Distraction (Westbrook Series Book 1)

by Laura Clark

  I am ready to pop the top off this drink to calm my nerves. I just want to relax and stay focused on Devon. I sneak back downstairs and find Avery standing by the pool talking to a guy that I don't recognize. Does he go to our school?

  "Laila, where did you go?" she asks me with her arms crossed over her chest.

  The two of them are staring at me, waiting for me to answer. I look down at my sweater, wondering if I should reveal the drinks in front of this strange boy. My eyes travel back up to his face again, but I am still unsure. That's when I realize that this guy is quite possibly one of the most handsome boys I've ever laid eyes on. His eyes look a little familiar, but I can't place why. You don't forget piercing, emerald green eyes like his, the kind that almost seep right down into your soul when they look at you.

  When a strand of his dark-chocolate brown hair falls forward on his forehead, I have this urge to push it back. Thankfully, he beats me to it, and runs his hand through his hair, as if it is a normal habit of his. He flashes me a big, gorgeous smile, revealing two adorable dimples and a set of perfect white teeth. My heart starts pounding hard against my chest. This is when I finally realize that I do in fact know this boy. His parents are good friends with my parents. I haven't seen Trevor Maddox since we were in junior high.

  "I just thought we could use a little drink to loosen up before everyone gets here." I toss my sweater onto the side table and hand one of the cold bottles to Avery.

  "Sorry, Trevor. I didn't even know you were going to be here. Pepsi?" I ask, smiling nervously while holding up the can of soda. Good Lord. I certainly do not remember him being this hot in junior high. I almost can't look at him.

  "Are you sure you're old enough to be drinking?" he asks in an accusatory voice. I can't help but notice the scowl that has replaced his beautiful smile. Is he really going to give me a hard time about drinking?

  "Well, obviously I'm not, and you know that, considering we are the exact same age," I say sarcastically while rolling my eyes. I may be rethinking my initial thought about him being good looking. Annoying is definitely not very attractive on him.

  "We are not the same age. I'm seventeen. I'm sorry, but sixteen is way too young to be drinking." He snatches the bottle out of my hand before I can even take my first sip.

  Needless to say, this infuriates me. Where does he get off telling me that I'm too young to drink at my house? Is this really the first thing he says to me after not seeing me for more than three years? There is no, "Hey Laila, how are you?" or "What have you been up to?" If he even thinks about telling my parents, I swear I am going to shove his snarky little ass right into the pool, clothes and all.

  He twists off the cap and hands the bottle to Avery exchanging it for her unopened bottle. He flashes her one of those smiles that I now realize is just plain cocky, while twisting off the other lid. Just when I think he is going to hand me my bottle back, he turns his attention back to me and takes a sip of it without even blinking. He is drinking my bottle that he took right out of my hands. Well technically, Avery is drinking that bottle, but you know what I mean.

  Now, he is staring at me, almost taunting me with a smug little look on his gorgeous bronzed face. Did I just admit he is gorgeous? Damn. He really is too hot for words, but I am not about to let him know that I think that.

  "So, let me get this straight. I am too young to be drinking, but my best friend, who is only four months older than me, and you, who are only six months older than me are, old enough?" I cross my arms over my chest and huff. Yeah, I'm not proud of my bratty behavior, but I am really worked up here.

  "That's about right. In what, two months you will be seventeen, right?" He doesn't wait for me to reply. "I think you will be old enough then." He says this as if it is the most natural thing in the world before taking another sip.

  I look at Avery in that way that says, "Can you believe this guy?" without actually saying anything. She has an amused expression on her face as she bites back her own smile. I smirk at her when I realize that she is not going to help me out.

  "One month," I correct him.

  "What?" he asks.

  "You said I would be old enough in two months, but my birthday is next month." My glare is deepening, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to hold back the blush I know is already creeping onto my face.

  His eyebrows shoot up and the corners of his lips turn up slightly. There is no doubt; he has noticed my reaction.

  "Relax, Patterson. I am just messing with you." He elbows me playfully and is smiling again as he relinquishes my bottle. I am not laughing or smiling.

