Chapter fourteen #2
As I step outside Adrian’s building, the cool evening air greets me, and I spot Lilly waiting for me in her car. With a smile, I make my way over and climb into the passenger seat, greeted by Lilly’s grin.
“Someone looks good,” she chirps, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Thanks.” I return her smile and tug on my white denim jacket.
Lilly chuckles as she starts the car, pulling away from the curb. “I can’t believe you live in this ritzy area now. I bet the view from his penthouse is breathtaking.”
“It is.” I nod in agreement.
As we drive towards the frat house, I catch sight of the bustling scene on the front porch.
There’s people chatting, laughing, drinking, and somehow finding time to make out.
My nerves start to creep up on me, feeling more and more hesitant with each passing second.
I’ve never been one for these kinds of parties, yet that’s always made me feel like I’m missing out.
But before I can voice my doubts, Lilly parks the car and grabs my hand, pulling me out onto the sidewalk. “Come on, El. Let’s go have some fun!”
As we make our way inside the frat house, I can feel the energy of the party pulsing around me. I take a deep breath, trying to steel myself, the music already booming through my ears.
“So, who’s Jason?” I shout at Lilly, trying to distract myself from my nerves.
Lilly shrugs nonchalantly. “No idea, and honestly, it doesn’t really matter. Let’s go grab a drink.”
She leads me through the crowded house into the kitchen, where an array of alcohol and plastic cups is spread across the counter. I scan the counter for any clean cups, and Lilly reappears beside me with two plastic shot glasses in hand.
“Welcome drinks.” She giggles and hands me one.
“What is this?” I ask as I take it from her.
“Don’t ask, just drink.” She brings the little plastic cup to mine in a cheer and throws her head back, spilling the liquid in her mouth. “Come on!” She pushes my hand with the little cup towards my lips. I drain the cup, coating my tongue in bitterness, and force myself to swallow it. Disgusting.
“I never want to taste that ever again.” I shake my head, squeezing my eyes in disgust.
Lilly laughs beside me. “I’ll go find some Sprite or something. Stay here.” My eyes widen in a silent plea for her not to leave me. She places a hand on my shoulder. “You’ll be fine. Talk to people, make some friends.” With a wink, she turns and walks away. Fantastic.
I stand in the kitchen, watching as people walk in and out.
They’re grabbing drinks, pouring more, spilling some, and giggling away.
I hadn’t noticed the boy behind me until he leans against the counter and eyes me up and down.
He looks around my age, with tousled dirty blond hair and piercing blue eyes that seem to sparkle with mischief.
“Hey there, beautiful. What are you drinking?” he asks, flashing a charming smile.
I shrug, feeling a little awkward. “I just got here, so nothing yet.”
He leans in so close that I can catch a whiff of his cologne. “Time to fix that.”
Without missing a beat, he stands and starts concocting a drink for me, his hands moving as he pours and mixes all kinds of alcohol together.
I look around, scanning my surroundings for Lilly, but there’s no sign of her.
I can’t see exactly what he’s doing, but I watch as he reaches into a cabinet and pulls out a can of Red Bull, pouring it into the two drinks he’s prepared.
He hands me one with a grin, and I raise an eyebrow in a silent question.
He laughs before answering, “Long Island Ice Tea. Red Bull instead of Coke, though. My recipe.”
“Thank you.” We clink our cups together in a toast before I take a tentative sip. Surprisingly, it’s not bad at all, and I take another sip, feeling the liquid warm my throat.
“So, what’s your name?” he asks and swirls the liquid in his cup.
“Elana,” I shout over a group of girls screaming nearby. “What’s yours?”
“Jason.” He smirks, taking a sip of his drink.
“Ah, so you’re Jason.” I chuckle, raising my glass to my lips again.
“In the flesh. Heard of me?” He raises an eyebrow, a playful glint in his eyes.
“Maybe.” I laugh, feeling a bit more at ease.
As Jason hands me the second cocktail more than an hour later, I can already feel the effects of the first one taking hold, but I take the cup anyway.
