I wonder why. "I have plans tonight." To text Kit until I can't keep my eyes open any longer. But that's still a plan.
"Oh yeah?" She slides her phone into her pocket. "Tell me it's a date."
"Kinda."
"Really?" Her brown eyes light up. "You'll tell me when you finally..."
"Yeah." Maybe. At this point, it feels like I'm going to die a virgin.
"Bring him."
"I don't think it's his scene." This conversation is making me queasy. Or maybe that's hunger. Or lack of coffee. Either way, I'm not enjoying talking to Rory. Has our friendship been this crappy all semester? All year? I'm not sure. I push myself up and take a few steps towards the parking lot. "I'll let you know."
She smiles, completely unaware of my frustration. "If not, let's hang tomorrow. Coffee?"
"I have to check my schedule."
"Great." She pulls out her cell phone and motions to it. "If I don't see you tonight, I'll text you."
"Yeah. Later." Usually, we hug goodbye. I'm not in the mood today. I nod my goodbye and I march to my car.
The stereo flares with my pop music mix CD. The peppy vocals are grating. I switch to something angry and I white-knuckle the steering wheel all the way home.
I pull the door open with a huff, ready to storm to my room.
But there's this noise. One of those party horns.
"Congrats." Ethan grabs a hot pink party hat and sets it on my head. "Halfway done with the semester." He pulls me into a hug. "You're doing great in school, Pipes. I'm proud of you."
"Thanks." I take a step back and look to Mal, who's standing a few steps behind Ethan. "It's not a big deal."
Mal shakes his head. "It is." He nods to a small, round cake on the counter.
It's so small, the words Congrats, Piper barely fit on the thing.
Still, it's a cake.
My brothers bought me a midterms cake.
I'm not sure which is sweeter—the gesture or the frosting. I better try the frosting to be sure.
Mal gives me a hug. "I know school's hard. I'm proud of you." He squeezes tight then takes a step back. "You want French roast with this?"
"Yes, please." French roast and cake— yum. "Tell me it's chocolate." The frosting is brown.
"Better." Ethan smiles in that boyish Ethan kind of way.
"What's better than chocolate?" I ask.
"Chocolate with mocha frosting," he says.
Sometimes, I really love how over-bearing my brothers are.
After an evening of cake, coffee, and conversation, I'm in a good mood. A maybe Rory's boyfriend's party will be fun kind of mood. I tell Ethan and Mal I'm hanging with Rory tonight, then I spend an hour texting Kit as I get ready.
We're still not discussing anything important, but he knows I'm at a party tonight. He knows Ethan and Mal are already making plans to go out. He could easily invite himself over. Demand we spend the night in my bed.
I know that won't happen, but it's nice to imagine it.
I dress cute— a crop top, a tight skirt, boots—and fix my hair and makeup. It's spring break. I feel good.
All the way to my car, I feel good.
The entire drive to Carter's place, I feel good.
The second I step inside his single story house... not so much.
There's loud rap music blaring and it's dim. The only light in the house is coming from the kitchen.
Still, I can tell the place is a mess. There are bags and hoodies and dirty plates all over the ground and table.
And there's Carter and his friends on the couch, passing around a joint. He looks like he walked out of Vans ad, if Vans ads featured okay looking guys who didn't know how to skate or surf.
"Piper hey." He nods to one of his beanie-wearing friends. "You ever meet Matt?"
"Nice to meet you." I wave to the stoner friend then look back to Carter. "Where's Rory?"
"Getting a drink." He points to the kitchen.
Thank God. It smells like weed in here. I hate the smell of weed and I especially hate knowing I'll have to wash my clothes and air out my car if I don't want to suffer the third degree.
Rory is sitting in the kitchen sipping from a red Solo cup. She's dressed in a slacker girlfriend approved jeans and hoodie combination. She's even wearing actual Vans, checkered ones.
Actually, they're really cute.
I want a pair of my own.
But I'd much rather have my best friend back. How long has she been ignoring me? How long has she been into hanging out and smoking weed?
