by E B Brooks
“I just saw him coming up the stairs.” She let out an exasperated gasp.
“Let me get you outside for some fresh air.” As Cody gently wrapped his arm around her waist and led her out to the back deck, she kept turning around, looking for Mike.
When Cody directed them to the swing, she plopped down, feeling light-headed.
He sat beside her. “Where are Skylar and Jace?”
She scoffed. “Jace was in the bathroom with some guy, and it didn’t look like it was the first time, either.” She laughed bitterly. “And Skylar was with the blond bimbo, Amber, screwing around in a corner. Do you know what she told me? That I’m not Alpha Phi material.” Maddy tapped her chest. “I guess I’m too much of a low life. I guess that’s why you all don’t want me, either. Mike wanted me, but he scared me,” she rambled on. “Mike was downstairs, but he vanished.”
Cody coughed and ran his hand over his face. “How much have you had to drink, little one?”
“I don’t know.” She waved her arms wildly. “Been doing tequila shots.”
“I’m going to kill those two. I think you need to lie down for the night.” He spoke softly as he rubbed the back of her neck. “You’ve had too much to drink, and you’re seeing things that aren’t there.”
“Screw you, I know I saw Mike.”
“Who’s Mike?” Cody demands.
“Someone who actually wanted to be with me. Never gave him a damn chance, though.” She patted his leg as she stood. “Thanks for the air. I’m going to go dance. Find someone who wants me.”
“Maddy, you’re making a mistake.” Cody grasped her arm. “You’re not thinking clearly.”
“Won’t be the first time, and certainly won’t be the last.”
Cody tried to hold her, but she twisted her way out of his arms and ran back into the house.
Before she even touched the dance floor, some girl yanked her into their group, and someone mumbled something about fresh meat.
A girl danced in front of her while a guy ground against her back. Maddy didn’t care, she just closed her eyes and let the music take over.
After a few songs, she smacked her lips together. Her mouth felt like the Sahara Desert. She needed a drink.
When she headed away from the dance floor, the girl and guy tried to stop her, and she yelled, “I’ll be right back!”
The kitchen was louder than the dance floor, with a bunch of people cheering about something. Maddy shouldered her way to the front where a blond guy knelt on the floor, drinking from a tube connected to a funnel.
Maddy bumped the guy beside her and pointed to the contraption. “What’s that?”
The guy’s eyebrow shot up. “Never seen a bong before?”
Maddy shook her head. It looked like fun, with everyone cheering the guy on, wanting him to succeed.
She giggled. “I want to try.”
“Hey, guys!” waving one arm around, the guy next to her stepped farther into the kitchen dragging Maddy behind him. “We have someone who wants to try! What’s your name, sweetheart?”
She stuck her chin out. “Maddy.”
Two guys helped the blond on the floor stand as Maddy’s new friend explained what she needed to do. It didn’t sound too complicated to drink a bottle of tequila through the funnel.
Kneeling on the floor, she positioned the tube at her mouth.
He lifted the bottle. “Ready?”
She gave him the thumbs up, and he upended the bottle into the funnel.
It was harder than she thought. Every time she swallowed, alcohol went everywhere, most of it running down her brand-new shirt. But everyone was screaming her name, cheering her on, and it felt good to be wanted.
17
Ryder
Ryder was getting cozy with Crissy against the wall, but it didn’t feel right.
Sadly, she wasn’t who he wanted to be with.
“Maddy! Maddy!”
What the hell? Ryder stopped kissing Crissy and looked toward the kitchen. Were they screaming Maddy?
When he pushed off the wall, Crissy pawed at him, trying to bring him back.
Distracted, he waved her off. “Another time.”
He hurried to the kitchen where he heard Maddy’s name being yelled again and shoved his way inside, but he still couldn’t see what was happening.
“What the fuck is going on here?” Ryder yelled over the noise.
“Just in time, Ryder!” Alan, a guy from school, rubbed his hands together. “We got a sexy one who wanted to try the bong. She’ll be willing to do anything in about twenty minutes.”
