We stop on the way to pick up Sophia, who is all ready and waiting out front.
“You’re half-hour late,” she grumbles, climbing in the back seat of the car. She’s dressed in a short, deep purple dress that is showing a lot of cleavage. Her chunky silver jewelry and black heels finish her look. I feel plain next to her and Alice, but I don’t care. So long as Eli thinks I’m hot.
I laugh. “Blame Alice. She had to look perfect so she can get lucky. And guy or girl, apparently she’s not fussy.”
Alice whacks me on the arm and turns around to smile at Sophia.
“I’m Alice. Nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard heaps about you. Love your accent by the way.”
“Thanks,” Sophia giggles, her cheeks pink.
The party is in full swing when we arrive. Music is pumping through the speakers and people are littered everywhere. This is not the small gathering Sophia made it out to be.
Some cute guy comes out the door to greet us and immediately wraps his arms around Sophia, picking her up and swinging her around. The way she’s smiling, I can tell this guy is the reason we’re here.
“Hey Sophia, so glad you could make it,” he says, grinning at her. He turns to us, his smile widening. “Ladies. Welcome, come in.”
Alice nudges me in the side. “I’m so gonna find myself a cock to impale myself on tonight.” She smirks.
I roll eyes and laugh. I wouldn’t expect anything less from her.
“Are you sure you haven’t already been through this side of the country?” I giggle, which earns me a glower. “Al, you’ve spent too much time in that boarding school. You’re crazy.”
“Sexually frustrated,” she rephrases, eyeing Sophia. “But after tonight I won’t be.”
The three of us are dancing with a group of guys. I’ve seen them around school but I don’t know their names. I’m so out of my depth. I only recognize half the people here, and I’m nervous being around so many people I don’t know. For that reason, I stick to soda. Sophia and Alice obviously don’t share my concern, judging by the amount they’ve drunk, but that’s okay. I’m happy to be the sober one for all of us.
My back straightens when a chest hits my back and my wrists are grabbed.
“Fancy seeing you here, Jill.”
Jamie. Fuck. I struggle in his grasp, but he’s too strong for me.
“I think it’s time we have a chat, don’t you?” The tone of his voice sends shivers racing down my spine. This is about Eli and me. It has to be.
“Want to experience what a real cock feels like tonight?” he whispers in my ear.
I spin around. His face is so close to mine I can feel his breath on my face. He’s drunk, which scares me even more. My heart pounds as his eyes lock with mine.
“Fuck off, Jamie. I’ll never . . .” Just as I go to finish my sentence, Sophia pulls me back to where she is standing, her arms wrapping around me protectively.
“Last chance, Jamie,” she says in a calm voice. “I see you near Jill again and shit will get messy. You don’t want to fuck with me knowing what I have on you, right?”
Jamie glares at her for a moment, then storms off. He’s a fucking creep. I thought he was an asshole because he might like me, but it goes beyond that. This isn’t love disguised as hate.
The guy fucking despises me, and I still have no idea why.
“Why does he shut up whenever you have a go at him?” I ask curiously.
She shrugs and I narrow my eyes at her. She rolls her eyes.
“Okay, I’ll tell you. Maybe you can use it to your advantage next time he annoys you,” she smirks. She leans in, lowering her voice. “So, apparently last year, he got some girl pregnant. She ended up going off to somewhere to ‘take care of it’ and he lost it. He freaked out and began harassing her, to the point where she had to get a restraining order against him. Apparently, his dad managed to stop it all from getting out, but she’s just moved back to Denver and he’s not handling it too well.”
Wow. I never considered that his behavior might have little to do with me, and more to do with what was going on in his life. I almost feel sorry for the guy, until I remind myself of all he’s done to me.
Sophia moves away, leaving me standing there alone, wishing I’d stayed home and gone to see Eli. I put on my happy face and sway to the music, trying to convince myself that I’m having a better time than I actually am.
“Hey, having a good night?”