by Piper Shelly
“Hi, Sam!” Susan shouted over the music. She was on crutches, a small detail she’d forgotten to tell me on the phone.
“Hey,” I said, but my gaze had fastened on Tony’s cold eyes.
He stared at me for the length of a breath. Then he came forward and his expression turned blank. “Samantha,” he said coldly as he passed me. He disappeared quickly into the crowd.
Sighing, I squeezed my eyes shut. Nick’s hand landed on my shoulder. As I looked at him, he scrunched up his face. “I’ll talk to him,” he offered.
“No, don’t! Please.” It didn’t matter if Tony had seen us, or whatever he’d interpreted in our dancing. I wasn’t right for him and he wasn’t right for me. Simple. So what the hell was his problem? I could dance with whoever I wanted. If his heart still was hung up on Liza, he wasn’t in the position to look at me like I was a traitor because I was having fun with a friend. Duh!
I suggested finding a place for Susan to sit, and just so Nick wouldn’t get any funny ideas and find Tony after all, I grabbed his hand and pulled him with us. Susan told me the doctor had done some X-rays on her leg and apparently was a little worried about her ligaments after all. Even if they weren’t torn, they were thoroughly overstretched. The fancy-colored tapes around her knee should help with that. She pulled up the leg of her jeans to let me have a look at the pink monster strips. If nothing else, they looked way cool.
When she wanted to get up and get a drink, I made her sit down again and offered to get her a soda from the refrigerator. Nick would keep her company while I was gone.
Elbowing my way through the bumping crowd in the hall, I headed for the kitchen, but as soon as I stepped through the doorway, I regretted it.
Ryan and Tony were in there, alone. They were talking urgently with each other. Until Ryan saw me coming in and all conversation died in the fraction of a second. When he smiled at me, Tony turned around.
He didn’t smile.
The muscles in his arm tightened as he clasped the edge of the kitchen counter harder. I could see them twitch underneath the short sleeves of his white shirt. With shock, I realized he was also wearing the ripped jeans from the time I’d been in his room. The ones that had made my mouth water.
I tore my gaze away from him and mumbled, “Umm…just grabbing a soda for Susan.” As I hurried past the two of them, both pairs of eyes followed me. Heck, I’d never felt this wary of disturbing a conversation. And it made me feel more than certain they’d been talking about me. Shit.
I pulled the fridge open, found a Coke, slammed the door shut, and rushed out, only then daring to breathe again. Back in the hall, I bumped into Liza and Simone. The girls caught my uneasiness and hooked their arms through mine.
“Babes, what’s got you so nervous?” Simone asked, almost worried.
“Nothing,” I answered flatly.
Liza leaned back as we walked, trying to catch a glimpse of the guys in the kitchen. “I think I know,” she declared. Then the two girls looked at each other over my head and simultaneously stated, “Tony.”
Suddenly, Simone gave me a little push to the left, steering all of us toward a long table with food and drinks on it. “I know what you need.”
“Pretzels?” I asked with a hopeful face, because I sure as hell wouldn’t drink any of the beers lined up there.
“Nope. We’re going for the strawberries.”
“Strawberries?” Didn’t sound bad either. Except the strawberries were swimming in a pool of wine cooler.
“Are you sure?” Liza whined, holding me back, starting a staring argument with Simone. “Claudia’s strawberry punch is monster. You don’t want Sam to be in the same position as I was a few months ago.”
I had no idea what Liza meant, but it was interesting to see the flicker of mischief in Simone’s eyes then. “Now, you honestly want to tell me that wasn’t the best night you ever had? Or rather”—she waggled her bows—“the best morning after…?”
Liza laughed. “True.” She took a toothpick and stabbed one of the strawberries in the bowl with it.
But before she could pop it into her mouth, someone reached around her from behind and took the piece of fruit out of her hand. “Oh no, you don’t.”
We turned around to face Ryan, who pulled the strawberry from the toothpick with his teeth and ate it.
“Why not?” Liza drawled, a secret smile flashing across her face.
Ryan took her hands, wound her arms to her back, and shackled her wrists with his long fingers. “We had that once. Not a very good idea, remember?”