In between bodies, Ryder saw long red hair and knew instantly it was Maddy. What the hell was she doing trying a beer bong? Rage filled him. No one would touch her other than him and his brothers. Especially this asshole beside him.
The guy never saw Ryder’s fist coming.
He crashed into the people next to him, and they jumped out of the way to make room. Landing hard on the floor, he looked up, holding his right eye. “What the hell, Ryder?”
Neck muscles straining, he bent down. “No one touches her but us.”
Pushing everyone out of the way, Ryder bent and scooped Maddy into his arms. She thrashed, trying to get away from him, and people booed.
Ignoring them, Ryder stormed out of the kitchen and navigated to the steps where Cody sat with some of his friends.
Once he saw Ryder holding Maddy, he jumped up and pushed the hair away from her face. “What happened?”
“Dude, didn’t you hear them screaming her name? She was with Alan doing a beer bong with tequila. I don’t think she drank too much, though. Her top is soaked.”
“Shit, with the music so close to me, I can’t hear anything. She was already on her way to being trashed last time I saw her. Let’s get her upstairs.”
As they walked up the steps, Ryder glanced over at Cody. “Are you going to tell me where those two numb-nuts are?”
A low, scratchy voice answered him. “Skylar was making out with Amber, and Jace was screwing around in the bathroom with some guy. No one could love an orphan girl,” Maddy mumbled, then put her head on Ryder’s shoulder.
Cody and Ryder looked at each other, silently promising they would kill Skylar and Jace as soon as they saw them.
“I got her, Cody,” Ryder said. “Go back to watching the house.”
Cody didn’t trust anyone, which was why he sat on the steps during parties. He could keep an eye on people while not letting anyone upstairs.
“Are you sure?” Cody asked, concerned.
“Yeah, I’ll stay with her. I won’t leave her like this.” Ryder shifted her in his arms. “I’m sure she’ll sleep until morning.”
Cody narrowed his eyes. “Don’t fuck around with her.”
Oh my God, did he really just say that to him? Cody obviously liked Maddy, but to think Ryder would take advantage of her pissed him off.
Ryder threw his best friend an icy glare. “Come on, you know me better than that.” He took in the sight of her in his arms and sighed. “I care about her too much to take advantage of her.”
“Sorry, man, I know you wouldn’t do anything like that. She makes me feel things I’m not used to.” Cody gripped his shoulder. “I’m going to get everyone out. I’ve had enough for tonight. Then, I’ll be up to help you.”
Leaving him at the top of the stairs, Ryder walked to his room and shut the door with his foot. He headed toward to his bed, planning to lay her down.
“I’m going to be sick.” She covered her mouth as her eyes widened, and she gagged.
He ran with her in his arms to the bathroom, but by the time he got her near the toilet, most of it was on them.
Once Maddy stopped being sick, she looked up with puke soaking her shirt and started sobbing. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s not the first time a girl puked all over me. Do you think you can stand so we can get you in the shower to rinse us off?”
Her head dropped
back to the toilet. “I don’t know. Maybe with help. Everything’s spinning.”
“I’ll help you, baby. Fully naked or underwear on?” He took the edge of her top and carefully pulled it over her head.
He silently prayed she’d tell him she wanted to keep her underwear on. Just the thought of her naked had him hard as a rock. He ran his hand down his face. He was going to kick his friend’s ass. Jace promised Maddy he wouldn’t let her overdo it, and here she sat in Ryder’s bathroom, completely drunk.
Her unfocused, tear-filled green eyes shifted to him. “Always a player.” She was half-asleep with her head on the toilet seat. “Don’t care.”
“Ooookay. Let me get us some clean clothes. Maddy, try to get those jeans off yourself.”
When he came back with clothes, she had unbuttoned and lowered her zipper before she got sick again.
Ryder ran his fingers through his hair. “Shit, this is going to be a long ass night.”
While he unwove her braid, she mumbled about trust and everyone leaving her, and his heart broke for her. He knew firsthand what it was like to trust someone and have them let you down.
