Chapter Four
Tate
After the intensity of what transpired in the kitchen, I’m thankful for the alcohol in this cup. Even though I told myself I was done drinking for the night.
I plop down into an empty seat, as Maddie talks it up with a few people she knows from school. I”m kind of glad for the break from talking, because Maddie can talk. As much as I love her and would talk to her about literally everything, I also am enjoying people watching.
My eyes wander around the room we’re in. There are so many people here. Most are standing around talking and sipping their drinks. Some are making out against the wall, and a few girls look like they’re fighting.
As I am about to take a drink, the small couch dips. A tall man is now taking up the space next to me. “Hey, Tate.” Who the hell is this, and how does he know my name?
I look around for Maddie to save me from this conversation, but she’s engrossed in her own with a girl named Vivian. The guy is still staring at me when I look back at him.
“Not to sound rude, but do I know you?”
The guy smiles before leaning down closer to my ear so I can hear him. “I’m a friend of Maddie’s. We have an English class together. My name is Sawyer. Did she not mention me to you?” Sawyer looks offended that my dear best friend forgot to mention anything about him at all.
He’s definitely hot, but I don’t know. He isn’t someone I could see myself with. I shake my head no before I say, “I’m sorry, she didn”t, but it’s nice to meet you.” I reach my hand out and he chuckles before grabbing mine. His hands are soft. A blush takes over my face at his next words.
“I’m sorry to be so straightforward, but you’re absolutely gorgeous. I’d love to hang out a little tonight, maybe grab another drink if that’s alright with you?”
I open my mouth to reject him because this must be some kind of joke. But before I could answer him, something catches my attention out of the corner of my eye. I look over and find Ace pushing Damon back onto the couch. The look on his face is lethal. His eyes don’t leave Sawyer’s place next to me. Sawyer must notice where my eyes are, because when I look back over at him, it looks like he’s seen a ghost. A light layer of sweat coats his face, and he swallows before looking back down at me with a nervous smile. “Actually, I forgot I had asked someone else to grab a drink, so never mind. See you around, Tate.” He stands abruptly and walks quickly out of the room.
Damon didn’t even have to get up or mutter a word to Sawyer to put the fear of God into him. My heart starts pounding when my eyes shoot back to Damon’s—Only to find him smirking at me.
God. He’s so hot.
I. Am. Screwed.
I’m not sure how much time passes as I sit there, my mind wandering to many different places. My drink is gone, but no one else has approached me. And I’m pretty sure that’s because Damon has glared at everyone who has even gotten close to me, besides Maddie.
Becca stands from her seat, making her way back over to Damon’s lap, whispering something in his ear, causing him to grin. I can’t help but feel a pang of jealousy as I watch them together. So, he can have another girl sit on his lap, but no one can even talk to me? What the hell? I go to stand, ready to go socialize to prove a point, but then Becca stands once again. She starts announcing her plans to the group of people gathered around us.
“So, I think it’s time to play a game,” she says, clapping her hands together like an annoying little girl.
Okay, Tate. Be nice.
“We are going to play Seven Minutes in Heaven.” She continues telling everyone the rules as Briana passes around a pad of paper and a pen to get everyone’s names. I sit there, ready to deny it when it’s my turn. This isn’t really something I want to take part in. There’s no way in hell I’m playing that game. My stomach hurts even when I think about watching Damon and another girl go into a room to do God knows what. That thought alone causes me to grip the armrest until my knuckles turn white.
Whatever hold this man has on me needs to end.
Maddie stands and makes her way over to me with the notepad in her hand. I’m already shaking my head before she says anything.
“Here.” She tries to hand it to me, but I’m already holding my hands out to stop her.
“Absolutely not.” I give her my best fake smile and pretend to drink down the rest of what’s left in my empty cup before fidgeting with the broken rim.
“Come on, Tate! Please? Live a little.” She gives me her best puppy dog eyes, but that shit doesn’t work on me. She should know this already.
“Nope,” I say while popping the P.
“Fine, whatever, but you’re going to regret not playing.”
I laugh at her words. “Do I get bonus points if I act like I care?” I ask, smiling sarcastically.
Before she turns and walks back toward the group of girls, she leans closer to me so I can hear her. “Tonight, you need to face your fears and tell your anxiety to fuck the fuck off. Enjoy yourself when the time comes. Every girl wants a man to look at her and tell her to take her panties off. I’ll be back in a minute.” She doesn’t give me a chance to respond as she turns to make her way back in the direction she came from.
My mouth hangs open at her outburst. She writes her own name down and then makes her way back to where I am sitting. She takes a seat next to me. Her eyes occasionally wander over to me, but she doesn’t say much as we sit and wait for the game to start.
They begin to rip off all the names and throw them into a red Solo cup.
“Alright, who wants to go first?” Briana asks.
A few random people volunteer.
The first girl goes upstairs with a boy who looks like he’s going to pass out from nerves. She looks equally as nervous. But also excited as she leads him away from the group.
After three turns, the last two people come down as everyone is preparing to play again.
My palms begin to sweat because his turn is coming up, and I can feel my heart pounding. Mainly at the thought of him being alone with another girl.
I want to be that girl, but of course, I couldn’t allow myself out of my comfort zone long enough to play.
Damon grabs the cup from Becca and pulls a piece of ripped paper out. Becca has a snarky smile on her face like she knows exactly what’s going to happen.
After he reads the paper, his eyes look around the room for the lucky person who gets to be alone with him.
What I wasn’t preparing myself for was for his eyes to meet mine and a wild smirk to be on his face. “What does it say?” Becca demands as she steps over to him and rips the paper out of his hand.
“What?!” she yells as her head flips in my direction. My eyes grow wide. What the hell is going on? “That’s impossible!” Her voice is growing impossibly louder. “She didn’t even put her name in the cup!” Becca’s voice is so shrill that some people around us cover their ears as she stomps off like the spoiled brat she is. When I look over at Maddie, she has a giant smile on her face, and she brings her cup up to her mouth, trying to hide it.
Fucking bitch.
My heart rate quickens as I hear my name being called out, but I can’t get myself to focus on anything. Damon is standing in front of me with his palm open, waiting for me to take it, but I stare at it like it’s on fire.
My eyes finally drag up to his.
“Come on, Tate.”