Chapter 7 Sierra
SEVEN
SIERRA
Crane stands there, looking like he owns the joint, holding a bottle of whiskey with a sour look on his face as he watches Jaden leave.
“What the fuck are you doing here, Sierra?”
He turns to me, an accusatory glare in his eyes.
“It's a party. What do you think I’m doing here?” I huff, crossing my arms.
He looks at me like he couldn’t give a shit and points a finger after Jaden.
“I don’t care what you do, but your brother does. If he sees you and Jaden going at it—”
I hold up a hand, stopping him in his tracks.
His gorgeous eyes narrow, but he remains silent, lifting the whiskey bottle to his lips.
“My brother left with Lorena about five minutes ago, so would you drop the big brother act and leave me alone?”
A look of exasperation passes over his face before he groans.
“Fucking Lorena.”
I frown.
“What is with you and pissing on everyone's Cheerios tonight?” I snap. “Kai looked pretty happy back there, and I’m not sure if you noticed, but so did I!”
Crane rolls his eyes, rubbing his jaw as he lets his gaze drift over me. My breath halts in my chest when he gives me a lazy smile, stepping closer to me as his cologne reaches me before he does.
“I’ll be honest, I didn’t see you. But looking at you now, I’m not so sure I’d use the word ‘happy’ to describe your face.”
God, he is infuriating.
“Well, as usual, you look as miserable as fuck,” I shoot back, tugging the whiskey from his hand, his lips curving into a smile when I raise it to my lips. “Why isn’t this cheering you up?”
I lift the bottle to my lips, enjoying the amber liquid trailing a blaze of fire down my throat.
I thrust it back to him, but when he reaches for it, I hold it out of reach, wagging a finger at him.
“Tell me why you’re always in such a bad mood, and you can have it back,” I challenge him, the air between us thickening as Crane moves closer to me, his eyes on the bottle. Wrapping his fingers around the neck of the bottle, he prises it from my grip, shaking his head at me.
“Go and play with your little boyfriend. I won’t tell.”
Something about his words sends fire dancing through my veins, my fingernails digging into my palms at the thought of Crane keeping a secret for me.
I chew on my lip, and Crane sucks on the bottle, backing away from me slowly.
“He’s not my boyfriend,” I grit out, watching as Crane slumps into a fold-up chair, his position perfectly hiding his face from me.
“Whatever. Go have fun.”
I turn to leave, but something about the tone in his voice has me hesitating.
He sounds deflated and downright sad.
I glance toward the door, knowing Jaden will be waiting for me on the other side. But Kai isn’t here, and his best friend seems to be struggling.
I bite my lip again when Crane lets out a sigh.
“Can I sit with you?” I ask, clearing my throat as Crane leans forward, his elbows resting on his knees.
“Why?”
“Why not?” I throw back, wondering what the fuck I’m doing. I drag a chair across from him, plopping down with a heavy sigh.
Seconds ago, I was so close to taking it further with Jaden, and now I’m sitting opposite Crane, wondering what to say.
“I’m not in the mood for company, Sierra.”
I raise my eyebrows.
“Is that why you and Liza were hiding out here?”
Crane scoffs, tilting the bottle toward me.
“We weren’t hiding out. I came in for this little beauty, and Liza followed me.”
I clasp my hands together, jumping when the door opens with a bang.
A dark-haired skinny guy frowns at the pair of us, his eyes skirting to the fridge then back to Crane.
“I mean, yeah, help your-fucking-self.”
“Have done.” Crane lifts up the whiskey, leaning back in his chair.
“You’re welcome.”
The guy stops, hovering behind me as he makes an appreciative noise.
“This isn’t the same senior you were with earlier.”
I tilt my head at Crane who shrugs nonchalantly.
“Ooh, which senior were you with earlier?” I ask, fluttering my eyelashes at Crane who glares at the skinny guy.
“Does it matter?”
“Was it Liza? Are you guys serious?” I press, wondering why I’m asking these questions. I don’t really care, and all I want to do is get drunk and flirt and play.
Yet here I am with a very moody Crane and a guy who is eyeing me up from behind a couple of bottles of vodka.
“Never mind him, gorgeous. Wanna come and do some shots with me?”
Crane leans back in his chair, dropping his head back as the bottle dangles from his fingers.
“Yes, we do.”
I lean forward, gripping Crane’s hand as I attempt to haul him to his feet until he rises of his own accord.
“Sierra, you’re not serious. Shots with college guys you don’t even know?”
Crane stares darkly at the skinny guy standing behind me as I chuckle, pushing my fingers into the corners of Crane’s mouth, forcing his lips into a crooked smile.
“Much better. Anyway, you know him, right? So come with me. Have some fun, Crane.”
“Yes, Crane, come on, my man.”
