As I climbed up, the ladder's cold metal was hell on my bare feet, but I couldn't bring myself to care. On the top step, I stopped and grabbed two closest metal spires. I peered over the fence. The ground looked mulchy. Soft, right? Still, it was looked a lot longer down than I'd anticipated.
What the hell was I thinking? Maybe I should've walked after all.
Yeah. In my underpants. Down the street. On a bright moonlit night. Likethatwas such a good idea.
Screw it. I took a deep breath and vaulted myself over.
In my visions, I was agile as a gymnast. In reality, I was as clumsy as a flying octopus – all loose-limbed and floppy as I tumbled onto Lawton's property.
I hit the ground hard and somehow ended up on my back, staring dully up at the night sky through bare branches and my own confusion.
I closed my eyes, breathing hard to catch the wind I'd knocked out of me. The ground was cold and damp against my bare arms and legs, and not much better through the thin fabric of my tank top.
My eyes still clamped shut, I lifted my head and stifled a groan as the change in position made stars shoot underneath my eyelids. I fell back, trying to get my bearings. Just one minute, I told myself even as the cold burrowed deeper through my skin. I was shuddering now, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop.
When the stars that danced behind my eyelids changed to a steady, bright sensation, I slowly opened my eyes. I groaned again, but this time, it had nothing to do with physical discomfort. The entire backyard was flooded with light, and I heard the sound of muffled footsteps growing louder with every second.
Damn it.
Chapter 21
Working to reclaim my lost coordination, I pressed my palms into the mulch and struggled up to a sitting position, with my bare legs still resting on the ground.
"Don't move," an unfamiliar male voice said from somewhere behind me.
Slowly, I turned toward the sound. It hadn't been unfriendly, not exactly. But it hadn't been all warm and fuzzy either.
Twisting around, my gaze started at the ground and worked my way up. I saw black boots, dark jeans, a dark long-sleeved shirt, and finally, the guy's face. He looked a couple years older than Lawton, but with the same underlying bone structure, even if his hair was a lot shorter.
He gave me a hard look. "You hurt?"
Wordlessly, I shook my head.
He blew out a breath and turned toward the house, calling out, "Lawton! You got another one!"
"Another what?" I mumbled, pushing against the ground in a feeble attempt to get to my feet. Another girl? Were so many girls going to his party that they were literally falling over the fence?
A moment later, Lawton appeared behind the guy. He stopped only an instant before rushing to my side. He crouched next to me, his eyes frantic as he looked me over. "You okay? What happened?" He reached for my hand. "God, you're freezing." He was wearing a white long-sleeved T-shirt. "Here," he said, pulling it off and thrusting it at me. "Put this on."
For once, I didn't argue. With his help, I struggled into the shirt, still warm from his body and tinged with his scent. The shirt was thin, but at least it fell well past my hips. I pulled up my knees, tucking them under the shirt until only my bare toes peeked out.
Lawton's chest was bare, and his eyes intense as he searched my face. "You okay?" he asked again.
I nodded. I felt too exposed, not just for my lack of clothes, but for my wet, disheveled hair. As for him – with his bare chest, tousled hair, and dark, probing eyes – he looked glorious. I didn't need a mirror to know that I looked, well, definitelynotglorious. I looked down toward my knees.
Lawton turned to the other guy. "What the hell is wrong with you? You just gonna stand there? She's hurt."
The guy flicked his gaze briefly in my direction. "That's not what she said."
"Don't listen to her," Lawton said.
"What?" I said, glaring at both of them.
The other guy shrugged. "You already gave her your shirt. What do you wantmeto do? Give her my pants?" He made a move to unbutton his jeans. "Well, if that's what it takes –"
"No!" I blurted out.
The guy stopped. "Alright, But hey, I offered." He turned to Lawton. "There. You happy?"
