At First Hate (Coastal Chronicles)

“I can’t,” I said, trying to pass it back to her.

“Just hold it,” Josie said. She took a good long sip of hers. “Then no one will ask why you aren’t drinking.”

“Fine,” I said with a sigh. I wasn’t opposed to drinking, but I preferred to do it in safer scenarios. Not at some random Holy Cross guy’s house miles from home.

Lila winked at me as she took a sip of her drink and then pulled a face. “You’re not missing anything anyway. This tastes like shit.”

I laughed as we followed Josie through the kitchen and into a living room the size of my entire house. Maddox was tuning his guitar as the rest of the guys got set up. I saw Danielle dressed like a black cat and waved. She pulled me into a hug once we walked over.

“I didn’t realize until I talked to Maddox that this party was the same as his gig.”

“Me either! But I’m glad you came,” she said with a smile.

“I kind of got roped into it.” I gestured to Lila and Josie.

Danielle grinned and hugged Lila. “We miss you at school. This year is just not the same without you.”

“Tell me about it,” she said, taking another fortifying drink. Her eyes roamed the room. “I certainly don’t fit in with these people.”

Danielle laughed. “No shit. This place is ridiculous.” She glanced back at the band. “I’m really just here for Jack. I don’t know if Leigh is coming.”

Josie leaned in. “Is that your boyfriend?”

She bit her lip, and the lead singer looked up from his guitar. His smile ignited when he realized we were all looking at him, and he sideswept his dark brown hair. His eyes were so crystal-clear blue that they seemed to see straight into our hearts. All of us melted at the same time.

He hopped off the makeshift stage and slung an arm around Danielle. “Hey, y’all. You here for the Local Carnage show?” Then he nodded at me. “Mars.”

“Hey,” I said.

“Don’t think we’ve met.” Josie held out her hand. “I’m Josephine Reynolds. My friends call me Josie.”

He grinned at her. “I’m Jack Howard. Friends just call me Jack.”

“It’s so nice to meet you.”

Lila shot me a look that said everything I needed to know. We needed to get Josie far away from Danielle’s boyfriend, or she’d have her claws in him by the end of the night. Which I’d hardly blame her. Jack was two years older than us in school and easily one of the hottest seniors. Not to mention, he had this charisma about him. If I were Danielle, I’d watch out where that smirk landed.

“We’re here for Maddox,” Lila interjected.

Josie shot her a look. “Yes. Maddox.”

“Cool. Cool. Enjoy the show.”

He winked at us and hopped back on the stage. Maddox waved, and Josie was already distracted again. Welp. My poor twin.

“He’s great, isn’t he?” Danielle said in awe.

I laughed at Josie’s expression and then let her drag us around the room as she made friends. Local Carnage began their set, and Josie went in search of more drinks while I watched my brother perform. They weren’t bad, but they weren’t going to blow anyone out of the water.

“Look at what we have here,” a voice sounded behind me.

I turned to find Derek Ballentine standing over me. For a second, my breath caught at the sight of him. He wasn’t in a costume that I could discern, just a pair of white shorts that revealed a few inches of tanned thighs with a thick brown belt, a blue button-up with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and boat shoes. His dark hair looked wind-whipped, and he had these mercurial hazel eyes that were more gold than anything in the lighting of his mansion home. His perfect lips tilted upward at the sight of me.

I managed an ounce of bravado. I lifted my chin up and met his gaze. “Can I help you?”

“Marley, right?”

“Yeah,” I said with an annoyed look.

“Thought you were too good for my party?” He grinned this little half-smile, his lips curling up on one side, as insufferable as I could imagine. His eyes crawled my outfit. “And dressed like a St. Catherine’s girl. The girl not like anyone else is dressed just like everyone else.”

I gritted my teeth. “I’m here for the band.”

“Right. The band,” he said disbelievingly.

“My brother plays guitar.” I pointed Maddox out.

Derek barely glanced that way. “We both know you wanted to see me.”

I actually snorted. “Keep dreaming, Holy Cross boy.”

“You know, Holy Cross boys and St. Catherine’s girls go together.”

“Is that what you’re supposed to be dressed up as?”

He laughed. “No. I’m a sailor.”

I looked him up and down. He just looked like a regular dude. “Right. Obviously.”

He opened his mouth to say something else that I’d likely detest, but then his gaze shifted past mine, and his face dropped. I turned to search the crowd, but it was just a bunch of drunk people.