Sometimes Never (31 page)

             
“I believe you introduced us before I gave her candy,” Mason corrects.

             
“Yeah, by like, five minutes,” Guy replies.

             
“You’re kinda like a candy slut,” Annie says to me, winking into the mirror.

             
I smile widely. “I regret nothing.”

             
Mason squeezes my hand again. I glance at him and he brings my fingers to his mouth, skimming his lips across the knuckles. “Me neither.”

             
Guy presses a fist against his mouth and makes a gagging noise. “Shut up,” Annie scolds him. “I think it’s adorable now that I know it’s more than a booty call.” She brings her head up over the seat between me and Mason. “Have you done the whole booty part?”

             
“Ugh. Ew, Annie. None of your business.” I smack at her until she sits back. Mason just smirks, completely amused.

             
“You did! Ohmygod! You really are a slut. You lost your V card for candy.”

             
My mouth falls open. “I did not lose my V card
for candy
! I love him.”

             
“What?” Guy chokes. My eyes meet his in the mirror and I flinch at the betrayal I find there. “You didn’t tell me.” His head turns slowly to regard Mason. “You promised me you would take care of her. That was not the way I thought you meant.” He shakes his head at Mason’s raised brow. “She’s like my sister. You couldn’t manage to keep it in your pants longer than a few weeks?”

             
“Hey! Stop it,” I nearly shout. “Don’t be an ass. I didn’t freak out when you lost your virginity. Or when you sleep with anything that has a penis. It was my choice. He didn’t even want—” I pause because this is none of their business. “I love him, Guy. I’m happy. That’s all that should matter.”

             
His expression softens and he presses two fingers into each temple. “I know. You’re right. It does matter. I love that you’re happy and I know it’s because of him. I was just surprised. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me something that big. You said you wouldn’t keep things from me anymore.”

             
“This is different,” I murmur. It really is different. The cutting was mine alone. Mason... It’s like all these years I spent so desensitized to love and men, I was just waiting for him. I don’t want to share this feeling with anyone but him. It’s special. It’s ours. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

             
Guy stares at me for several seconds before rolling his eyes. “I do not sleep with anything that has a penis.” He points at Mason. “Case in point.” I smile at his easy acceptance and obvious subject change.

             
Mason laughs and grins at me. He brushes the hair off my shoulder and leans close to my ear. “Just so you know—I don’t do anything I don’t want to. I wanted to make love to you that night. Badly. Every day, from the moment I first saw you in that Beatles shirt, and every day since.”

             
I glance at him, biting my lip. “But you said—”

             
“I said I wanted it to be special,” he whispers, his breath tickling my neck. “I never said I didn’t want to. I just want to clear that up. Don’t ever think I haven’t wanted you desperately every second I’ve known you.” He bites my shoulder gently and I shiver. Stifling a moan. I really, really,
really
do not want to go to this party.

~***~

              Warren Grant lives in a large two story house. There are two other cars parked in the driveway and a pink bike lies on its side in the freshly mowed lawn. Brightly colored, helium filled balloons are tied to the mailbox and Guy beams as he flicks one. “Nice.”

             
“You’ve gotta love these kick ass middle school parties,” Annie says with an irritated roll of her eyes. “Maybe if we’re lucky there’ll be a thrilling game of spin the bottle.”

             
Park pulls in behind Neko and I drag Mason back as Guy rings the doorbell. “No fighting tonight.”

             
He kisses me, a quick peck that makes my stomach clench, wanting more. “I know.”

             
“Promise,” I add.

             
One side of his mouth lifts slightly. “I promise.” He puts his hand over his heart and pecks me again. “I’ll be expecting a reward for my good behavior, though.”

             
My brows shoot up. “What did you have in mind?”

             
He shoves his hands into his pockets and turns on his heels. “I’m sure we can agree on a mutually beneficial arrangement.”

             
Oh, I know we can.
Damn this party
.

             
“Hey, come on in,” Warren says, opening the screen door wide. “My mom’s still here, so be cool.”

             
“I like your balloons,” Guy mocks. “Festive. Please tell me there’s crate paper and pointy hats.”

Warren
replies by scratching his nose with his middle finger.

             
“I like the hats,” I say. “Oh, will there be cake?”

             
Warren smiles and puts his arm around my shoulder. “My mom made cupcakes. I think there’s some frosting left over. We can go upstairs later—”

             
Mason tugs me away from Warren, sending him a warning glare. “What the hell, man?”

             
“Oh.” Warren holds his hands up. “You two,” he points his finger from me to Mason, “got a thing?”

             
“She’s my girlfriend,” Mason says clearly.

             
“S’cool, dude. I didn’t know.” He looks over my head at Annie and nods. “What’s up, Beautiful?”

             
“Ug.” Annie swallows and looks away. She wiggles her fingers in a quick hello and mouths, “Help.”

             
I let my hair fall over my face as I suppress a snort. “Park, dude, how’s it going?” Warren calls and leans between Annie and I to do the whole fist-bump-guy-thing.

             
“Hey, man. Where do we set up?” Park’s bloodshot eyes bounce to me then away.

             
“I was thinking living room,” Warren tells him. “I cleared a whole wall. You should have plenty of room.”

