Better With You (Better Love 2)

They waste no time. It’s rapid fire.

Jesse: What the duck.

Kelley: Ducking autocorrect.

Jesse: *duck emoji*

Me:UGGHHHHHH

Kelley: What’s the mallard with your phone, B?

Jesse: U quack me up B.

Kelley: You really ducked up that one didn’t you.

Ivy: LOL!!!

Me: I hate all of you.

Jesse:U ducking love us

I can’t hide the stupid grin on my face. They’re idiots, all of them, but they’re my idiots. When there’s a knock on the door, Ivy and I walk to it together, both still smiling from the text exchange. When we open the door and see the guys standing there, we lose it.

“Oh my god,” I say thorough puffs of laughter. “Punk Rock Woody and Buzz?”

“There’s a snake in my boot,” Jesse shouts. He’s got a black fake leather cowboy hat on with a matching vest, black jeans, and he’s drawn tattoos all over his chest in what looks like eyeliner pencil. “Like the ink? Did it myself.”

I look at Kelley. Astronaut suit that he’s cut off jaggedly at the sleeves, thick black eyeliner on his eyes, and fake tattoos all down his arms. He definitely doesn’t look like he teaches social studies to middle schoolers right now.

“Did his ink, too,” Jesse crows. “Took me literally two hours.”

“Nice.” I’m impressed. “Lemme spike up your hair real quick.” I dart into the bathroom and grab some hairspray, then go back to the living room to doctor them up. When I’m done, they do look pretty badass.

“Ready to go, dorks?”

“Ready,” Ivy sings.

“To infinity and beyond!” Kelley yells and sprints out the door.

“You are a child’s plaything,” Jesse shouts, chasing after him.

Tonight is going to be a good night.

I noticedhim the moment I walked in. Dressed as a zombie, Riggs is holding court off to the side of the large living room, beer in one hand and a girl pressed into his side. A girl who is definitely not Talia. And the real mind blower? A girl who definitely is Talia is on that same wall standing very close to the blond douche from Cheap Seats. Dylan, I think he’s called.

It doesn’t look like Riggs is paying either of them much attention—Talia or the random chick. He’s drinking and smiling, an occasional touch or brush here and there, and she’s definitely flirting with him, but he’s not flirting back. The relief I feel is instant, and then it’s immediately followed by disgust. Just how fast does this prick go through women? He catches my eye, then, and I suck in a breath. He flashes me a smirk, so I flip him off, then turn on my heel and pull Ivy out of the room.

I’m outside for less than an hour before he finds me.

Kelley and Jesse went off to get more drinks, and Ivy and I are watching a beer pong game. When Riggs comes stalking toward us, I have to force myself to breathe slower. The green zombie face paint he is wearing has smudged off in a few places, and the gross fake flesh wound I noticed earlier is gone, leaving behind a clean strip of tan skin on his cheek. Even undead, he’s gorgeous. I hate it.

“Hey,” he says, voice low and eyes glassy. “Where is your boy tonight?”

I shrug off his obvious jealousy. “Around.”

“You unblocked my number.”

“I did.”

“That’s a good sign.”

“Don’t read too much into it.”