I go back and check on Brooke a few times but she’s absolutely fine messing around with Maxen.
I walk into the kitchen to pour myself another drink when I find Nate with Ashley up against the wall. Her legs are wrapped around his waist and his hands are firmly on her ass as they make out.
A fierce jealousy cuts through me and has me choking on my own breath. Where the hell did that come from? “Woah, babe,” Jesse says from beside me as he claps a hand on my back to stop me from choking. “You all good?”
His question has Nate breaking away from Ashley to find out what’s going on, and I hate that he sees me right now. “Yeah,” I say, looking at the table and focusing on pouring a drink so I can avoid meeting Nate’s eyes. “I’m good.”
I pour my drink before his voice draws my attention away. “Don’t you think you’ve had enough?”
I look up to find him staring straight at me with a very disgruntled Ashley in his arms. “Don’t you think you should find a room?” I snap.
An ‘oooh’ sounds around us and it takes me a moment to realize what I’ve just done. Nobody challenges Nate Ryder, especially in front of a crowd like this. That’s a lesson I’ve learned the hard way. I mean, over the last few days it’s been fine when it’s just me and him, but in front of people, that’s a big no-no.
He steps away from Ashley as his eyes narrow on me and comes right up in front of me. The butterflies in my stomach take flight and I find myself looking up into his eyes, meeting his challenge.
I don’t know what it is. Maybe I’ve had a few too many drinks or maybe I’ve just gotten used to screaming at him over the last few days. Either way, I’m not backing down and he sees that clear in my eyes.
Nate’s so close to me that with the slightest movement, I’d be touching him. He reaches out his hand and takes the bottle from my fingers while searching my eyes. “Don’t make me do it,” he begs for only me to hear.
I’ve been in this situation many times before to know that this is not how it goes. This is usually where he’d call me out and put me down. He’d say something to make everyone laugh or try to make me feel small but never has he asked me to back down.
I see it clear as day. He doesn’t want to hurt me. He has no problem kidnapping me, scaring me or yelling at me, but hurting me… that’s different.
Things are changing.
A part of me wants to know what he’s going to do if I don’t back down, but then, another part is screaming at me to let him off the hook.
“Alright, boys and girls,” Jesse says situating himself between us and pushing Nate back a step and trying to put out the fire. “We all need to get along if we plan on living together for the foreseeable future.”
Nate allows Ashley to pull him back and I let out a breath.
Situation resolved. Both Nate and I got away from that one without having to back down. Points all around. I think that deserves another drink. I grab the discarded bottle off the table and finish pouring my drink. I bolt out of there with my drink in hand before Nate has a chance to light another fire under my ass.
By the time I get back outside, the party seems to have doubled. The sun has gone down and the music is turned right up.
As I make my way back over to Courtney and Bec, I get stopped by a tiny little cheerleader in a string bikini. She grins up at me with her hands on her hips. I try to step around her but she blocks me again. “Heard you were getting around last night.”
“Excuse me?” I grunt.
“Is it not enough for you to break the rules with Josh? You had to take Nate and Jesse too,” Elle sneers.
“First off. I couldn’t give a shit about Josh. He’s a loser and I was only messing with him to get under your skin, and apparently, it worked. I was never dating him. Second. I haven’t taken Nate and Jesse. I couldn’t be any less interested.”
“Whatever,” she scoffs. “I knew you were a slut and now you’ve proven it. I’m curious though,” she says with a grin. “How do you make it work? Do you alternate beds each night or do they just come to you?”
I step into her, letting her see the fire within me. “What’s wrong Elle? Are you jealous that I have all these boys pining for my attention? I mean, I had the quarterback all over me when everyone knows he’s supposed to want you, yet it’s obvious he won’t go anywhere near you. And as for Nate and Jesse? Well, it’s pretty clear you couldn’t get your claws in there. You had to scoop the bottom of the barrel and open your legs for Maxen instead. You know Nate and Jesse don’t share right? You’ve just shot down your chances with them.”