             
“Lead the way,” Park says nodding. His gaze flips back to me and he gives me a goofy smile as his eyebrows jump.

             
Warren introduces us to his mom, stepdad, and a younger sister. The stepdad forks over four fifties before they leave and Guy is humming with excited energy.

             
“Let’s get this party started,” Chase sings, dancing into the room with a bottle in each hand.

             
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Annie says. She relieves him of one bottle and pulls me into the kitchen to search out shot glasses while the boys set the equipment up. “Tonight I am getting frat girl drunk. It’s the only way I’ll be able to deal with my awesome friends.”

             
I quirk a brow at her. “Why are you here if you don’t want to be? Better yet, why are you friends with these people if you don’t like them?”

             
She swallows back the drink and hands me the glass. “Honestly?”

             
I nod as I pour the shot. “Yeah. They’re a bunch of assholes. I don’t get it. Especially when you know someone as amazing as me.” I grin and tilt my head back, hissing out a breath trying to relieve the burn.

             
Annie follows suit, downing another drink. “I don’t know. I hate my friends.”

             
“Then don’t be friends with them anymore.” I slam the glass on the counter and inhale quickly trying not to gag on that last shot.

             
“It’s not that simple,” Annie protest. “You don’t understand.”

             
“Actually, I think it would be extremely simple.”

             
“Everything’s easy for you,” she says quietly.

             
“Uh, no. It’s not.” I squint at her, taking in the blonde locks curled into perfection. The overly shadowed eyes. The pristine outfit bordering on slutty, but covering just enough to pass as girl next door cute. How hard is it for Annie? How hard does she try to fit in with her friends? “Why would you say that?”

             
She laughs and I don’t miss the bitter undercurrent. “You can sing. You play all these instruments. Guys trip over themselves when you’re around. Alec likes you more than me. He can’t even be bothered to talk to me, but he rebuilt a car with you. I’m Guy’s stepsister, but he claims
you
as his sister. Even Dylan and Misty prefer you to me.” She holds her hand up when I open my mouth. “Don’t even get me started on the twins. And my baby sister would rather hunt you down then ask me to fill her stupid juice cup.” She shakes her head and throws back another shot. “You have real friends. And you don’t even try. You make no effort to have everything you have. I work my ass off. Cheer practice, studying, volunteering. I try to be a good person, but it’s like I’m never enough.”

             
“Alec doesn’t like me more,” I say. “Dylan hates me. Yes, I play a couple of instruments. So what? You find the only thing I have going for me and hold it against me. Your mom is always trying to turn me into a carbon copy of
you
. My grades suck. I don’t have a
single
female friend.” I take another drink and shove the glass away from me, angry now. “You still have both your parents and Jenny may be a slightly overbearing perfectionist, but she has always been there for you. You have led a princess’ life compared to mine. When you have to wonder where your mom is, or where your next meal is coming from, or if your mom’s newest boyfriend is going to lay his hands on you, then you can cry about your life. Until then…just
shut up
.” I push off the counter. “You want real friends, Annie, then stop playing pretend and grow up.”

35

Mason

              Drunk Hope is pretty entertaining. Even though I feel like her bodyguard as opposed to her boyfriend right now, I think she’s the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. At school, she’s quiet and usually keeps to herself, but here, with alcohol flowing through her veins, she’s chatting everybody up like they’re old friends.

             
“Hey Zack. I like your shirt,” she calls to some guy. I’m not sure what’s so great about his shirt. It’s a plain black tee. Probably from a pack that came with two more just like it.

             
“Shirt,” she says again and snorts. “Shi-rt.
Shirt
. That’s a funny word.”

             
It’s really not.

             
“I wonder who named it. Who was that first dude that was all like: I will call this a shirt?” She laughs again and I chuckle at her. “Noggin. That’s another funny word. Nog-gin. Oh, and blubber.” Now she doubles over, shaking with quiet laughter. “Blubber.”

             
“Shenanigan,” I offer, because how can I not? She’s hilarious right now.

             
“YES,” she exclaims, slapping my chest. “See, you get it. Oh, look, Mason. They have a pool.” She turns to face me straight on and smiles widely. “Do you think you’ll manage to keep your pants on?”

             
“Oh, haha. You’re a freaking comedian now?”

             
Hope blinks her eyes slowly, trying to look innocent, but her lips do this twitch and she presses them together to keep from laughing. I lean into her and bring my mouth close to her ear.

             
“You going to manage not to puke all over your drums?” I tease.

             
She shrugs, unaffected. “Hopefully.” Her eyes go big and she bounces on her toes. “If I get sick I won’t have to play. We could leave.”

             
“I think Guy would be pretty pissed off. Plus, you guys got paid.” I don’t really give a shit about either of those things, but I know Hope does. Well, maybe not right now, but she will when she’s sober.

             
“Yeah,” she sighs, defeated.

             
“Hope,” Guy calls. “Come on, it’s time.”

             
I squeeze her waist as she pouts her lip. I kiss it back into place. “The sooner you get through your set the sooner we can leave.”

             
Her lips turn up under mine and she beams at me. “True.” She places a quick kiss on my cheek and lets Guy pull her away. “I’ll be back. Don’t leave.” Uh, where would I go? There is no way in hell I’d leave her here, especially all sweet and tipsy.