  "Real funny and no. I don't think so. Who knows what kind of diseases and germs you have? I mean, it's been, what? Three years? For all I know, you could be carrying mono and I am not about to take that kind of risk by drinking after you. Especially not when . . . never mind. I just can't get sick right now." I push the bottle back toward him.

  "So, what is so important that you can't possibly get sick?" he asks with a mocking tone. His lips are now stretched tightly across his face and those damned dimples are back.

  "She is about to finally hook up with this guy that she has a crush on," Avery announces without looking at me.

  I cannot believe she would just blurt that out to this guy that she has only known for two minutes. Actually, I can believe it because it is exactly the type of thing Avery does. Did it not even occur to her that I might not want him to know about Devon? I shake my head in disbelief.

  I'm sure she does not think it is a big deal because she never worries about what other people think of her. She says exactly what is on her mind all the time. I wish I had that kind of confidence even if I am about ready to kill her for it right now. When she finally notices my furrowing eyebrows, she rolls her eyes and throws back another drink, acting as if I am being overly dramatic.

  Trevor's eyebrows pop up curiously. "So, are you really hoping to score tonight, Patterson?" he asks with a half laugh before taking another sip from the bottle I had refused.

  "No. Jesus, I am not looking to score. What is wrong with you?" I glare at him, but he is just smiling at me and shaking his head, as if I am somehow amusing him. "A guy that I maybe, kind of, sort of like, is going to be here tonight, but I don't know if he even likes me back. Not that it's any of your business."

  I look over at Avery and realize that she also has a foolish grin on her face. She and Trevor exchange a look and appear to be holding back their laughter.

  "I am really glad that I can be so entertaining for the two of you, though." My voice is heavily laced with sarcasm.

  Trevor looks at me and shakes his head again.

  "What?" I ask incredulously.

  "Nothing. It's just hard to imagine you . . . in that way, Patterson. I guess you really have grown up, haven't you?" He has a more serious look on his face now and those damned eyes are just teasing me.

  In what way is it hard for him to look at me? The idea of him thinking about me possibly "scoring" with some guy makes me blush.

  "Why do you insist on acting like I am so much younger than you?" I ask.

  "I don't really know. You always seemed so much younger, I guess." His eyes travel down to my chest, but he quickly looks away. "You know, before . . . now, that is." He swallows really hard at the end of his sentence and now, he has a really strange look on his face that I can't read.

  What is that supposed to mean?

  "I'm going to get another drink since someone took mine." I send him a little flirty smile as I walk away. I figure I might as well ease up on him since he really was just playing around. It's kind of hard to stay mad when he keeps flashing me that killer smile with those intoxicating dimples. Plus, every time he looks at me with his beautiful green eyes, I feel like he sees right through me.

  I'm replaying our exchange in my head as I scale the deck stairs. I don't know why, but I didn't seem to get nervous and weird around Trevor, like I normally do when I'm around other guys. Even though he is ridiculous
ly hot, he's still just little Trevor Maddox from way back when. Only, he really isn't all that little any more. It's amazing how much a person can change in only three years.

  Chapter Four: That's the Guy?

  Mumford and Sons is playing “I Will Wait” and the deck is really starting to get crowded. The French doors are still propped open, and people are standing in small groups; some are inside, and others are scattered across the deck.

  I see Trevor's parents inside talking to my parents. Nobody seems to notice me. I check the area one more time before I discreetly slip another bottle under my cardigan, and walk back towards the stairs.

  "Are you sure you should be doing that?" His soft, smooth voice startles me.

  I can feel his hot, minty breath on my bare shoulder, and it sends about a million tingles dancing madly down my arm. He is really close, almost too close and yet not close enough. As usual, he smells completely amazing. I have no idea what it is that he wears. It seems like his very own mixture of a light cologne, soap, and maybe even deodorant. Whatever it is, it is uniquely him and one whiff sends my head in to a complete tailspin.

