But Everly had followed my gaze.
“Is there something going on with you two?” Her lips tilted down in a frown.
“No,” I said hastily. “We’ve just had a good time catching up after so long.”
Everly’s mouth pursed.
“Abby, Seth is a maniac,” she said matter of factly. “He’s a handful at the best of times. He’s way too much for a girl like you.”
“What do you mean, a girl like me?” Outrage clouded my face, my brows furrowing deeply.
“You know what I mean,” Everly said, sounding impatient.
“No, I don’t,” I snapped. “What kind of girl am I, exactly?”
My sister looked put out.
“Abby, Seth once drove a motorcycle into a pool, while naked,” she said. “And you—” She waved her hand around vaguely at me.
“And Iwhat?” I firmed my lips and shook my head. “No. Never mind. I know exactly what you’re going to say.”
The unspoken words stabbed me through the heart like a dagger.
“I’m going to get another drink.” I whirled on my heel and stalked off.
“Abby!” Everly called out, but I didn’t stop.
I swerved before I could reach the kitchen, not wanting to run into Seth and his twins.
With a knot of hurt and anger growing in my gut, I stomped around the party, trying to find a quiet place where I could stew by myself, but every room was filled with people.
I found a staircase and headed up to the second floor, hoping to find an empty room. The tears in my eyes were from anger this time. It was like all the hurt and heartache had solidified into a lead ball, sitting heavily in my stomach. I was beyond being sad and feeling sorry for myself. Now I just felt mad.
So what if I didn’t have some kind of cool, exciting life like my sister and her friends? Did that mean my life was worthless? Did that mean I didn’t deserve to have someone care about me? I couldn’t command a stage full of fans, and I didn’t have magazines clamoring to feature me, but that didn’t mean—
“Oof,” I flinched as I rammed into someone’s chest abruptly. “Sorry!”
Arms encircled me, keeping me upright. I looked up to find myself in Seth’s embrace.
“Hey, what’s up?” His eyes were wide. “Are you okay?”
I stared at him. For a moment back there, I’d thought Seth might actually be interested in me. Had I been completely wrong?
My whole body shook, still angry and upset at Everly’s words.
I grabbed Seth’s shirt and pulled him to me. His round eyes went even wider, eyebrows nearly raising off his forehead.
“Um, Abby…” he began.
In a fit of pique, I surged forward and crushed my lips to his. They were full and soft, gone slack. I pressed myself against him, tugging him closer desperately.
Seth let out a huff of surprise. He brought one hand to my shoulder and I thought he might push me away. Instead, his lips firmed and he pressed me closer.
Our mouths moved together, hot and slick. He tasted of peppermint and black licorice, a delicious combination. I moaned into his mouth, molding against him as all conscious thought went out the window.
“Fuck, Abby…” he murmured in between kisses. “What are we doing?”
He tangled his hand in my hair and tilted my head for a better angle. He captured my lips again and again as we gasped into each other’s mouths. My whole body vibrated, like an electric current shooting through me.