Once her clothes were off, he sat her on the toilet seat and started the shower. After a moment of indecision, he took off her bra and underwear since they were both soaked with alcohol and vomit.
“Okay, baby, you ready for this?”
Was he ready for this? He took a deep breath and let it out. He could do this. He undressed quickly, leaving his boxers on, and turned back to help her into the shower.
She sat on the toilet with her head against the wall looking asleep. He shook her a little. “Come on, Maddy, you need to get in the shower.”
He tapped her cheeks lightly.
“Okay, okay.” Then her eyes flew open, and she quickly turned, sliding off the toilet and throwing the seat up once more to dry heave into the bowl.
After that last bought, they climbed into the shower.
It was a slow process, and he thought of everything that could turn him off and not about the girl of his dreams who he held in his arms, naked. He had touched women of all shapes and sizes, but none of them mattered as much as this redheaded goddess.
Finally, he got her clean.
At the end, Maddy woke up a little and frowned as she played with Ryder’s chest. “Why do you run away from me?”
“It takes everything in me to run away from you. Shit, I don’t want to, Maddy.” His head fell to his chest. “I have a dark past; I’m a failure. All I’d do is hurt you in the end.”
“My past isn’t squeaky clean, either, Ryder.”
As she laid her head on his chest, her body going limp in his arms, he threw his head back against the wall. He would tell her about his past, and if she would have him, he was hers.
Just not right now.
Cody’s deep voice came from the doorway. “Ryder, it’s Cody. Can I come in?”
“Yes, thank God.”
She had passed out again, and there was no way he could hold her up and dry her at the same time.
Cody stepped into the bathroom and took in the situation. “Fuuucck.”
“Yeah, tell me about it! Can you please take her, and I’ll help dry her?” he pleaded.
Shutting off the water, Cody reached behind him for a towel and wrapped it around Maddy.
She woke enough to look up at Cody and smile. “Big guy.”
“Hey, little one.” He juggled her around, trying his best to dry her off.
She got this look on her face, pulled out of Cody’s arms, and ran to the toilet.
“That’s about the fourth time. We have a long night ahead of us.” Ryder said as he dried himself off.
“Work in shifts, that way one of us will always have an eye on her. Can we stay here? Your room’s bigger and has a bigger bed.” Cody nodded toward Ryder’s bed.
“I don’t care. I grabbed a shirt and boxers for her.” He pointed to them as he pulled on his clothes.
Maddy finished dry heaving and curled around the toilet.
Cody’s hands moved to his hips, and Ryder could tell he was pissed.
“It looks like she’s out again. I’ll take the first shift,” Ryder offered.
Together, they dressed Maddy, and Ryder glimpsed the scars on her wrists. They were faint, like they’d been done years ago, and Ryder’s chest tightened at the idea he could have lost her before they even met.
Together, he and Cody tucked her into Ryder’s bed, then Cody cleaned up the bathroom while Ryder laid down behind her. As he ran his fingers through her hair, she snuggled closer to him, and he realized he would do anything for her; he’d already fallen for her. He never thought that would happen. Her life had been hard enough; she didn’t need to deal with all his shit. But he couldn’t stay away from her. One thing was for sure. He would never be able to look at another girl. Not after seeing Maddy naked.
“Ryder, I’m going downstairs to wash both of your clothes,” Cody whispered as he came out of the bathroom.
“All right, lock the door behind you. Don’t need any partygoers coming in. You still have your key, right?”
Nodding, Cody left and locked the door behind him.
Ryder laid an arm over Maddy and kissed her head, smelling his soap on her.
He smiled as he closed his eyes.
18
Skylar
Pulling Amber away from Maddy and over into a corner was a mistake. As soon as they stopped walking, she started touching him everywhere. Still horny from his encounter with Maddy, he wasn’t thinking with the right head. When she moved to suck on his neck, it felt fucking fantastic.
“I’m so glad you’re back. I missed you,” Amber purred.