“I just want to sit here and drink, if it’s all the same to you.” Crane sweeps a hand through his hair, and I hold his gaze, not sure why I want to make sure he isn’t alone.
Although part of me knows Crane wouldn’t be alone for long, not with the cliche bad boy attire he has going on.
“Scared I’ll drink you under the table, Crane?” I tease, my brows climbing.
Crane doesn’t answer, and the guy wraps his arm around my shoulder, guiding me to the door.
Is Crane coming?
I allow this guy to guide me through the crowded rooms, stopping when we reach some kind of pool table that’s filled with shot glasses.
I place my hands on the table when I hear Kiki’s unmistakable laugh in my ear.
“Who’s the hottie?”
I turn to lay my head on her shoulder, her hand slipping around my waist as I look at Crane who has followed us.
Relief sweeps through me, and I exhale a shaky breath.
“Kai’s friend,” I mumble, watching as Skinny Guy pours the shots, dancing in time to the bass that's thumping through the floor.
Kiki pouts, shaking her head.
“Not him, this guy.”
She nods at Skinny Guy who thrusts a shot beneath my nose.
“No idea; what's your name?” I ask him, knocking back the shot as Crane watches me from the corner of the room.
“Gregory,” Skinny Guy tells me, and I glance at Kiki, making sure she got that.
I notice Liza and Jaden walking into the room, still arguing.
Jaden spots me and grins, waving Liza away...to Crane.
I drag my eyes away from Crane and Liza, away from the way she strokes his stubble, standing on her tiptoes to whisper in his ear.
“Sorry about that, baby,” Jaden mutters in my ear, nodding at Kiki who is now perched on the pool table, throwing her flirtatious glances at Gregory.
Kiki commands attention; every movement she makes causes you—and everyone—to stare at her, wondering what she’s going to do next. Her shocking black hair compliments her tanned skin, her thick black choker showing off her slender throat.
We are like chalk and cheese.
“Problems with the ex?” I ask Jaden, knocking back a third shot as Crane finally meets my eyes.
Jaden places his muscly arms either side of me, dropping his head into my neck as he exhales. “Mmm, something like that. But she seems alright now, huh?”
Liza is kissing Crane, and for a second, I can’t do anything but glare.
As though he senses me watching, he moves her around so she’s against the wall, holding her hands above her head as he drags the bottle of whiskey to his lips, breaking the kiss to glug on it, before kissing Liza hard on the mouth.
It’s hot as fuck, and I have never envied anyone so much in my life.
Jaden kisses my neck softly, but I move away, nodding at Kiki who matches me shot for shot as we proceed to do exactly what we came here to do.
Jaden slides his hand around my waist, and Crane is still devouring Liza against the fucking wall.
Why can’t I stop watching?!
Crane has her legs around his waist, her heels digging into his ass as he tugs on her hair, exposing her neck.
“Putting on quite the show, aren’t they?” Kiki giggles, smiling as Gregory moves closer to her.
“That’s Crane, a real ladies’ man.” Gregory chuckles, winking at me. “He turned down your drinking challenge, the pussy.”
Part of me wants to demand he come over here right now and drink with me, but I can’t bring myself to do it.
Suddenly, I don’t want to feel anything, so I turn and gaze at Jaden, who wastes no time in pressing his lips to mine, lifting me onto the pool table as someone whoops around us.
Jaden is known for being a player, but right now, that’s all I want.
The buzz I’d felt earlier has truly left the building, and I try desperately to bring it back. I throw myself into the kiss, Jaden’s hands lifting my ass from the table and against him as I laugh into his mouth.
“I’m fucking you tonight,” Jaden mumbles in between kisses, and my heart pounds with excitement.
Phew, I thought I’d lost it for a second there.
“You wish.”
Jaden leans back, his arms wrapping around me as he lifts me into his arms, holding me in mid-air.
“Put me down!” I laugh, gripping his neck as my hair tumbles between us, his eyes locking onto mine.
“Nah, I’m not letting you go tonight, Sierra.”
I’m aware of the envious glares I’m getting from the girls around us, and it gives me a warm glow in my stomach; a senior with one of the hottest college guys here.
“You wanna take me home? You’ll have to wait. I’m planning on getting fucked up, Jaden.”
Jaden grins, kissing me hard on the mouth.
“Sounds good. Sign me up.”
“Kiki!” I call out, dragging my hair into a side parting so it falls down my shoulder. “Let’s finish this bottle.”
Kiki laughs, lifting up the vodka bottle that’s between us. It has to be three-quarters full, and even I know I’ll probably end up barfing at this rate.
But fuck it, I’m living.
Someone cranks up the music, and I notice Crane and Liza have disappeared.
Good, now I can really let my hair down.