She's been different since she started seeing Carter, but she was different before that too.
Why did it take me so long to realize that Rory isn't my middle school best friend anymore?
She's nothing like the girl who used to scream over boy bands, help me study for science tests, and stay up late eating raw cookie dough and watching movies her parents/my brothers deemed inappropriate for kids our age.
I don't want to be here.
I want to leave, now. I want to call Kit. I want his voice in my ears and his arms around me.
Rory looks to me with a smile. Her face lights up.
I melt. Maybe we can still be friends, even if she's not the same as she was in middle school. It's not like I'm the same either.
Maybe this Carter thing is a phase.
I miss being her friend.
"You came." She jumps to her feet. "I miss you, Pipes. What are you drinking?"
"Whatever you're having."
She nods and pours a mix of tequila and orange juice in a cup. I look around the room for a snack and find only sour cream and onion potato chips.
I nod to the chips. "Anything else to eat?"
"I don't think so." She hands over the drink. "Let me ask Carter. Hold on."
"Sure."
She pulls me into a tight hug, and moves into the main room.
The drink isn't bad for a cocktail. I take another sip. Then another. It is Spring Break. This may be a lame party but it's still a party and I'm still a college student.
I'm supposed to be drinking and hooking up with guys. I'm supposed to be having fun.
I'm not going to sit here feeling sorry for myself, thinking about how badly I want to drive to Kit's house and demand he take me to his bed.
Okay, maybe I'll think a little about being in Kit's bed.
About his dark eyes, and his dark hair, and those strong, calloused fingers. And that tongue piercing and what it would feel like against my tongue.
Against my nipples.
Against my clit.
God, it's hot in here.
I take another sip of my drink. Then another. Then the thing is empty. The alcohol isn't helping me cool down, but it is lowering all the guardrails that usually scream you can't think about Kit like that.
This kitchen has ugly yellow tile and uglier fluorescent lights. It's like Carter, somehow average and ugly at once. I really hate Carter. And I hate him monopolizing Rory's time. And I hate the way she's ignoring me.
And that I've been taking it.
I pour another drink. This time, I nurse it more slowly. There's nothing to see outside the kitchen window but the white stucco on the house next door. There's nothing to hear but the laughs of people who are very, very stoned.
Okay, enough waiting. I slip back into the main room.
And there's Rory, sitting on Carter's lap, running her fingers through his greasy hair.
"Pipes, hey." She smiles at me. "Nothing else to eat here. We're going to order a pizza. Cheese okay?"
"Sure." I take another sip of my drink. My chest flushes this time. "Let's catch up in the kitchen. Or the backyard?"
"Yeah. I'll meet you there in a minute." She turns back to Carter. "Will you be okay without me, baby."
He shakes his head and pulls her into a sloppy kiss. Then his hands are on her ass and she's groaning against his mouth.
And his stoner friends are watching.
"Rory." I clear my throat. "Now.
"
She pulls back with a whine. "One minute. I promise."
Fine. One minute. I don't want to watch them make out. I find the sliding glass door to the backyard and sit on the deck.
It's cool outside. Make that cold. I pull my knees into my chest. I rub my shins with my hands. I down the rest of my drink in one gulp.
That helps.
But it also makes my head spin and my chest flush.
Rory still isn't here.
How long has it been now? Five minutes? Ten? Thirty?
I pull out my phone to check the time, but I have no idea when I got here. It doesn't help.
I shouldn't text Kit tipsy, but I need to talk to someone who actually gives a fuck about me.
Piper: Hey.
Kit: How's the party?
Piper: Could be better. How's whatever you're doing?
Kit: Good.
Piper: Are you going to tell me?
Kit: How could I maintain my reputation for being mysterious then?
Piper: Do something else mysterious?
Kit: I'll think about it. Go talk to Rory. I know you miss hanging out with her.
Piper: She's still making out with her boyfriend.
Kit: Then tell her to go fuck herself.
Piper: Pretty sure she'd rather go fuck him.
