by Howe, Olivia
“Thank you,” I said, smiling at them.
I looked over to see that Bethany and Finn were already chatting away. I tried to hone in on their conversation but realized I’d be lost, as they were recounting some event that had happened sometime when apparently I’d not been around, or had been out of it.
I was having a lot of those lately!
My eyes scanned the table for a familiar face when they landed on Finn’s mom, Michelle. She smiled sweetly at me, taking a sip of her wine and then slowly dragging her gaze back to the man seated next to her. He was tall with salt-and-peppered hair and a strong, clean-shaven jaw, and a straight nose. His chocolate brown eyes held the same warmth as the olive tone to his skin and I wondered if Finn would look that good at his father’s age.
Then I again thought of Landon. Since they were cousins, I supposed that made those two his aunt and uncle. I wondered briefly if Michelle would tell me why her son disliked her nephew so much.
A plate of food was set in front of me and I dug in as daintily and politely as I could, but I was starving. The fish was salmon with some sort of a sweet glaze on top and it was to die for. Rice pilaf was steaming next to it, and the smell of curry and sage wafted up into my nose. The broccoli on the other side of the plate was steamed to perfection and I could taste a hint of butter and rosemary on it. I ate slowly, but I really just wanted to inhale the entire meal into my mouth.
While eating, I looked around and wondered what we were doing here. What was the point of these fancy dinners? Was there going to be a less fancy party later, and would the adults be there? That didn’t sound like very much fun.
Adults… I was technically one, but I didn’t want to party with Finn’s parents and their friends. Like I was really in any position to make demands. I was certainly grateful to Finn’s parents for inviting Beth and me to their cabin for the week. It seemed like this was a yearly thing, and two more people probably didn’t make a huge difference. I just hoped nobody expected me to ski again. God, what a nightmare that was. I was still so mortified about how I’d acted. I should have just told them no, I wasn’t going out on the slopes since I didn’t know what the hell I was doing. At least I hadn’t paid for the ski equipment, Finn had said his family owned it all and let me borrow some.
“You ready?”
I blinked at Bethany, who was talking to me, a smile on her face. She was holding an almost empty flute of champagne and looking at me expectantly for an answer.
Answer to what? Oh yeah.
I looked down at my empty plate. “Yep, ready to go!”
Not having a clue as to where we were going, I followed her, Finn, and four other people around my age out of the dining room. Sneaking a glance at Michelle, I could see her glaring at her son, and I sort of felt embarrassed for dining and dashing, but I had to follow my friends. I smiled apologetically at Finn’s mom when she caught my eye. She tossed a polite smile back at me.
Chapter 6
It was really hard to keep my legs crossed like a lady in this dress. Between the leggings and jeans I wore to school, I rarely had to sit so proper. But the chairs were wide and the table was small, and there were a lot of cute guys in this place.
Why I followed my best friend and Finn and whoever else those people were to this bar, I’ll never know. I’m not even old enough to be in here, yet, but it seemed nobody cared to ask me for I.D.
I’d spent the first 30 minutes stressing and sweating that Bethany and I were going to get kicked out of here, but nobody seemed to care. The waitress, with a polite smile but bored expression, had asked me what I wanted to drink, and hadn’t even asked for money after she’d plunked down the rum and Coke in front of me.
As I watched the dance floor with mild interest, I shifted my gaze away from Bethany and Finn’s dirty dancing to the multiple pictures framed along the dark wood walls of the bar. A few red and white football jerseys were hung up on the wall, framed in wood and glass. The closer I looked, I noticed they all had the last name FOSTER on them.
Wasn’t that the last name of…
“Why aren’t you dancing?” I heard Bethany screech in my ear.
I stared at her in annoyance. “I’m not dancing.”
She threw her head back and laughed, and it was then I noticed in her hand she held a clear glass with some red liquid sloshing around in it. It was already three-fourths empty. I was glad she had on the little red dress in case she spilled it.
