I spun my body and pressed my ass against Josh’s front, raising my arm to drape across the back of his neck.
“You trying to kill me?” he said in a low voice into my ear as we moved in sync.
I turned back around and wound both my arms around his neck, but he kept his face slightly turned aside. His body was totally into this, but I could see on his face he was holding back. I rubbed the back of his head and watched as his eyes closed, clearly enjoying my touch. For a moment everything blurred and I forgot where I was and who I was with.
Suddenly a warm, strong hand was on my shoulder, giving me a tug away from the warm, masculine body of Josh. I felt like I peeled away from him in slow motion to see Rylen’s livid face looking down at me.
“‘Bout time, asshole,” Josh muttered, walking away. Rylen let the remark go.
“I think you’re done,” he said to me. “I’ll take you to your room.”
I scoffed. “Really, Dad? And, wow, I thought you and Linette were superglued together. Hope it didn’t hurt too bad when you tore yourself away.”
His jaw rocked. “We were talking.”
“And touching,” I reminded him. “She was touching you.”
He stepped closer. “What’s it to you, Pepper?”
His words were a slap to the face. I opened my mouth to say who-knows-what, when I heard Remy’s loud voice carry through the music. She was arguing with Linette.
“Oh, no.” I pushed away from Rylen and was horrified when I tried to go forward and instead veered to the left, falling into a table before righting myself and moving in the correct direction. I bumped every person and piece of furniture along the way, wondering when it got so damn crowded in here.
“Oh, look,” said Linette as I made my stumbling approach. “Here she is now.”
Remy’s cheeks were dark pink against her blond hair.
“What’s going on?” I asked. Or, that’s what I meant to say, but it came out sounding gummy. Linette laughed and Remy sort of cringed.
“God, how many did you have?” Linette asked. “Save some for the rest of us. Although, it is nice to see that you’re not so perfect after all.”
“Neither of us think we’re perfect,” Remy said. “Stop saying that!”
“Right.” Linette swung her chin to get hair out of her eyes. “The beauty queen and the over-achiever, pretending to be oblivious of every man sniffing around their virginal crotches.”
Remy’s mouth opened in a gasp and I said, “We’re not even virgins. Stop judging and worry about your own damn self.”
Remy looked at me funny, and panic hit me square in the chest. What had I just said? This conversation had veered very wrong at some point. I’m thinking it was the point when I opened my mouth.
“Wait.” Remy’s attention was fully on me now. “We’renot . . . ?” She glanced at Linette and said, “Never mind.”
“Oh. My. God.” Linette said, a half-smile playing on her smug face. “Didyou—” she pointed to Remy, “—thinkshewas a virgin?” She pointed to me. “But you’re not? Wow, Tate, that’s low. Best friend fail.”
Remy’s face. My stomach. I’d never told her. I’d never toldanyoneabout that awful night with Ken.
“Shut up,” I told Linette, moving to get in her face.
“That’s enough, Lin.” Rylen’s voice boomed right behind me as he grasped my waist to keep me from getting to her. Linette’s eyes rose to him, hardening.
“Stop babying her, Fite.”
“It’s none of your fucking business,” he said.
Linette put her hands up and huffed a laugh through her nose. “Yep. I’m done. Have fun with that.” She inclined her head toward me before sauntering away with her chin up. Rylen let me go.
Everything blurred as Remy turned on me. I knew Rylen was still behind me. I couldn’t have this conversation.
“I don’t want to talk about it.” I put a hand on the nearest table to steady myself.
