“I haven’t yet, but I think I need to. Gotta catch up with you,” he says with a chuckle.
“Yes, you do. I’ll grab you something.”
Yanking open the fridge door, I toss a glance over my shoulder at the other two. “Y’all want some Jell-O shots?”
Katie nods her head as Enzo says, “Eh, I’m good.”
“Shut up,” I blurt out. “You’re doing shots with us and you’re going to have fun.”
I can hear Katie giggle as I grab a handful of them and also a beer for Jordan. We all take our drinks and head toward the back door. There’re quite a few people inside and, surprisingly, not that many outside. I don’t know where my mom or Elena went, but neither are by the pool anymore.
The four of us take a seat in the grassy area off to the left. It’s no surprise at all that the minute I sit down, I feel eyes on me. Glancing over toward the side of the house where the grill is, furious, narrowed eyes glare at me before looking to my right, where Jordan’s sitting.
The grin that tugs on my lips is bratty, as is the way I lean into Jordan, placing my hand on his thigh.Jack & Dianeby John Mellencamp is playing softly as I bring my attention back to the group I’m sitting with and away from the giant grump in the corner.
I’m somehow able to tune him out for a while as the four of us drink and bullshit and drink some more. Once the food is ready, we all dive in, filling ourselves up with burgers and hot dogs, mac and potato salad, and way too many chips. It does counteract all the alcohol we’ve consumed, which, I suppose, is a plus.
The sun is starting to set, cotton candy pinks painting the sky as the night cools off just slightly. I’ve been told Zeke puts on quite the fireworks show, and I’d imagine that will begin shortly after dusk.
Standing, I brush the grass off my ass. “I’ll be right back. Gotta use the restroom.”
No one is really paying me any attention. They’re too lost in conversation about God knows what. The backyard has mostly cleared out, the majority of people heading inside. There’s a poker game taking place in the dining room that my mom and Elena are playing. Both of them are about three sheets to the wind. It’s actually kind of funny to see because my mom isn’t one to get drunk very often.
As I’m walking down the hall, the door to the bathroom opens, and out walks Zeke… the last fucking person I want to see.
Yay.
Before I can even think to turn around and scurry away, he spots me. Because, of fucking course, he does. He’s a vulture. Black eyes narrow as he gets closer to me, the scent of him wafting all around, making me dizzy.
“If I didn’t know any better, Elias, I would say you’re avoiding me.” His deep, gruff tone causes a shiver to race down my spine.
“I am avoiding you,” I deadpan.
Blowing past him, I turn left and enter the bathroom, but before I can shut the door, he’s pushing it open as he shoves me back. With us both in the tiny space together, he shuts and locks the door, flicking the light on. His angry eyes stare down at me as he corners me against the sink.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I hiss. “There are tons of people here. Any one of them who could have seen what you just did. Are you trying to get caught?”
“Areyoutrying to piss me off?” he rebuttals.
“Not really, but it’s not exactly hard to do. Everything I do pisses you off. You’re a fucking perma-grump. Lighten the fuck up!” Gripping the sink behind me, I try to back up as much as I can, practically climbing on top of the counter to put some distance between us, but it doesn’t work. He’s everywhere.
“You want me tolighten up?” he asks, his tone dangerously cold.
“Um, yeah,” I mutter with as much attitude as I can muster with him this close to me.
“Tell me, Elias…” His hands press down on the counter on either side of me, his proximity becoming that much closer. “How am I supposed tolighten upwhen you are all over him right in front of me?”
I can’t breathe. Can’t fucking think with how close he is.
“How do you expect me to see him touch you or flirt with you, and not react? Hmm?”
“Because I am not yours to get angry over, Zeke!” The words tumble out of my mouth far louder than they should, but I can’t help it. My blood pressure is sky high, and my jaw aches as I clench down on my molars. He is unbelievable. “I am not yours.”
His head dips, lips hovering over my ear, his breath fanning my neck, causing goosebumps to pebble over my flesh. “That’s where you’re wrong, my little slut.” The use of the nickname he called me the other night while his cock was shoved down my throat makes my stomach roll and my dick throb. “You aremine. Nobody gets to have you except me. Do you understand me?”
The possessiveness of his words and the gravel in his tone make me melt a little, and I hate myself for it. I hate that he has this effect on me. It shouldn’t be this way. He is off limits, yet he can have my walls torn down with just a few growly words.
“I asked you a question, Elias,” he growls. “I expect an answer.”