Pulling me to my feet, I stood out of necessity but then planted my feet firmly to the floor. I was wearing her simple but sparkly black ballet flats and I hesitated, not wanting to dance. She pulled on my arm, but I stood firm, like a stubborn dog who didn’t want to go on a walk.
“Come on!” she said, her eyes glittering with the lights around us, their depths pleading with me.
“I’d rather stick my arm in a wood chipper.”
Bethany made a face. “That’s gross.”
“So is dancing.”
Rolling her eyes, she yanked me again, and this time I went somewhat willingly. Just one dance would appease her and then I could go back to blending in with the proverbial flowers of the wallpaper.
The song was fast, catchy, and I couldn’t understand the lyrics but it didn’t matter. Everyone was dancing and I tried my best to copy what they were doing, but I sucked at dancing so I sort of moved my hips back and forth. Finn came up in front of me and smiled down at me, putting one hand on my hip and swayed with me, then I felt someone from the back put their other hand on me, sandwiching me in. Looking over my shoulder, I smiled at Bethany.
I was starting to have a little fun so I looked around the bar to see if anyone was staring at us. Nobody was, but then I saw Landon. He was leaning up against the bar with that beautiful blonde once again hanging all over him. She had her arm looped through his but her attention was on another girl next to her, whom she seemed to be deep in conversation with. Looking closer, I recognized the friend as Amber, Finn’s bitchy sister.
My body continued to move back and forth between the other two, but my eyes were fixated on Landon’s. He took a sip of his beer but never once did his eyes leave mine. He watched me dance, and with more bravery than I felt, I continued to gaze back at him. It felt like an eternity, our game of “stare” going on forever. Suddenly, the contact I had with the two bodies left, causing me to look away. Still moving to the beat, I saw that Finn and Bethany were now dancing together. The song had changed to a slower tempo, but wasn’t exactly a mushy love song. It still had a sexy, sultry techno beat and I closed my eyes and let the music move me. I thought about going back to my table to finish my rum and Coke, but realized sitting alone was just as bad, if not worse, than dancing alone. Besides, I felt a little safe here, surrounded by warm, writhing bodies, all cocooning me in.
Lifting my hands in the air, I then looked over toward Landon again. He hadn’t moved. His eyes were fixed on my legs, and I watched as they traveled up the length of me, paused at my chest, then back up into my face. His intense lime eyes once again fixated on mine, and I let a small grin escape my lips when our eyes locked. I could have been imagining it, but I could swear I saw his body stiffen at my smile. As if to confirm it, his blonde partner turned from her friend and looked questioningly at Landon, as if sensing his unease. Seeing he hadn’t moved or reacted to her, she went back to chatting with Amber.
Our stare-off continued. I only broke it when I twirled around or closed my eyes and threw my head back, but then I would lock eyes with him again. As I was about to smile at him once more, this time bigger, his face darkened and his jaw began to clench and tick. I didn’t have time to question it, as a pair of strong hands wrapped around my waist and locked around me. I felt the wall of muscle against my back before craning my head around to see a tall, handsome stranger looking down at me with sparkly blue eyes. The red pulsing lights of the club bounced off his shiny styled blonde hair and he smiled down at me before his mouth brushed aga
inst my ear.
“You looked lonely,” he purred.
I smiled. “I wasn’t, but now that I have company…”
He turned me around, and as he did, I saw Landon still watching us, both arms folded over his chest, the girl no longer touching him. His stare was intense; almost angry. This made me happy for some unknown reason, and I turned back to my new tall, sexy stranger and smiled up at him.
“I’m Sadie,” I said, standing on tiptoe so he could hear me.
“Ryder,” he replied, smiling.
His hands never left my body as we continued to move back and forth to the beat. Sometimes Ryder’s arms encircled my waist. Sometimes his hands would slide up and down from my ribcage, over my waist, then come to rest on my hips. Sometimes they would brush over my backside and then back up to my waist. I didn’t touch him too much, just kept my arms moving in what was probably a very dorky dance. I didn’t look at Ryder too much either, just kept my eyes closed or I would look around the dance floor to see if Bethany was still around.