Kit: Tell them both to fuck off.
Piper: They'd probably fuck in front of me.
Kit: Don't like the sound of that.
Piper: Not this again.
Kit: I didn't say it.
Piper: But you're thinking it.
Kit: I'm not.
Piper: What are you thinking?
Kit: Something I shouldn't be thinking. Go talk to your friend.
Piper: What if I'd rather talk to you?
Kit: That's too bad. I'm not talking to you until you've talked to her.
Piper: How will you know?
Kit: I trust you. Now go.
He's pushy.
But I'm well aware it's in an I care about what's best for you kind of way.
I give Rory a few more minutes to get her ass out here.
Okay twenty.
She doesn't.
I go back inside. Everything is the same. She's on Carter's lap, sucking face. He's copping a feel (above the waist only, thankfully). Their friends are watching.
My head is spinning. I never drink. I don't know how to deal with my lowered inhibitions. Calling her a disloyal bitch seems wrong, but I'm not holding my tongue anymore.
"Rory. You said we'd talk." I squeeze my plastic cup until it breaks. She doesn't even care enough to pretend we're friends.
She pulls away from Carter enough to turn and look at me. "I'm getting to it." Her expression screams what are you, jealous?
I take a deep breath. "I want to hang out. It's been forever. You've ditched me the last three times we made plans."
"I don't think that's right," she says.
"I've barely seen you all semester." I toss the stupid cup on the dirty carpet. "Do you even care that we're friends?"
She says nothing.
"It's not like he's hot or funny or even able to hold a conversation." I kick the cup. "I'd understand then."
"If you don't love Carter, you don't love me." She folds her arms.
Carter nods along with her.
"I guess I don't love you." I squeeze my purse. I need to get out of here. This is stupid and high school, and I don't like feeling like a child. "I guess I'll see you around."
"Just have a drink and chill, Piper." Rory plays with Carter's greasy hair. "Once you find a guy, you'll get it. You won't be jealous of what we have anymore."
"Jealous of you sucking face with a stoner who can't hold a job?"
"Better than being a virgin." She says the word like it's toxic.
Carter laughs.
His friends too.
It's that same I'm stoned, everything is funny laugh, but still—
Fuck this.
"I hope you enjoy yourself." I spin on my heels and storm out the door.
It's cold outside. And I can still hear the rap music flowing from the party.
I storm all the way to my car, but I stop myself from reaching for my keys. I'm in no state to drive.
I shouldn't have come.
I should have called this months ago.
Rory and I haven't had anything in common forever. I'm just making it official.
Rory and Piper, no longer BFFs, no longer friends at all. Time of death: too late on a Thursday night.
I check the GPS on my phone for some place I can walk to. The closest coffee shop is two miles away. And it's closed. I can call one of my brothers to pick me up. But I can't stomach a lecture right now.
I don't think.
I call Kit.
He answers right away. "You talked to her?"
"Yeah."
"How'd it go?"
"Bad." I dig my fingers into my phone. "Don't be mad."
"I'm not making promises."
"I'm at a party... I'm not being a nice girl."
His voice gets serious. "What happened?"
"I had a few drinks. And I... it's no big deal, but I shouldn't drive. I, uh... I'm sorry. I'll call a cab."
"No. I'll come."
"Are you sure?"
"Send me the address."
"Kit—"
"Now."
I do.
Chapter 9
Kit
I drop my phone in my lap as casually as possible.
Joel stares at me.
I stare back.
He cocks a brow.
I shrug. "Yeah?"
He copies my tone. "Yeah." He shakes his head. "Who the hell was that?"
My phone buzzes with Piper's text. Her name is in my phone as Piper. I don't hide shit anymore.
Joel can't see that.
I shove my cell into my pocket. "I have to go."
He looks at me like I'm crazy. "To...?"
I hand him my controller—we're playing a racing video game—and push up from the couch. Thankfully, I'm at his place. That makes this easier to explain.
I don't have time to make up a cover story. I need to get to Piper. Now.