Liza tilted her head up, gazing at him in a way that shut out all of us others. “I only remember that you carried me to your room afterward.”
Leaning in, he drawled into her ear, “I can carry you to my room now, if you want. No strawberries needed.” Apart from Liza, I was probably the only one who’d heard, because I was standing so close. “Or better yet, carry you outside to the swing.”
As he bent and scooped Liza up over his shoulder, she squealed, drumming at his butt to make him set her down. Ryan refused. He headed toward the back exit, laughing at her struggles, but then he turned around once more. “Right, I forgot. Sam?”
“What?”
“Tony’s waiting in the kitchen. He’d like to talk to you.” Ryan made a pleading face. “Be nice to the guy. He’s confused as hell, and it’s not up to me to explain everything to him.”
Oh no. My stomach slipped to my feet.
Someone pushed me gently in the back. As I turned around, Simone beamed in her stunning model way at me. “What are you waiting for? Hunter said Tony’s waiting for you. He probably wants to ask you out.”
Or…not. As far as I could judge the situation, he wanted to talk about me and Nick and the things we hadn’t done. But why the hell was I so scared all of a sudden? Hadn’t I decided not to give a damn about Tony just an hour ago? And also earlier today…and yesterday…and practically every freaking day this week?
If he wanted to know what was going on between Nick and me, I would honestly tell him…nothing. Because it wasn’t Tony’s fucking business. And if he intended to tell me he was still in love with Liza, I didn’t care to hear it. So why go and see him anyway?
Simone answered my thought when I stood rooted. “If you don’t go and talk to him now, you’ll regret it for the rest of the night.”
I heaved a deep sigh. Then I handed her the Coke. “Can you give this Susan?”
“Sure.” Simone yanked the can out of my hand and pushed me in the direction of the kitchen. “Now go. And fill me in on all the deets later!”
I heard her laugh behind me, but it was quickly drowned out by the loud music as I reluctantly walked back the way I’d just come. Getting closer, I caught a glimpse of Tony sitting on the kitchen counter, his head dipped back against a cupboard as he studied the ceiling. I had made it as far as the arch in the wall. But just before I entered the kitchen, my courage gave out and I stopped in my tracks.
The guy sitting in there was an ass. He’d been an ass from the first time we’d spoken with each other, and not even a kiss—or two—had changed that. He’d fooled around with me when his heart beat for someone else. For a friend of mine. I really, really didn’t want to talk to him right now.
About to disappear into the crowd, I spun on my heel, but not fast enough. Tony tilted his head to find me turning tail.
I rushed away, fighting a quick path through the dancers. But a familiar shape a few feet in front of me made me stop dead, my heart stopping with me. I would recognize those skyscraper-high heels and the black mini-dress anywhere. The one disturbing thing was that my cousin’s hair had gone. Not all of it, but two thirds of its original length.
Fuck!
Cloey was talking to a guy with dreadlocks and leather pants on, running her hand through her newly cut hair. Oh, this was priceless. I felt the urge to walk up to her, shove her so hard she landed on her butt, and ask if she was trying to become me for a reason!
> But this wasn’t the right place to start a family fight. She wouldn’t get that from me. Not here, with all my friends around to watch.
Breathing fire now, I darted off to the left, finding myself in front of the wide, winding stairs. Whatever. This was as good an escape from Tony as any. I dashed upstairs, then headed down the corridor and, after a tentative knock on the door that brought no reply, I slipped into Ryan’s room.
Moonlight floated in through the window and tinted the room in cool shades of blue. I didn’t turn on the light because I didn’t intend to stay long. Just a minute—to pull myself together.
My hands shook and I was feeling way too warm. Raging about Cloey didn’t become me. Then again, it wasn’t my cousin whom my thoughts currently circled around. And around. And around.
Goddammit, Sam! Get a grip, girl! I scolded myself. How was it possible that Tony had totally thrown me off balance when I had successfully withdrawn my heart from that stupid game?
Because maybe you weren’t that successful?
Well, thanks, dear subconscious. Just rub it in!