Occasional glances in Landon’s direction told me he was still watching us. His face was still stormy and dark, and if the red lights weren’t so strong in here, I would bet his cheeks were flushed red. Why was he so angry? He had no stake to claim on me. He couldn’t even be bothered to show up on a casual first date at a very popular steakhouse in town. He had probably double-booked his dates by accident and had to choose the prettier of the two, which most likely had ended up being the blonde next to him with the big boobs and the perfect ringlets in her thick, heavy hair.
I decided I was done looking at him. He had watched me dance for what was probably nearly an hour now and hadn’t made a move. He was just staring like some creep, so I was going to have fun with the guy who had been brave enough to come dance with me.
A sexy Bruno Mars song came on and Ryder wasted no time pulling me close to him, and I, in turn, snaked my arms around his waist and moved rhythmically in a circle. I could feel his breath on the top of my hair, and his hard body felt good against mine. He had on nothing but a black T-shirt and jeans and I could feel every muscle against me. Every. Single. Muscle.
We danced this way to two slow songs. I didn’t look at Landon again. I was having too nice of a time with Ryder to give a crap about his moody ass. The song cut to a fast one and I told Ryder I needed to get some water. He nodded and led me off the dance floor by the hand. I pointed to where I was sitting and he said he had to go tell his buddy something and hooked his thumb at a group of guys in the corner. I nodded and headed toward the bar to get a drink, and it didn’t go unnoticed by me that Landon was now gone. His blonde was sitting at a nearby table, still enraptured in whatever Amber was saying.
After the bartender served me, I gulped down the water in one chug and headed toward the ladies’ room. I must look like a sweaty mess.
The bar was mostly composed of dark wood walls, which criss-crossed in different directions along the walls, and the hallway that led to the restrooms was no different. The dark passageway seemed to go on forever until I found the door marked with a little blue female stick figure.
Grateful I was alone in there, if only for a few minutes, I looked in the mirror and gasped in horror. My mascara had dripped under my eyes and made me look like a raccoon. My chestnut hair was flat and the curls Beth had done were all but gone. Using a paper towel to fix the raccoon eyes, I wet it and wiped under my eyes, then I finger-combed my hair. After using the facilities and washing my hands, I exited the bathroom.
The door hadn’t even closed all the way before I felt myself being slammed up against the wall. Before a scream could expel, a pair of warm lips were covering mine and a strong hand had slipped around my back.
Pushing hard against my assailant caused him to let go and step back. As I was about to yell in the dark corridor, I was met with smoldering green eyes and a mouth partially open and glistening from where we’d just kissed.
Anger twisted my face. “Just what in the f–”
“I do not want you dancing with Ryder again. I’m serious,” Landon breathed out.
I laughed. “Who do you think… what in… wait. What? Why not?”
“Just don’t. He’s not good for you.”
“How do you even know him?” I blinked at him in disbelief.
“He’s another cousin, and he’s on my football team. Just stay away from him, he’s a player.”
“You are unbelievable!” I screeched. “I don’t know who you think you are, but you don’t get to tell me who I can dance with. You stood there all night with your bimbo, staring at me like some creeper. Now, if you’ll excuse me…”
His lips were on mine again. This time I didn’t fight them, I found myself melting into them. His hands were warm and aggressive as he gripped both my hips and pulled me close into him. His lips sucked on mine, until his tongue demanded entry, to which I granted.
The kiss was demanding, forceful, and he seemed to be branding me, claiming me with it. Soon, my hands were in his hair and his dual grip on my hipbones was stronger. I felt something stir inside of me, feelings of a dark desire I hadn’t felt in what seemed like, well, never.
My head was spinning and my body was on fire and I wondered just what the hell I was doing in this dark hallway with Landon Foster, the jerk who had stood me up and hadn’t bothered calling to explain. Thoughts of that, of my shame and humiliation, came crashing down and I pulled away from his mouth and pushed him back once more.