I should have eaten more than a bowl of yogurt.
Memories of Adrian’s lips around the spoon, the smirk playing on them, and the look he gave me flood my mind.
As if on cue, my phone buzzes in my hand, and I glance down to see a text message from the wolf himself.
Are you alright?
I quickly dismiss the message and shove my phone in my denim jacket. If he can ignore me all day, I can ignore him for a few hours.
“I’m glad you like the cocktail.” Meanwhile, Jason continues to flirt with me, his words becoming more playful and suggestive with each passing moment. He leans in closer, his breath warm against my ear as he whispers, “I have another something I’m hoping you might like.”
I furrow my brows in confusion and meet his blue eyes.
“I’m sorry.” He lets out a laugh. “I meant I can make you something else if you don’t like this one.”
“No, I like it.” I take a sip from the second one, feeling the burn. This one is definitely stronger.
Amidst the chatter and laughter of the party, a group of guys nearby starts shouting, their voices growing louder and more obnoxious by the second. Jason leans back. “They won’t leave for a while.” He extends a hand. “Care for a tour of the house? I’m sure we can find someplace more… quiet.”
“I don’t know. I’m supposed to wait for my friend here.” I hesitate, glancing around for Lilly, but she’s nowhere to be seen in the crowded room. “She went to get some Sprite.”
“Yeah, like an hour ago. I feel like she found more than Sprite.” He chuckles. “If she’s looking for you, she can always call or text you.” He shrugs. “Come on.” He points his chin to nowhere in particular.
“Lead the way.” I take his hand and let him lead me through the throngs of people.
We make our way upstairs, away from the noise and chaos of the party below. The air is cooler up here, and I take a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart as Jason leads me down a hallway.
As my phone buzzes again, I fish it out of my pocket and glance down to see Adrian’s name flashing on the screen. My heart skips a beat at the sight of it.
“Everything alright, beautiful?” Jason, whom I’d momentarily forgot about, is standing a few steps ahead.
“Yeah, it’s my friend. Probably asking where I am. I’ll just let her know I’m okay,” I lie, and he nods as I step away to answer the call.
“Hey,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady despite the butterflies in my stomach.
“Are you alright?” Adrian’s deep voice comes through the phone.
I take a deep breath, feeling a surge of liquid courage from the alcohol coursing through my veins. “Everything’s perfectly fine. You don’t need to worry about me, Adrian,” I reply, my words slightly slurred.
There’s a brief pause before Adrian speaks again, his tone serious. “You’re drunk.”
“Drunk at a party?” I let out a fake gasp. “Impossible!” When he says nothing, I add, “Why don’t you just go to sleep? It’s past your bedtime.”
“Elana, I promised your brother I’d keep an eye on you. That’s exactly what I’m doing.”
“Oh, to hell with that.” I roll my eyes, feeling a surge of frustration. “Ethan, Ethan, it’s all about your promise to Ethan. Is that why you didn’t kiss me? I wanted you to kiss me, Adrian,” I whisper the last part.
Adrian sighs, his voice softening slightly. “Can you at least tell me where you are?”
I hesitate for a moment before replying, “I’m not giving you the address if that’s what you’re asking for.”
Adrian’s tone turns stern once again. “Then send me your location.”
I feel a surge of anger bubbling up inside me, fueled by the alcohol coursing through my system.
“You’re so weird, you know that?” I retort, my words slurred.
“You look at me like you want me, then look at me like you hate me a second later. You avoid me all day and then ask for the address of the party. Getting bored in the penthouse? Maybe you should ask one of the many women in your contact list for company.”
Before Adrian can respond, I hang up the phone, the realization of what I just said hitting me like a ton of bricks. I can practically imagine the look on his face when I hung up, and despite it, I giggle drunkenly to myself. My phone buzzes again, and his name flashes on the screen.
“I’m not giving you the address, Adrian.”
“You have fifteen minutes until I’m there.” His voice comes out loud from the speaker before he hangs up. Fuck.