"I see that you've been having fun tonight," I point out to him.
He gives me a blank look, clearly not understanding what I mean. I run my fingers across his plump bottom lip, collecting the lipstick trail, and show it to him. I am unprepared for the zing of heat that the somewhat intimate gesture stirs inside me.
He looks down at my thumb, and I swear I think I see him blush.
The pink in his cheeks quickly disappears, and he gives me a lopsided grin. "What can I say? The ladies love me."
"I'm aware that you're a manwhore."
He winces, "Ouch! I prefer the term ladies' man. And I never lead anyone on. They know what they're getting with me."
I can't deny that he's right. I've heard the girls talk, and Foster has a reputation for being a giver in bed and never making a long-term commitment. None of them were complaining.
"In my defense," he continues, "that lipstick was not my doing. Your friend Olivia is on the prowl and won't take no for an answer." He gives an exaggerated shudder.
"So, it's okay for you, but not a girl to go after what she wants?" I challenge him.
He puts his arms up in surrender, "I'm not saying it's wrong for her to get it, but when someone says no, you back off. You don't smash your lips into theirs and expect them to be somehow grateful. Consent is key."
"I can agree with that." I look over to my friend, who's now rubbing herself all over another hockey player. Olivia is very pretty, with platinum hair that is perfectly straightened and styled. She's petite and curvy in a way that guys seem to like. My figure resembles a stick with arms, legs, and a head. She'd be the perfect accessory on Cole or Foster's arm.
"Why don't you like her? She's hot," I ask, curiosity getting the best of me.
He shrugs, "She's cute, but her attitude isn't. Believe it or not, I notice things like that. The way she talks to people makes her unattractive."
I'm intrigued and want to know more, but loud shouting from the other room has us both looking.
"Foster, get over here. We need another player," Cole yells from the kitchen. Foster gestures to let him know he's coming, then turns around and stares at me thoughtfully.
"Cole is lucky that you're so supportive of him. You go to all his games and suffer through all these things you don't enjoy. Don't let him take you for granted, pretty girl. I won't hesitate to sweep in and make sure you're appreciated."
And with that bomb dropped, he turns and disappears into the crowd.
After Foster leaves me, I check in on my friends. I spot Emma dancing, but Olivia is nowhere to be seen. I reach Emma and yell in her ear.
"Where's Liv?" I ask her.
"Went upstairs with some guy. She'll be fine."
I nod, "I'm going to head outside and get some air for a minute. You okay?"
"Yeah, if Cole is looking for you, I'll let him know," she tells me, returning to grinding on a vaguely familiar-looking guy.
"Thanks."
I leave her to get back to her dance partner and slip out the door to a sprawling deck overlooking a backyard full of trees. There looks to be furniture, a bar, and a fire pit out here, but they're covered with tarps. A few people are scattered about, so I take the stairs to find a more secluded spot to hide away and recharge.
Leaning against the back of the house, I look out at the forest of trees and catch a whiff of smoke in the air. There's a man-shaped shadow out there, and it's coming closer. I panic a little, not sure it's wise to be out here alone with someone I don't know.
The shadow comes closer, and a raspy voice says, "Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you."
The tone is anything but reassuring.
"Yeah, because someone who's going to hurt you is going to give you a heads-up first," I snark at him.
The man chuckles and steps a little closer. The cherry at the end of his cigarette flares up, and he steps into the light from above the deck. My breath catches. His face is still half in shadow, but I can see his black hair flopping over into his face and one light-colored eye taking me in. His cigarette perches on a pair of full lips, and a tattooed hand comes up and grabs it before snuffing it out on the ground. This guy is obviously not a high school student.
"Why did you wander away from all that?" he asks, motioning to the house above us.