“No,” I gasped out. “You don’t get to kiss me like this, or kiss me at all. You don’t deserve that. You don’t deserve me. I’m going back out there.” I jutted my chin in the direction of the dance floor.
He let me go, but then caught my wrist as I walked away. Pulling me back to him, he yanked my body against his with force. He breathed in my ear, “Be at my room at midnight.”
Trying not to show him that his words and closeness had caused delicious goosebumps to pebble my entire body, I shook my head. “I don’t even know where your room is.” I walked away.
“Then I’ll be at yours.”
I tossed a look over my shoulder. “That’s quite the risk. I might not be alone.”
Of course I was talking about Bethany being there with me, but he didn’t need to know that. I walked off with a grin of sick satisfaction on my face.
Chapter 7
Bethany and Finn were nowhere to be found once I reached the main part of the bar. Ryder was dancing with a leggy brunette, and I seemed to have disappeared into the woodwork once again.
I pulled my phone from the small purse I wore across my body and saw that it was 11:05 p.m. It was close to midnight, and I laughed once again at Landon. Who the hell does he think he is? As much as his searing kiss and demanding hands had temporarily unwrapped my self-control, there was no way I was just going to hook up with him out of the blue like that.
Right?
Wasn’t I here to have fun, ski (which failed), drink a little, rub elbows with the rich and famous, and maybe a hookup or two? But was that really me? Did Sadie Roberts, straight-A college student, attending on a full-ride scholarship, really do these things? Yes, I was in a sorority. I joined one because I knew they looked good on my resume and I knew the pledge would be a challenge and I loved a challenge. I had aced their stupid pledges with no problem, but rarely did I hang out with my other “sisters” – it wasn’t something I liked doing. I went to the events, like the one the other night where I was receiving that award, but other than that, it just wasn’t me. There was no way I was putting on a bikini to do a car wash or volunteering my time at the local “Hooters” restaurant takeover. Sorry, the sorority didn’t need money that bad. Not to mention, I was no Hooters girl.
I left the bar and walked the short distance back to the Banks’s mansion. They kept calling it “the cabin” but that was a fucking mansion. I’m sorry.
The night was cold, and the mountain wind bit me in the face as I walke
d, but I didn’t mind. Sure, I was a California girl through-and-through, and everyone knows Californians can’t handle any sort of cold weather (we can’t handle hot weather either, or humidity, or rain, or lightning…) but I sort of enjoyed the cold. Set high in the Sierra Mountains, Lake Tahoe was a legendary city, just a stone’s throw from Nevada, where the country began its stretch east.
I reached “the cabin” quickly, and walked up the grand staircase toward my room. The massive hallway was wide enough to fit a Mini car but all the doors looked alike. In the two days I’d spent here, I’d never had a problem finding our room, but tonight, I was feeling a bit disoriented. All the damn doors looked alike.
Couldn’t have been that mind-bending kiss I had indulged in earlier, could it?
No, it wasn’t that. I was tired, Bethany had ditched me for Finn (I was truly happy for her), and I just wanted to get some sleep. I most certainly wasn’t going to Landon’s room, and if he tried to come to mine, I’d be dead asleep by midnight anyway.
I’m such a party animal…
I knew Finn’s room was at the end of the hall, and as I spied the red ribbon tied around the door handle, I knew Bethany would be indisposed for the rest of the night. I smiled at the prospect of having the big bed all to myself.
But would I? Landon wasn’t going to show up. That was ridiculous. He was probably going back to wherever his room was in this hideously huge house to go put it on the blonde who had been all over him like a cheap suit all night.
I knew our room was three doors down from Finn’s, and laughing as I saw many ribbons tied to many doorknobs, I took a deep breath and turned the handle, grateful it wasn’t locked. I exhaled a sigh of relief once I realized I had the right room.
Flipping on the lights and the TV at the same time, I wandered through the room, swiftly scanning to ensure everything was where it should be. When I was satisfied it was, I went to my overnight bag and pulled out a Three Musketeers bar and after unwrapping it, I groaned as the chocolate hit my tongue.