His voice gets serious. "Kit, you know—"
"It's not that."
"Then what the fuck is it?"
"A girl called."
"I know booty calls. That wasn't a booty call."
"I still want to see her."
"You don't want to see any girls. I've never seen anyone turn down as much casual sex as you have in the last two months. Or look as pissy about it."
"She's different."
"How?"
I hate myself for saying this. "She's a virgin."
Joel laughs. "No virgin is propositioning you."
"She begged me to come over."
"Fuck, no way. This is bullshit." He shakes his head but his eyes are bright.
"You need more details?"
"You know I'll always take details, as vivid as possible." He makes a harrumph noise. "Since when are you into virgins?"
"Trying something new."
"I don't know—"
"She's cute. Blond. Sweet. Innocent. You should see the way her ass looks in jeans. Actually, fuck you. She's mine."
He laughs and settles back into the couch. "Alright. But I demand details."
"I make no promises." I bite my tongue. I don't get off on replaying my conquests, but I've never been shy about offering details. Days on the road are long, they get boring, we need something to talk about. It's normal that we get to sex.
But the thought of telling him anything about me and Piper together—
That feels fucking wrong.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" he teases. "Go pop a cherry."
He wouldn't in a million years talk about Piper this way.
She's right—we're a bunch of fucking hypocrites.
"I'll come over tomorrow?" I offer.
He gets up and moves to t
he kitchen to pour a glass of water. "Wait for my text. Have a girl coming over in the afternoon. Expecting to have her out by eight."
Really, we're dogs.
But I don't give a flying fuck about anything but getting Piper home at the moment.
Piper is sitting on the curb, her knees pressed together, her purse in her lap. This is a nice suburban street. It's fine that she's sitting outside.
But I still fucking hate it.
She rises to her feet as she sees me park. It's a cool night, but I feel like I'm on fire.
I shift off my bike and make my way across the street.
She's not wearing much—a black miniskirt, tall boots, a light top that hugs her chest.
Her eyes aren't glazed enough for her to be drunk. But she's stumbling more than she should in those shoes. She's still tipsy.
She holds her position as she stares into my eyes. She's hesitant. But why?
"You drink any water?" I ask.
She shakes her head. "I didn't want to go back inside."
"Where's your car?"
"What about—" She points to my motorcycle.
"We'll take your car."
"This way." Her voice is meek. Still, she hands me her keys and leads me to her sedan.
We're close enough to the beach that the air smells like salt. Then she gets close enough that it smells like Piper. Like honey and flowers and something entirely her.
Fuck, the things I want to do to her...
I shake it off as I unlock the passenger door and pull it open for her.
"Thank you." She slides into her seat.
I slide into mine. Then the doors are closed and she's leaning over the center console to wrap her arms around me.
"I'm sorry." She squeezes me.
"It's okay." I squeeze back.
"I know you're mad or disappointed... something."
"I'm not anything."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I'll tell you if I'm something."
She pulls back enough to wipe her eyes. "After that fight with Rory... I don't think we're friends anymore. Me and Rory, I mean."
"I'm sorry."
"She's been my best friend since forever." Her blue eyes find mine. "No, that's not right. We were close back in middle school. High school even. But things have been different for the last six months... we haven't been talking as much, haven't had as much in common."
"People grow apart."
She nods. "Yeah." She blinks back another tear. "Sorry. I... I was just thinking of the time in middle school where we snuck out to toilet paper this mean popular girl's house. And we got caught and poor Mal had to come get us and explain what had happened to the popular girl's parents. They didn't understand the idea of TPing someone's house. Mal was mad, but I think it was mostly that we didn't invite him to supervise. Me and Rory laughed all the way home. Eventually, he was laughing too. He was really surly right after Mom and Dad left. It killed his sense of humor for a while, all that responsibility, the pain of them leaving. Not that he's totally over being strict about things, but... I'm rambling, huh?"
Dangerous Crush: A Rock Star Romance (Dangerous Noise Book 2) Page 8