I exhaled a long breath, aware that I might get in trouble if someone found me in here. But where else could I go? Home, the answer came to me. Suddenly, I was more than ready to leave. I was tired. The last week had exhausted me more than I was ready to admit, especially the latest accusations from my aunt and uncle.
Whatever Cloey’s plan was, I needed to talk to Pam and set things straight. Or I wasn’t going to have an even halfway pleasant time in their house for the next four months. But now, getting to my room and climbing under my comforter was all I yearned for.
Ready to go, I swept the room with one last glance, and it caught on Tony’s jersey, which still lay on the bed where I’d left it before. Maybe now was a good time to give it back to him. And leave.
Or leave…and give it back later.
I fetched the shirt and silently closed the door behind me. With a heart as heavy as a rock, I descended the stairs, the music growing louder as I dropped my glance, focusing on each slow step I took.
Cloey was somewhere in the crowd below. She sure was having fun. Nick would have, too, and so would Simone and Allie. Susan, maybe not so much with her crutches. But Ryan certainly was giving Liza a good time in the garden right now. Why was I the only one feeling depressed? Why did a painfully sad twinge torture my chest while everyone else was having a blast? This was more than a little unfair.
A few steps from the bottom, I lifted my gaze from my feet. And there stood my answer. Back pressed to the wall, arms folded over his chest. One leg angled and the sole of his shoe placed against the wall. He’d dipped his chin low, the blond strands of his hair falling forward into his eyes as he tilted his head sideways to look at me.
“Tony,” I said, surprised, taking another step down. Then I hesitated.
“You’re not making it easy for me to get a hold of you tonight.”
“I didn’t know you were trying to.”
“Liar.” He sounded way too soft.
I opened my mouth to contradict him, but nothing whatsoever came out. So I closed it again.
“I think you went upstairs for a reason. Didn’t you?” Tony pushed away from the wall, climbing up the stairs toward me.
I couldn’t talk to him right now. Not with my mind spinning like mad from…well, from everything that had happened in the past couple of weeks. Trying to escape, I sidestepped him, aiming for the bottom of the stairs to start with and then out. But I didn’t get even half as far.
Tony lifted his arms, grabbing the rail with one hand and placing the other against the wall, so he stood spread-eagle one step beneath me, successfully putting a stop to my escape.
The crazy thing about this was that we now stood eye to eye.
“Didn’t you, Sam?” he repeated slowly.
“I—I went to get your jersey. It was in Ryan’s room,” I stuttered, taking a step back up and clasping his shirt harder.
Tony came after me. “Oh, no.” He almost chuckled. “I think you were hiding from me.”
“Hiding?” My eyes turned wide; not from confusion about his wrong conclusion, but because he was dead on.
“Yes. Hiding. Why are you trying to avoid me, Samantha?”
Damn, could he stop saying my name in such a sensual drawl already? It made my knees wobble.
“I just don’t think there’s anything left to tell you.”
“Right.” Now he laughed…a bitter sound. “Everything’s been said already, hasn’t it?”
For me, this was true. “It seems so. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to get my things and go home.” Shit. That came out in a shaky croak.
“You want to leave?” Tony tilted his head, but his hands remained where they were. “So early? No more dancing with Nick tonight?”
“There’s nothing between me and Nick Frederickson,” I shot back before I could even think about it.
“I know there’s nothing going on between the two of you.”
“You do?”
“Yes. Frederickson is one of my closest friends,” he pointed out with a snort, like he didn’t get how I could have missed the obvious. “In the current situation, he would never hit on you.”
Current situation. Right. What was that again?
“But that brings us to one conclusion only,” he continued.
And that was what?
Tony’s eyes narrowed. “Are you trying to make me jealous, Sam?”
Ugh. No! “Not intentionally—” Anyway. “But if it happened…” I grimaced. “Did it work?”
“Well, it…” Tony cut a disbelieving glance at the ceiling, shook his head, and smiled to himself. “Hurt.”
“Oh. I’m sorry to hear that.”
The smile remained on his lips. “Are you really?”
