26. Darian
DARIAN
Okay, so that laundry room was magic, and I’ll do just about anything to get back in there with Nix.
Holy fuck, her tongue was fire, her mouth an oasis.
Her little tits pressed against my chest?
Yeah, my body’s begging for more, and I’m still pissed off that Mac and that stupid girl interrupted us. Who knows where things would have gone.
Nix got kind of weird after that, and she hasn’t looked at me again since walking out of that laundry room.
It stings for reasons I can’t articulate in my sloshy brain.
Yes, I’ve downed another beer since she’s stopped looking at me, and I’m now flirting on the edge of being completely drunk.
Maybe she’s weirded out because she knows we’ve got a connection, but her closest friend is my sister. I’ll have to let her know that it won’t be a problem. Charli won’t care if we hook up.
Something in my chest pinches.
Shut up! She won’t!
It’s not like I’m after something serious. We’ll just have smoking hot sex and get it out of our systems.
Get that girl out of your system? Are you kidding? There’s something about her, man. You won’t be able to shake her that easily.
Why I’m thinking this shit, I do not know. I’ve hooked up with plenty of girls to get them out of my system, and Nix won’t be any different.
Yes, she will!
Grrrrr.
I shake off that taunting voice in my head and grab another beer. Downing it in a few large gulps, I place the cup on the counter and stare across the room at the little pixie girl. She’s starting to blur around the edges, but I can still drink her in.
I love her neck. It’s long and slender, and her short hair doesn’t hide any of its sleekness. I love her petite body and the way she’s standing there with her hands in her back pockets, smiling up at some chick and laughing at what she just said.
What I don’t love is how she’s not looking back at me, even though I’m sure she can sense my gaze. Why is she ignoring me after what we just did when her tight little ass was perched on the dryer?
Was my kissing not good enough?
Did I do something wrong?
Well, at least give me a chance to fucking get it right!
Snatching my glass, I walk to the keg, then change my mind and head for the liquor cabinet Mac told me not to touch. Crouching down so I’m not being so obvious, I inch the door open and grab a bottle of vodka. I need some liquid courage and take the time to drink the half glass I gave myself.
It burns going down, but with all this beer already sloshing around inside me, it doesn’t take long for the effects to kick in.
I’m feeling loose and easy, the sting of Nix’s rejection not burning so bright as my fuzzy brain tries to come up with the best plan of approach.
Fuck it, I’m just gonna go and talk to her.
She doesn’t turn my way… doesn’t even fucking flinch… when I approach her, even though I can see this pale red hue climbing up her neck and into her face.
“Hello, ladies.” I put on my charming voice, matching it with my best smile.
The girl opposite her glances at me with a smirk. “Hey, Dee. How’s it going?”
Shit, I know this girl and can’t remember her name.
Making my smile grow even wider, I throw a little cheese into the situation. “All the better for seeing you.”
She laughs while Nix rolls her eyes. I can practically hear the groan rumbling through her.
Before she can hassle me, I thrust a beer can toward her. “Wanna drink, Tink?” I go for Tink over Fawn because she seemed to respond better to that.
“Tink?” The girl beside us laughs.
“Tinker Bell,” I explain. “Don’t you think she looks like the brunette version of Tinker Bell?”
“Like I haven’t heard that before,” Nix grumbles, popping open the beer I just gave her.
Miss Name-I-Can’t-Remember continues to giggle, and I’m just trying to figure out how I’m supposed to get rid of her when someone shouts, “Sasha!” and she turns away from us.
That’s right. Sasha. Cool.
On your way now, Miss Sasha. I’ve got business with the sassy fairy beside me.
Sasha walks off, and I do an internal cheer while turning to face Nix with a grin.
“Sooo…,” I drag out, leaning down to whisper against her ear. Her body seems to vibrate with an energy I can feel all the way to my core.
Yes, baby! There is definitely something between us.
My chest flutters as the words ease out of my mouth. “I was thinking we should head back to the laundry room. Or maybe find another private space in the house where we can—”
“No, thanks.” Her voice is bright, her look fiery and stubborn when I pop my head back to frown down at her.
“But—”
“I’m good.” With a stiff nod, she spins and walks away from me.
“What the fuck?” I mumble under my breath.
That’s it? She’s not even going to explain herself!
I want to chase after her and demand answers, but I don’t want to cause a scene… so instead… I head back to that liquor cabinet.
I need to fucking think. And yes, alcohol won’t necessarily help with that endeavor, but it might loosen me up a little more, and I need that if I’m going to figure out how to get back into Nix’s good graces.
Maybe she’s just scared because she felt something in that laundry room. Something intense. The same way I did.
Well, I’m not afraid.
Sure, it’s kind of mind-blowing when a kiss is that fucking good, but that just makes me want more.
And we will have more.
She’s not the only stubborn one.
If she really doesn’t want me, fine—I’ll walk away.
But she does want me. I can feel it.
I’ll just have to find another way to connect with her, convince her that I’m worth a second chance.
Scanning the party, I sip my refreshed cup of vodka, not actually enjoying the taste that much, but knowing I need it.
It’s taking the sting out of her rejection and fueling me with nerve… backbone. It’s giving me the energy to come up with a decent plan to win the fairy girl back. I like her. She likes me. This is fucking destiny!
My brain, which I swear is firing in whole new ways as this alcohol really kicks in, drinks in my blurry surroundings. That’s when my eyes land on Sawyer and my sister. They’re at the beer pong table, laughing and hassling each other.
They always know how to have fun together.
I watch them for a second, my lips twitching as the word “fun” spins through me.
That’s it.
I need to do something fun—funny, lighthearted. Something that will ease Nix into realizing that I just want to have a good time with her.
We don’t have to make this thing too serious or intense or whatever.
Let’s just have fun together.
Fun.
Now what can I do that’s funny?
I need to think of some way to tease her, some way that will get her attention, so she’ll pounce on me.
We can scrap for a second in that playful way, and that’ll give me a chance to touch her, and she won’t be able to deny that we’ve got something hot sparking between us. Something neither of us can resist.
Something neither of us should be denying ourselves.