Gunner asked to talk to me alone, dismissing Rebecca and her friends.
“Sure, I’ll be inside, baby.” Rebecca reached up and kissed me on the cheek.
I couldn’t take any more. The only thing I could do was close my eyes and pretend none of that shit had just happened.
“Jeff, what the fuck is your problem? Why would you embarrass Ari like that?”
Gunner’s hands pushed through his hair like he was pissed. It was a habit he had when he was angry or nervous.
“Holy shit, dude, that was a real douchebag move.”
Shrugging, I took a drink of my beer. I needed to feel numb. I didn’t want to feel a damn thing.
A Brit
ney Spears song started playing right as Ellie walked up.
“What in the hell?” she asked, staring at the dance floor. My eyes followed Ellie’s, and my mouth hit the ground.
Ari was dancing with Josh. Not just dancing—fucking grinding all over him. People started to gather around them, whooping and hollering. She leaned back in to Josh, her hand lacing into his hair, pulling his face down closer to her. When she bit in to her lip, I nearly came undone.
“Gunner, do you know why Ari is dancing like she’s starring in the next Dirty Dancing movie?” Ellie asked over the music.
Gunner didn’t utter a word. I knew he was waiting for me to confess the dirty little thing I had done to my sister’s best friend. I couldn’t form a sentence right now if I wanted to. What in the fuck was Ari doing? Amanda and Heather joined in, and Josh looked like he was on cloud nine. I was going to fucking kill him tomorrow. Maybe I’d invite him into the ring and go a few rounds with him. I was positive his cock was rubbing up against what should be mine.
The song changed to something slower, and Gunner led Ellie to the dance floor.
Josh had Ari in his arms as they slowly danced.
“Come on, handsome. Let’s dance.” Rebecca dragged me out to where everyone was dancing. Her lips pressed to mine. I didn’t even kiss her back. I was numb. I couldn’t kiss her back even if I wanted to. Not when I saw Ari reach up and wipe a single tear from her cheek.
I fucking hated myself. I didn’t deserve to have someone like Ari. She deserved someone who would cherish her. Desire to make her his one and only.
The only thing I knew how to do was hurt her.
That I was good at.
I could only take so much. And Ari dancing with Josh to the song “Shut Up” nearly had me losing my shit. Rebecca did her best to keep my attention on her, and I knew it wasn’t lost on her that I had been watching every single move Ari made damn near all night.
Lifting the beer to my lips, I nearly spilled it all I was getting so drunk.
Rebecca laughed. “You’re pretty wasted. Do you think that was such a wise thing to do with this being your sister’s first college party?”
With a laugh, I looked at Rebecca. “Was that you being thoughtful, Rebecca? I didn’t think you had it in you.”
She grinned. “I’m not a heartless bitch. It’s your sister, and most of these guys here tonight have been eye fucking the hell of her and her little friends. Poor Gunner’s been having to play tough cop while you’re being bad cop.”
I smiled and looked past her. Ari was laughing at something some guy was saying to her. When he leaned down and whispered something into her ear, her smile grew bigger.
Still watching Ari flirt with the jackass, I said, “You haven’t even seen bad yet, Rebecca.”
Her hand brushed against my dick. “Then show me, Jeff.”
Grabbing her hand, I pulled her through the house and into my bedroom.
Rebecca started to pull her shirt over her head, but I stopped her. “Don’t bother getting undressed. This is going to be fast. Turn around and put your hands on the footboard.”
She did what I said. After I slipped the condom on, I closed my eyes and saw Ari. My sweet, beautiful Ari.