16. Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Tyler
I look at myself in the bathroom mirror as I wash my hands. I can't believe that random dude grabbed Sloane like that and acted like he was going to throw her in the pool. Anger surfaces inside me just thinking of the way he had his hands on her, then spilled her drink all over her. I had a feeling she might be inside cleaning up and I was so glad when she bumped into me. Just thinking about her hands on my chest sends my pulse racing. She nearly took my breath away. She's so beautiful, but I don't think she knows it. She carries herself in a way that is shy, like she's trying not to stand out, trying to make herself unnoticeable for some reason. She's definitely not unnoticeable to me. Whenever I'm in the same room with her, it's like my eyes know exactly where to find her, even if it's in a crowded gymnasium during a pep rally. Aside from her physical beauty, there's this happiness that just exudes from her. Like pure goodness. Add to that, her awesome taste in music and sense of humor and she's the total package. I just wonder if I'm good enough for her. Does she believe the rumors about me? Even though she said she likes football and baseball, I wonder if she would ever date a jock who was kicked out of private school. She seems like she would want a musician or artsy type, not me.
Knocking on the door brings me back to reality. "Tyler!" Amber's nasally voice squeals.
When I open the door, Lori says, "Come play with us!"
Just as I'm about to decline, Brian pipes up from further down the hall. "Yeah, man, come on, let's play some beer pong!" I step into the hallway and see him grinning from behind his camera. I can't turn down my best friend. He's the only reason I'm at this party, plus, in the distance, I see Sloane dancing with her friends. Of course, I want to be wherever she is.
I smile at my friend. "Alright, dude, let's go," I say to Brian, not wanting to give Amber or Lori any encouragement.
As we walk into the kitchen, I see Sloane, but she doesn't see me. Although she still looks uncomfortable in her own skin, her smile makes my heart flutter. What is it about this girl that has made me so smitten?
"Hey, man, can you and Brian help me with something?" I feel a hand on my shoulder and force my eyes from the makeshift dance floor and Sloane's magnetic pull. Jesse looks at me expectantly.
"Sure, of course," I say as Brian stops recording and sets his camera down. We follow Jesse out into the garage.
"My mom will kill me if we play beer pong on her dining room table," Jesse says as he shifts aside a kayak and some boxes to get to a large plastic table. "Heck. my parents will totally kill me if they find out about the party, but ruining her table would do me in."
"Dude, what about the neighbors?" Brian asks.
Jesse grins. "They went to the mountains with the neighbors. Kurt Stone lives next door and our parents are really close."
"Smart," I say as Brian and I extract the heavy, six-foot long table from behind a bunch of boxes. Brian and I carry the table toward the door that leads into the kitchen while Jesse puts everything back in the garage. When we enter the kitchen with the table, Brian heads straight for the makeshift dance floor and everyone moves out of the way.
Brian shouts, "It's time for beer pong!" A loud cheer erupts as I look around, trying to find Sloane. But she's nowhere to be found. My heart sinks a little.
Amber and Lori enter the room clutching plastic cups and start arranging them on the table. "I'll be right back," I say to Brian.
"Oh, no you don't, mister!" Amber slurs. "You and Brian against me and Lori. Come on!"
I groan internally. At least I'm on Brian's team and didn't get paired with one of them. Brian grabs my shoulder, "This should be easy."
The next thing I know, I'm wrapped up in a game of beer pong, hoping that Sloane hasn't left the party yet. I really want to talk to her before the end of the night.