Chapter Nineteen
Nate
I’mfeelingdamngood as I make my way through the yard. The sun is shining, the pool’s full of beautiful, half-naked women, and I’ve got my boys. I’m also pretty freaking baked… For the first time ever.
“Baked. Baked. B… A… Ked. It’s a funny word; don’t you think?” I turn to see who’s listening to me ramble, and when I find myself alone, I giggle uncontrollably. “Giggle. That’s a funny word, too. Do men giggle?”
“Not usually,” a voice says from behind me. “But I think we can give you a pass.”
Dylan moves to my side and stares in the samedirection I am. The only difference between the two of us is that he’s focused on one particular girl, his girl, while I’m free to take my pick. In theory. In reality, I’m still hung up on a certain someone who just so happens to be walking in my peripheral vision. My heart clenches at the sight of her, and I inwardly curse. Fuck! So much for feeling good.It’s been months since I’ve seen her, and as much as I try, I can’t move on. Probably because you don’t want to. I scowl at my own thoughts.
“She has some nerve showing up here after all this time,” I say, keeping my eyes locked tight on the pool in front of me. A girl with bright red hair lifts herself out of the water with her eyes closed. Her bikini top is doing a terrible job of hiding what’s beneath it, and her bottoms are almost non-existent. She’s porn worthy, and yet, nothing. I feel nothing. “Do those brownies affect sexual desire?” I thought they were supposed to stop the pain, not ruin me for other women.
Dylan bursts out laughing beside me. “I’m seeing what you’re seeing and don’t feel an ounce of attraction. I’d say you’re suffering from the same thing I am.” What the fuck?
My eyes shoot to him in anger. “Did you give me some kind of disease? What the fuck do I have?
Dylan’s eyes widen in shock before he bursts out laughing again. “How many brownies have you had? I meant love, you jackass.”
I scoff. “Who’s in love? Not me. I’m done with that shit.” I look back at the pool. Maybe redheads just don’t do it for me.
“What were you saying before?” Dylan asks with a weirdly sly grin. What’s that about? ”Someoneshowed up?”
Oh, yeah, I forgot about my rant. I shake my head in annoyance. “I said that she shouldn’t be here. This is my house. I live here. How dare she show up looking all hot in her short shorts and tight top, wearing that green color that brings out her eyes? I mean, what was she thinking?”
Dylan bites back a smirk, and my brows furrow in question. Why isn’t he as outraged as I am?
“She’s here for me,” he says without a care. “You said I could invite whoever I wanted. You insisted on having the party here. What did you expect?”
“I expected her to stay away! I’ve done what she asked. I’ve given her space.”
“And yet, you knew I’d invite her. I’d even say you wanted her here, in this place, to give you the home-ground advantage.” He raises an eyebrow in challenge.
“Na-ah,” I snap back. That’s definitely, most certainly, not what I did. I’m sure.
“Na-ah?” he deadpans before shaking his head. “You are so gone.”
“Whatever,” I say, shrugging my shoulders because I’m cool. “I’m feeling good.” His words mean nothing.
Dylan coughs out a laugh. “Fuck, Nate. No more brownies for you.”
I roll my eyes but then laugh, too. He might be onto something, because while I am feeling very relaxed and lightheaded, I’m not at all like myself and maybe a little crazy.
“Want to swim?” I say, gesturing towards the pool. “Your woman is there, and I’m sure I could find one.” I expect him to agree immediately, but his smile drops, replaced by a serious expression. I raise an eyebrow in question.
“Don’t be a dick today, Nate.” Come again? “You’re both hurting. Don’t do something you’ll regret.”
I frown in confusion as he walks away to meet his girl. As if I would do something stupid.
I did something stupid… really stupid. But oh so fucking good. I’m lying on the lounge by the pool, and I can’t feel anything. I’m so relaxed that I don’t think a hurricane would faze me right now.
I’m vaguely aware that I’m not alone, but I’m too far gone to care. Should I have resisted that last brownie? Probably. Did I? Fuck, no.Am I hungry? So freaking hungry.
A feeling of wet coolness moves from my ear to my chin, making me shiver all over. That was weird.
It happens a second time, and I can’t decide if it’s a good or bad feeling. I could open my eyes and check, but I’m just so comfortable, and—
Holy fuck!