  This is usually about when I become speechless. I worry my knees are going to buckle because I feel that faint. I take a deep breath before turning around to face him. Sure enough, Sam is standing right behind me looking better than I ever remember him being. Yes. College has been very good to you, Sam.

  "Hey Sam. So, where's Kyle?" I ask casually, my voice catching a little in my throat. Well, it is my attempt to act cool and indifferent, which is a far cry from how I really feel inside. I continue down the stairs acting as if he should just follow me.

  I am trying really hard not to trip or do something else that is wildly embarrassing. Of course if I didn't do that, it would be uncharacteristic of me in most situations when Sam is involved. I just have this knack for instantly transforming into a bumbling fool when he's near.

  "Around, I guess." I can feel his shrug by the tone in his voice when he finally answers. "He's been talking non-stop with your parents' friends. I got pretty bored. Mind if I hang with you guys for a while?" he asks casually. I stop at the bottom of the stairs and turn around to face him.

  A confident, lopsided grin sneaks onto his face as he winks at me. His sparkling blue eyes seem to be drinking me in, while he flashes me his full signature Sammy smile. That smile always turns my stomach to mush. I notice he is drinking a beer out in the open, as if he isn't even trying to hide it. I have to remind myself that he is in college now. My parents have allowed Kyle to drink since he graduated from high school, so long as he promises to be responsible, and to never drive under the influence.

  "Yeah, sure. I mean, it's just Avery, Trevor, and me right now, but whatever. More people will start trickling in after eight. You've been to enough of Kyle's parties to know how it goes."

  I can't help but notice how his eyes keep traveling down the length of my body. Every time they start to veer, my heart leaps as if it is jumping on a trampoline. I wonder if he notices that this is the same dress I wore to the wedding.

  I casually slip my Smirnoff Ice bottle out from under my sweater, hoping he won't say anything else about me drinking. I am trying to twist the cap off, but it's being extra stubborn and won't budge. It might have something to do with the fact that my hands are sweaty and shaky.

  "Here," Sam says.

  His warm hand is covering mine before I can look up. I feel a burst of electricity pulsing through my body the instant his fingers make contact. I don't know if he has ever actually touched me before. No, I know that there is no way he has ever touched me like this because I would definitely remember. I briefly wonder if he feels the same way because his hand lingers there for a moment longer than it should, and he is looking at me in that way again, just like he did at the wedding.

  His eyes are smoky and his face is slightly flushed. He gently tugs the bottle out of my hand, twists the lid off, and places it back in my hand. Once again, his hand is wrapped around mine as we hold the bottle together and it's driving me crazy. My heart is racing madly. I feel like I can't breathe, but I force myself to muster out a quick, "Thanks."

  "This must be Devon." Trevor's deep voice breaks our moment and Sam reclaims his hand.

  It's hard to tell what it is exactly, but Trevor sounds kind of strange. There seems to be a slight edge in the way he is speaking to Sam. Then again, he sounds like he is desperately trying to cover it up. Sam doesn't seem to notice anything weird though, which makes me wonder if it isn't just in my head. Then it finally hits me; what Trevor said.

  "What? No. She told you his name? No, no, no. Um, this is Sam. He's a . . . friend of Kyle's. They go to NEU together. They are just in town for the weekend. Sam, this is Trevor," I say awkwardly.

  Sam looks at me curiously and then nods quickly at Trevor. I cannot believe Avery told him Devon's name. She is in so much trouble.

  "So, who is this Devon guy?" Sam asks me while lightly nudging me with his elbow.

  "Nobody," I say quickly.

  "That's not what I heard," Trevor teases me while sharing another amused look with Avery.

  Sam's eyes dart between the two of them before they find me again. "I didn't know you had a boyfriend, lil sis. Really?"

  I cringe as soon as I hear him say my nickname. The look he had on his face before Trevor came over has completely vanished. So, we are instantly back to being like brother and sister. Really? Sam used to call me lil sis, which is what Kyle still calls me. I don't mind when my brother calls me that, but I really don't want Sam thinking of me like I'm his little sister. It kind of hampers my fantasy of us one day becoming a real couple.

