When dance music starts thumping under our feet, Zander leads me downstairs. There’s no longer a stage covering the site of Jason’s accident, and sure enough, there’s a bloodstain on the concrete floor. When Zander notices what I’m looking at, he tells me, “Oh yeah, that dude bled out half his head on the floor. Jake tried to bleach it, but now it’s all green and shit.”
The blotch is indeed “all green and shit,” but at least you can’ttell what it originally was. Too bad I know where it came from. All I’ll ever think of when I see that sickly stain is Jason’s eyes rolling back in his head.
And I’ll think about Leo, too.
I tip back my head and pour half my beer down my throat. I don’t expect him to show up tonight. I haven’t heard a peep from him in the past few days and he hasn’t said anything about the party since I first invited him. I’m free to enjoy Zander and keep an eye on Liv. And to not have to think aboutclair-anything.
For what feels like hours, Zander and I dance in the jam-packed basement, pawing each other like high school kids in the backseat of a car. Since I’m too lazy to go upstairs for another beer, I’ve been taking little sips of his cocktail and I’m way past tipsy. My beautiful faerie wings are wilting and Zander has broken the hook on one of his overalls straps. He’s also lost his red shirt and, thank god, his mustache.
Buried deep in the crowd are Liv and Braden. I catch glimpses of them as the bodies around me shift side to side to the music. He’s holding her tight and she’s all smushed against him, arms locked around his neck.
“Leave them alone, babe.” Zander turns my head with a clammy hand. “They’re just dancing.”
“Now. But what about later?”
“Liv’s a big girl. She can take care of herself.”
Shows you how much he knows about Liv.
I try to wriggle out of Zander’s hold, determined to drop her a fresh warning, but he pulls me closer and drags his lips down my neck, something he knows makes me weak in the knees.
“Braden’s a good guy. Stop worrying about him.”
I fight against the hot tingle his mouth left in its wake. “But?—”
“Nuh uh.” He flashes his sexiest smile and offers me his bottle. “Drink.”
I do.
I’m hanging off Zander’s neck, dancing with my back to his front, when Trevor interrupts to tell Zander they need him out back. Apparently, some freshman boys are about to start a fight because no one will let them near the keg.
I sigh. A frat president’s work is never done.
After following them upstairs, I head to the kitchen for some water. And there, leaning against the counter, is Leo.
I do a double take. I’m not in the right mind-space for Leo, and I think I might be seeing things.It’s a Zander night, my buzzing brain protests. But no, that’s undeniably Leo—brown eyes, black lashes, pensive expression. He’s not in costume, but it doesn’t seem like he’s really here for the party anyway.
I consider doing an about-face and hiding downstairs where I doubt he’d go. Why did I invite him? I can’t hang out with him while Zander’s around.
No, Leo is a friend and nothing more. I’m allowed to talk to him.
When he sees me, he goes still. “Betts.”
“Hey.”
His gaze rakes over every inch of me. “You’re a faerie.”
“Thanks to you,” I say, crossing the kitchen. “You’re the one who gave me the idea.”
“I did?” He hasn’t blinked since he spotted me.
“Don’t you remember talking about faeries in the library?” I turn to show him my wings, but my twirl is more of a drunken wobble.
He grabs me by the hips to steady me. When his eyes meet mine, his words come out on a breath, “You’re the prettiest faerie I’ve ever seen.”
I collect my wits enough to respond. “Oh right. Yes. Because you’ve seen so many fairies.”
One side of his mouth tugs up. “More than you can count.”
