Chapter 11 Dylan
Dylan
The party hasn’t started when we arrive, but the main four are here. Rocky, Scott, Westley, and now me. The pregaming is happening in the backyard, so when we slide the doors open, the guys all look our way.
“Wondering when the fuck you’d come,” Scott says and then zips quiet when he sees who’s behind me. “And look at what we have here.”
Rocky glances at Scott, confused. Scott points, so Rocky looks over his shoulder.
“Who’s this?” he asks, eyeing her like she’s candy.
Cecily walks onto the patio while smiling. “I’m Cecily.”
I point at Rocky and say, “That’s Rocky. And you met Scott and Westley.”
She smiles. “Hi.”
Westley does an awkward wave. Scott nods at her.
“Cool,” I mutter, noticing how the conversation has died now that Cecily is here. I hate it when they get quiet once a girl comes around.
“You didn’t bring any friends,” Scott says, glancing behind her.
She closes the sliding glass door and shakes her head. “Not tonight. They’re all busy.”
Scott leans forward, drinking from a red solo cup. “Doing what?”
He’s challenging her. Being a cocky prick, but I let it slide as I take a seat and look up at her.
She’s dressed in that Seattle fucking t-shirt with loose jeans, and when we were on our way here, I watched her apply lip gloss that smelled like Starbursts.
She has bracelets and necklaces. Her hair’s down, brassy and wavy.
I don’t think she’s wearing any makeup as I wait for her to respond to Scott. She doesn’t skip a beat.
“Well, Lily is on her fifth first date this month. Alix is organizing her purses by color instead of keeping them in alphabetical order. Mira is at her acting classes because she works full-time and can only take classes on the weekend. My photographer, Crystal, has two kids and a husband, so she couldn’t make it.
Marina, Rose, and Madeline are going to a frat party on campus, which I confused with this party, so they’ll be there and not here. ”
I bubble with laughter as the guys watch Cecily. They’re taking her seriously, but she’s just fucking with them.
Westley chokes on his drink. “Wait, what?”
Scott scoffs as his eyebrows shoot up. “You invited your friends to the wrong party?”
I shake my head with a smile. “Marina, Rose, and Madeline aren’t… We go to the same gym.”
Scott says, “So, what. Tell them to come here instead.”
Cecily holds in a laugh as she sits next to me on the couch. Then she offers Scott a mischievous smile.
I blurt, “Nope. No fucking way. They’re not invited.”
Cecily laughs.
I continue, “Marina has a staring problem, and this one,” I point at Cecily, “told her to ask me out.”
Rocky laughs while Westley smiles. Scott shakes his head, taking a swig of his drink.
Scott says to Cecily, “Oh, so you’re not fucking Dylan?”
Cecily laughs, confirming, “I’m not fucking Dylan.”
I shake my head. “We’re just friends.”
“So, dibs then?” Scott questions while staring at Cecily. Everyone’s quiet for that second, and the air is thick enough to slice.
I lean back, looking at Cecily as she stares at Scott and says, “I’m not something you can call dibs on or claim, so no.”
Rocky whistles, and Westley, to my surprise, laughs.
Scott saves face, but I know that hurt his ego. “We’ll see about that by the end of the night.”
I’m about to change the subject when Scott continues, “I didn’t know your little friend here was coming to the party, so I invited––”
“No,” I groan. “No, you fucking didn’t.” My gut twists. Did he actually invite Layla or Viv, or is he just fucking with me? Because if he did invite either of them, I’m considering flying a puck at his face during the next practice.
Scott raises his red solo cup. “Yes, I fucking did. You need to get laid.”
I shake my head. “I talked to you about this, Scotty. I need a fucking break.”
Scott snickers. “You expect me to believe you’re taking a break from pussy? Nobody needs a break from that, unless…” He looks at Cecily.
I lean forward, keeping my eyes on his. “Yes, I’m fucking serious. I can’t believe you invited––” I blow out hot air out of frustration. “Keep whoever it is away from me. I volunteer your dick as tribute.”
Rocky laughs, drinking his beer. Westley, too.
Scott says, “My dick is not volunteering to fuck your sloppy seconds.”
He stands up and walks to the table with the liquor just as the front door of the house opens. More guys from the hockey team pile in, laughing about something as they open the sliding glass door.
“Who’s ready to fucking party!” Russell shouts.
Scott shouts from the table. When he walks back, he gives Cecily and me our own cups. “Drink up,” Scott winks at Cecily, and then he’s off talking to Russell and Rocky.
I point at Westley. “Is Scotty just messing with me or what?”
He shrugs. “You know how he gets.”
“Yeah, but he’s acting like this because––”
Cecily bumps me with her shoulder, and then she leans in and whispers, “Knew it’d be a dick measuring contest. Stop giving Scott what he wants.”
She pulls back, and I nod. I stare into her eyes, and everyone here disappears. I blink a few times, remembering where I am, even if being around her steals every ounce of my attention.
I swallow the lump in my throat. “Can you drive my truck?”
She glares at me. “The deal was no drinking.”
“Just one,” I protest.
Rocky chides in. “She’s not letting you drink?”
Cecily ignores him and says, “That was part of the deal.”
I lean in and whisper in her ear, “I promise I’ll behave.”
Her cheek grazes mine as she counters, “Alcohol is poison.”
“Don’t I get a cheat day?”
Her face is close to mine as Scott hollers, “Just fuck already!” Then he laughs.
Cecily looks over at him, but I keep my eyes on hers. Her eyes don’t harden, they soften. And a tiny frown appears at the corners of her lips.
I grab her chin, forcing her attention back on me. “You good?”
She nods. “I can’t control you. You can drink as much as you want. I did lose the bet.”
“Bet?”
She nods, offering a smile. “Your team won, so…”
I raise my cup and smile, chugging it. She watches me as more people enter the party.
By the time Layla enters the house, Cecily is talking with Westley about hockey. My eyes catch Layla’s, and my dick shrivels.
Scott claps my shoulder and says, “I can’t wait to see this unfold.”
“You’re such a dick, man.”
Scott leans in. “This is perfect. Layla’s going to see you with Cecily, freak out, get jealous, and––”
I shake my head. “Dude, dude, dude. This isn’t what I fucking want. I’m done with this bullshit. Cecily is just a friend. I don’t want to start anything between her and Layla or Viv. I’m keeping it completely separate.”
Scott scoffs, laughing. “It’s too late for that.
You brought Cecily here to our world. If you wanted it separate, you could’ve kept it strictly at the gym, but no, you’re inviting her out to parties and buying her dinner and shit.
Who do you think you’re fooling? Inviting Layla here was a favor. A good one.”
I scoff.
Scott places a hand on my shoulder. “I’m pushing you two together tonight, and I bet you’ll get laid.”
“You’re wrong, Scott. You’re fucking wrong.”
Scott smiles. “We’ll see.”
Shortly after, Viv walks through the door. Shit. I quickly turn my back to her and look around. Amber sits next to Westley, and Double D sits next to Scott. This is perfect.
“Who wants to play a game?” I call out, looking at the faces in front of me. The girls look excited as they agree. Cecily nods.
I point at Rocky and say, “Let’s go up to your room.”
“My room?”
I nod, not letting him say no. “Let’s go.”