When Skylar bent to kiss her, he knew the second his lips touched hers that they weren’t the lips he wanted to kiss. He’d promised Maddy no secrets, and Amber was a big one. Amber had never meant anything to him, but he should have told Maddy about her. He needed to be truthful to both of them. He wasn’t being fair to either woman.
He pushed Amber away from his body. “I can’t do this. I know I said we could be together when school started, but I met someone I really like.”
She wound her arms around his neck. “I understand. I figured this wouldn’t last forever.” She batted her eyelashes at him. “Still doesn’t mean we can’t have our fun.”
Skylar unwrapped her arms. “That wouldn’t be fair to you or this girl.”
She pouted. “Can I at least have a goodbye kiss?”
There was no harm in a kiss. He hadn’t told Maddy he wanted more than friendship yet. He would just give Amber a sweet peck goodbye.
At least, that was his idea. She, however, pulled him down and kissed him like she used to. He felt nothing; not even a little tingle.
Frowning, he pushed her away for the third time. “No more, Amber.”
Needing to just walk away from her, he headed over to the bar.
When he got there, someone else sat in the seat where Maddy had been.
He caught the bartender, Keven’s, attention. “Do you know where Maddy ran off to?”
Kevin looked apologetic. “She ran upstairs after some guy.”
Guilt hit Skylar hard. Oh hell, did she see him kissing Amber and leave? Unsure what to do, he rubbed the back of his neck. She must be with Jace, which was good. He wouldn’t leave her alone. Needing some liquid courage and the taste of Amber out of my mouth, he sat on one of the stools.
“Did your little friend leave you?” Amanda purred from beside him.
What did he ever see in her, anyway?
“You don’t need to worry about it.” He tried to get Kevin’s attention again, but he was flirting with some girl down at the other end of the bar.
Once again, Amber slithered up against Skylar. “How about one last body shot, for old time’s sake?”
God, this girl didn’t give up.
Without waiting for a response, Amber shouted, “Skylar’s doing a body shot!”
People all around them started shouting body shot and his name, and he caved, just like Amber knew he would. He wasn’t good with peer pressure and his need to please and be the guy everyone expected always kicked in.
He held up a finger. “Just one.”
“Yes! Kevin, body shot time!” Amber yelled.
One shot turned into two, then three, and after that, Skylar lost track of how many shots he did off Amber. He didn’t care anymore.
At least, not until he saw Jace coming out of the bathroom adjusting his clothes.
What the fuck was he doing? Was he just in there with Maddy? Skylar would kill him.
But it wasn’t Maddy who came out after him. Instead, a huge guy followed him out. He recognized him as a guy Jace had hooked up with during the summer while Skylar fucked around with Amber. Few people knew Jace was bi. He huffed. No one other than Jace knew Skylar was bi, too.
Jumping off the bar, Skylar ignored Amber’s whines and stalked over to Jace.
Jace watched him approach, looking around in confusion. “Where’s Maddy? I thought she was with you?”
Skylar shook his head. “No, I thought she was with you. Amber cornered me, and I haven’t been able to get away.”
Jace peered around Skylar’s body to the bar where Amber still lay with her shirt up, glaring at them.
Jace crossed his arms. “Yeah, that looks like you were cornered, all right.”
Skylar jabbed his index finger into Jace’s chest. “Back the fuck off. At least I didn’t have a bathroom romp with good old James.”
Jace ran his fingers through his hair, messing it all up. “Fuck, okay, we need to find her. We promised we’d look out for her. She’s not down here, so let’s head upstairs.”
Taking the steps two at a time, they ran upstairs. When they reached the top, they saw Cody in his normal spot, sitting on the stairs that led to the second story with some girls and guys around him.
Jace interrupted their conversation to yell, “Cody, have you seen Maddy anywhere?”
Cody stood and stomped over to them.
Oh, shit. Skylar knew that look. Cody was pissed as hell. Skylar swore he saw steam coming out of his nostrils when they flared.