No. Actually, my heart did a double-backflip at his confession. But that was my secret. “I don’t want to be a pain for you.”
His features became stern and very earnest. “The thing is, I feel terrible when you’re not with me.”
Holy shit, did he really just say that? Out loud?
Tony pulled his hands away from the rail and the wall, tucking them into his pockets. I was free to pass through if I wanted to. He’d given me a choice.
I chose to stay. For now.
But I folded my arms over my chest, still clasping his shirt, and glared at him with my lips compressed. Then I cocked my head. “You say that now. But no one knows when you’re going to change your mind again. You kiss me. You hate it. You kiss me again. You regret it, because you’re in love with Liza. What next? You kiss me and then drop out of class, because you can’t bear to look at me anymore?”
His brows pulled to a deep, accusing V. “I didn’t regret the kissing. And I certainly didn’t hate it. Actually, thinking about kissing you is what drives me crazy these days.” His sigh was my undoing. “I can’t seem to stop.”
“Honestly, Tony, I don’t understand what you want from me. You like kissing me, all right, but you told me for more there’s not enough in there.” I stabbed his chest hard with my finger, fighting my rising frustration, and failing. “I’m not up for your crap, really. You said you liked to hang out with me. Okay, let’s do that.” I’d talked myself into a rage, getting louder and louder, focusing on Tony with a scowl.
For some reason that made him smile, which angered me even more.
“But I don’t think I can do even that anymore,” I growled, “because every time I’m with you, you make my mind spin, and it feels like I’m losing ground and—and—” Shit! Where had that come from?
“Oh, shut up already, Bungee.” Tony cupped my cheeks and leaned forward, pressing his lips to mine.
His gentleness caught me unawares. It took my breath away. Eyes wide open, I saw that he’d closed his, pouring his heart into the kiss. The sight rocked me awake. He was free. Free for me, with no thought of another girl in his mind. He’d committed to me.
Me alone.
> His jersey slipped from my fist and dropped to the stairs. I reached up and wrapped my fingers around his wrists, shutting my eyes, too, and sinking into his seductive kiss.
Tony pulled back a tiny inch and looked me straight in the eyes. “I’m not. Ever. Going to regret this,” he breathed.
Oh, hell, he tempted me so sorely to believe him. I wanted to fall against him, wrap my arms around him, and never let go. But I couldn’t do that. Instead, I warned in a whisper, “You’d better not, Anthony Mitchell, because I’m not one of your toys to play with when you’re bored.”
He stroked his thumbs along my cheekbones. “You just became my only toy, Sam.”
And then his lips were on mine again. With his tongue, he traced the line of my bottom lip, nipped it gently, then took it in his mouth and softly sucked. The taste of Cherry Coke exploded in my mouth. The kiss intensified fast, making my mind spin out of control as our tongues touched. Tentatively at first, then Tony grew bolder, going for what he really wanted.
He swirled his tongue around mine, roaming my mouth, until I thought I was floating two feet above the ground. I heard no music, no party noises anymore. I was lost in him.
Where his warm hand had touched my cheek, a cool spot remained as he pulled it away and thrust his fingers through my hair, getting a gentle but firm hold of my neck. He yanked me harder against him.
I let go of his head, dragged my hands to the front, stroking the smooth skin of his cheeks. Feeling the muscles work in his jaw as he kissed me senseless.
Tony stroked his knuckles along my jaw and caressed further down my throat, making my skin there tickle and then burn for his touch. He moved his hand around to my back, slipping in between my hoodie and the top underneath, and drew me gently against him. When his warm fingers splayed at the small of my back, touching naked skin there, he ignited a shudder at the back of my neck that ran all the way down to my toes.
My hands slipped to his chest. I could feel the beat of his heart there. It was pounding as fast as mine.
Dazed and panting, I broke the kiss, but as soon as I did, I noticed his happy eyes on me. A smile tugged on the corners of my mouth. Tony stroked my bangs out of my face and shaped his palm to my cheek once more. As he leaned in, I thought he was going to kiss me again. But instead, he placed a soft kiss right underneath my ear, then whispered, “Are you game?”