  "He's not. I mean . . . I don't have a boyfriend," I say a little too sharply while glaring at Avery.

  "Yet. Ask her again tomorrow if that's true. Hi, Sam," Avery says in almost a singsong way. She tilts her head to the side and casts a flirtatious smile in Sam's direction.

  Avery strikes yet again. She is on a roll tonight. I seriously am starting to wonder if she revels in my humiliation.

  "Avery," Sam repeats her name and nods as if that is enough of a greeting. For some reason, he seems to hardly notice her. I've always wondered how she has managed to stay off his radar. He might just be the only guy in the universe who doesn't notice how gorgeous she is. Either that, or he is just really good at hiding it.

  "Paige just texted me. She said that she, Kylie, and Allie are on their way over with Chase, Mark, and Devon. She also said that Devon keeps asking about you, Laila." Her animated voice is now high-pitched and she is almost shrieking with excitement.

  For some reason, I am not as excited as I should be. Ok, so the reason isn't quite so mysterious. It is six foot three with wavy, sandy-blond hair, gorgeous blue eyes, and a smile that could melt butter. I remind myself that he just called me lil sis. That seems to help me snap out of my Sammy coma.

  Trevor is still looking at me strangely and he keeps eyeing Sam suspiciously. What is that about? I barely even know Trevor anymore and it's almost like he's being . . . . What is it that he's being? It's almost protective, but that can't be right, either. I must be reading way too much into it. Then again, if Trevor glares at Sam one more time, I might just have to smack him. Thankfully, Sam is completely oblivious.

  We all head over to the patio to wait for the rest of the group. The rattling sound of the wrought-iron gate grabs our attention. We turn around to see who is causing the ruckus. Chase, Mark, and Devon come barreling through with a huge, red cooler full of (no doubt) their own supply of alcoholic beverages.

  "Let the party begin, y'all. Chase is in da howse." He uses his signature DJ voice, which makes us all laugh. We can always count on Chase to keep everyone laughing and having a good time.

  "No, actually you are outside and the party has been going on for some time, McDew." Sam fist bumps Chase and then picks up the other end of the cooler to help him carry it.

  I didn't even realize they knew each other.

&nbs
p; "Woodson, waz up? Good to see you, bro. How the hell have you been?" Chase asks.

  I've always wondered why guys address each other by last name only. They set the cooler down on the patio by the pool.

  "I need your keys," Sam says, holding his hands out as people file past him. I'm glad he is stepping in to be on party patrol. He always did that at Kyle's parties, but I didn't think he would bother tonight. It gives me one less thing to worry about. When he glances my way, I smile appreciatively. His lopsided grin returns, but he isn't looking at me like I'm his little sister anymore. I feel the heat rising to my cheeks as I look away.

  Devon and Mark stroll on over to the other patio behind Chase and Sam. I was hoping that Devon might come over and say, "Hi" to me, but he just sits down with his friends and completely ignores me.

  After a few minutes, he finally looks up at me. He nods and smiles, but doesn't say anything. He is wearing a light blue polo with white cargo shorts, which makes his tan look darker. He looks cute, but for some reason, he looks much younger than I remember him being. We've only been out of school a week. How could he possibly look so different to me?

  Maybe it's just that standing next to both Sam and Trevor, he looks shorter and kind of on the small side. Surprisingly, Trevor looks like he could already be in college. He definitely has the body of a college boy, not that I'm looking.

  For some reason, Trevor is looking at Mark and Devon, and then back at me, as if he is silently asking me which one Devon is. I pretend not to notice. Avery runs over to the gate to meet the girls. Not long after that, a few more groups start making their way into the back yard. Sam is busy collecting car keys and handing out red cups, so people can discard their beer cans and bottles before my parents catch us.

  Everyone is having a good time, but I can't help but notice that Devon has yet to say one word to me. Avery is surrounded by a big group of girls. They are all listening to one of her fashion stories, which I could probably recite in my sleep because I've heard it so many times.