look at the asshole. He was cute and had that boy–next–door vibe. But something about his dark eyes told me he shouldn’t be trusted.
I’m Cody Forester,” he said, offering his hand.
I eyed it and then shot him a re. “I’d appreciate it if you kept your hands to yourself, Cody.”
He dropped his hand, unfazed, and chuckled again. “What’s your name?”
“Ah, Ba, I see you’ve met my friend Cody, Scott came back out. He had a box of steaming pizza and a big bottle of Pepsi. “You can have the first slice, Ba,” he said, cing the food on the table. He grabbed a clean
and handed it to me. “Pour yourself some Pepsi when you’re ready.”
red
cup
“Thank you,” I said, grateful for the distraction.
“So, are you and wbelle a thing?” Cody asked, way too interested.
“No. They’re step–siblings,” Scott chimed in with a full mouth. “And she’s here as a guest.”
“So she’s fair game,” Cody grinned, biting into a slice.
The way he was eyeing me like I was tastier than the pizza made me roll my eyes.
<b>58 </b>
20 vouchers
“Listen,” Scott said, wiping his mouth. “She’s still a kid, and she’s off–limits. Plus, you and Drew already have beef. We don’t need another reason to start World War III tonight.”
“I’m not a kid. Just so you know I turn seventeen in a couple of days.”
“Cool,” Cody grinned.
“I think I’m gonna go find Drew,” I announced, needing an escape before Cody said something else to make my skin crawl.
“You sure? Do you want me toe with you?” Scott asked.
“No, I’ll be fine. Someone needs to stay here in case Cody chokes,” I deadpanned.
Cody burst outughing, mouth open, revealing chewed–up food. Disgusting.
I slipped away, heading toward the side door Drew had left through nearly forty–five minutes ago. The hallway was quieter than the backyard, and I spotted a staircase at the far end. My heels echoed as I climbed.
“Drew, I’ve dreamt about this moment for so long.”
I froze when I heard Edith’s voice. She sounded so seductive. I followed the sound of chatter to a door slightly ajar at the end. I peeked in.
And my heart shattered.
Drew was sitting on the edge of the bed, his head tilted back, eyes closed like he was lost in a dream. Edith was kneeling between his legs, her mouth lowered as she got ready to suck on the tip of his dick.
The world stopped spinning.
I couldn’t breathe<i>. </i>Couldn’t think. I backed away slowly, one shaky step after another, then turned and ran back to the party. Back to the noise. Back to the alcohol.
Scott was waiting near the pool, eyebrows raised. “So… did you find him?”
“Yeah,” I said hollowly. “I found him alright.”
He blinked. “So where is he?”
I didn’t answer. I grabbed the red cup from Cody’s hand and sniffed it. I gagged at the scent. Was it vodka? Tequ? Paint thinner?
“What is this?”
“A little bit of everything,” Cody said with a grin.
:
“That’ll do.” I tipped the cup back and chugged it down.
“Ba, what are you doing?” Scott grabbed my wrist.
“This is a party, right?” I snapped. “So let’s fucking party!”
The crowd cheered loudly.
“DJ!” Cody called out. “y something wild!”
<b>58 </b>
20 vouchers
“Coming right up!” the DJ shouted as a filthy rap track dropped. The lyrics was about wet pussies and stiff cocks. ssy, I know.
And just like that, I stopped thinking.
I swayed to the beat. The intoxication hit fast. Cody came up to me, pulled my sses off, and slid them into my back pocket.
“Now I can see your eyes better,” he whispered, tugging me into his chest.
Another red cup appeared in my hand. I didn’t hesitate. I drank it all in one go.
“Ba, this is not a good idea,” Scott warned, watching me like a hawk.
“What’s the harm in drinking and dancing?” Cody shrugged. “Are you gonna drive yourself home, sweet lips?”
“Nope,” I said, too loudly.
“Then what’s the big deal?” he said with a smirk.
“You know what? I’m going to fetch Drew,” Scott growled.
“He’s in the bedroom upstairs to the far left. Whatever you do, just make sure you knock first,” I said sweetly, then turned back to Cody.
We were dancing for maybe ten minutes. Grinding against each other like we were in a Jamaican dancehall party,
“I need another drink.”
“Maybe stick to water from now on,” Cody said, eyeing the sweat on my face.
“Are you growing a conscience or something?” I snorted. “Gimme another shot.”
“Jell–O shot?” someone offered a green one. I squeezed it into my mouth and gagged as it slid down my throat.
“I want you sober enough to remember me tomorrow,” Cody muttered, scratching the back of his neck. “I know I cane off too strong at times, but spending thesest ten minutes with you, I realized I wanna get to know you better. I like you, Ba.”
“Is that so?” I asked with a tipsyugh. “What do you like about me?”
“Your confidence. And your style.”
I smirked. “The confidence is borrowed from the alcohol. And the outfit’s a loan from the devil.”
Heughed. He wasn’t bad looking. His eyes were steady. He leaned in, and I didn’t move away.
My brain was swimming in alcohol.
“I think I’m gonna kiss you now,” he said.
“And I think I’m gonna let you kiss me now.”
58
35 vouchers
He cupped my jaw gently. The music was still beating in the background as couples gyrated to it.
I closed my eyes, thinking that this was going to be my first kiss. I puckered my lips, bracing for impact.
Then a cold wind swirled my hair around my face like a tornado.
I heard a loud growl like an animal howling. People started to scream.
I opened my eyes only to see Cody sailing through the air like a ragdoll before his body mmed into the pool with a ssh so loud it silenced the music.
Blood bloomed in the water and my
head couldn’t understand what had happened until I saw Drew standing in front of me.
His back was to me while he stared at Cody holding his broken nose while he floated in the pool.
Drew’s shoulders rose and fell to how hard he was breathing.
“You stay away from Ba, you hear me?” Drew’s voice was feral. “Or next time, I’ll rip your heart out and feed it to your corpse.”
“Drew<i>!</i>” I shrieked. “What the hell did you just do?!”
I tried to run past him, to check on Cody, but Drew snatched my wrist.
“We’re leaving. Now<i>,” </i>
“But-”
He yanked me harder, and his voice dropped into a snarl. “I said now, Ba. And don’t make me say it a third
time.”