by Toni Aleo
“Cool,” Wes says, getting up. “Hey, Shell, what you got going on?”
“Heading home, I guess.”
“We’re gonna go barhopping. Wanna come?”
No. No! Don’t invite her!
Her gaze shifts to me before she looks back at Wes. “Yeah, that sounds like fun.”
“Cool. Ready?” Wes asks, throwing a hundred on the table. “Someone is paying for my drinks at the next place since I paid for them here.”
“I got you,” Shelli says with a wink, shaking her tip jar.
He laughs. “Yes, drinks on the boss’s daughter!”
Shelli’s eyes flash to me, and I look away. I shouldn’t go, but if I don’t, it would seem like I’m not going because of her. While that is the reason, I don’t want the guys knowing that.
And I don’t want to hurt Shelli’s feelings.
Why do I care about her feelings? What is happening to me?
After gathering our things, we make a game plan to hit up the bars down in the Gulch. We decide to leave our cars and walk, even though I feel it’s too cold for Shelli out here. She’s wearing the shortest of skirts, and I don’t want her to freeze her ass off. It’s a great ass; it needs to stay there.
“Okay, let me go put my stuff up,” Shelli says, and she starts for her truck.
The guys just stand there, and it irritates me. “Is someone going to go with her?”
Wes makes a face. “She’s going right around the corner.”
“Assholes,” I grumble.
I reluctantly run to catch up with her. She looks surprised when I fall into step with her. “Oh, hey. I’m only going to be a second.”
“Yeah, I didn’t want you walking alone. Are you sure you want to walk? Maybe we should drive.”
She makes a face as she unlocks her door, throwing her jar on the seat before pulling out the money. “It’s all within walking distance. I’m fine.”
“I don’t want you to freeze.”
Her lips tilt. “I’m fine. I have tights on.”
And I want her out of them. Now.
“Yeah, I guess.”
She flashes me a grin before shutting the door and tucking her money between her breasts. It’s hard to breathe watching her hand cram between those two sweet mounds before she stuffs her key in there too. “Is that a safe place to put that?”
She shrugs. “I don’t have pockets, and who’s going to be reaching between my boobs?”
Me. I would.
“I can hold them for you.” Her brow perks, and I shake my head. “I mean your key and money.”
“I’m good,” she says with a little grin.
I swallow hard. “Yeah, um, you got your ID?”
“Ah!” she exclaims, going back into the truck. She leans over the seat, and that dress of hers rides up, leaving me breathless. When she leans back, she smiles up at me. “Got it.”
“Great.”
But it’s not great.
It’s far from great, because I’m going to die before the night is over.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
AIDEN
WE CATCH up with the guys and head to the first club. It’s as loud as ever, but Willy knows the bouncer and gets us a nice little spot in VIP. The club is a swanky one I hadn’t been to before. It’s new. The Spot has everything from go-go dancers to one badass DJ. The music is pumping, and it’s hard not to notice the little shake Shelli does with her hips. I fall back into the seat, trying to ignore her, but it’s hard. Wes dances beside her as the music vibrates around us. I want to push Wes out of the way, but I’m sure that would blow the cover I’m trying to stay under.
When the first round of drinks comes, Boon calls the two of them over, and Shelli sits beside me as she takes the shot from him. We all cheers before we shoot back the bitter liquid. Tequila. Ugh. That was my one and only shot for sure. Tequila is not my friend. It’s all I was drinking that night when I went to bed with Shelli. Being drunk might not be my jam anymore. It took sleeping with my boss’s daughter to realize that. My dad would be so proud.
I lean back in the booth as Wes takes Shelli’s hand again and they go back to dancing by the rail. They’re laughing, having a great time, and I’m sitting here, pissed the fuck off. Wes reaches out and moves some of her loose hair back behind her ear, and then they both start laughing. As if it’s some kind of joke. Why does he get to touch her like that? When he takes her in his arms, dipping her back, her laughter carries to me and turns my stomach with anger. I don’t know why the hell I’m getting so fucking pissed, but I am.
“Bro, you need a drink,” Boon yells over the music before passing me a beer.
I shake my head. “I don’t drink beer.”
“Oh yeah. You’re the tooty-fruity type. Let me order you a…what was it? A mer-lot?” he pronounces it like a lot, and I can’t help it, I laugh.
“Merlot,” I say, pronouncing it correctly for him. “But I’m good.”
“I’m not getting it for you,” he says as he waves down the waitress obnoxiously. “I’m doing it for Wes, so that you don’t get up and rip off his head to piss down his throat.”
I give him a blank look. “What are you talking about?”
“Oh. Wait, are you not feeling her?” he asks, nodding toward where Shelli and Wes are now salsa dancing. It makes my blood boil with how close his hands are to her ass. I don’t understand these feelings. I don’t need that kind of headache. I don’t even need to care, but for some really annoying reason, I fucking do.
“Not at all,” I say as dryly as I can. “I just think he’s stupid for doing that with the boss’s daughter.”
Boon looks over at them, his head tilting before he looks back at me. “I don’t think he cares, and I wouldn’t either. That girl is fire.”
He’s absolutely right.
Boon flashes me a grin that shows his two front teeth missing. He forgot his falsies but, eh, I don’t think he cares. When the waitress comes back, he pulls her into his lap and she giggles, kissing his cheek. I guess they know each other, or they will know each other by the time the night is over. I glance over at Shelli, and her hair has come down. It’s falling like a thick, beautiful curtain along her back, swaying as she laughs.
“Shots!”
Willy comes over with a tray, and Shelli drops down beside me. She goes to hand me a shot, but I shake my head. “I’m good.”
She eyes me, but Boon takes my shot. “Shit. If he isn’t going to shoot, I will!”
Everyone laughs, but Wes looks toward me. “You done?”
“Gotta make sure you idiots get home.”
“Aww, BB turned into our DD,” Wes teases. I flash him a playful dark look as everyone chuckles and teases me.
“BB?” Shelli asks, and then she glances over at me. “Oh, boogie butt! That’s awful. Who told them that was your nickname?”
Her eyes are sparkling with excitement. It’s hard to be upset with her. Though, I have no right. She is nothing to me. She’s just really hot, and it’s pissing me off that someone else is touching her. “Tate.”
“So rude!”
“Agreed.”
She takes the shot, shaking from the aftertaste. She then takes a long pull of her beer.
“Better slow down there, Adler.”
She looks back at me. “I know how to handle my liquor, BB.”
Her grin is hypnotizing, and soon I’m smiling back at her. “My apologies.”
She takes another long pull, and I admire her profile. It’s so round, sweet. Like a cherub’s. When she glances back at me, I look down at my hands.
“So, are you excited for our shindig tomorrow?”
I snort. “So excited.”
She laughs. “Right? It’s gonna be so embarrassing.”
“Absolutely.” I then lean in and chuckle softly. “Remember that party my mom threw for Stella, and she made me dress up like a damn fish?”
Shelli’s face lights up as she giggles loudly. “Flounder!”
�
�Not funny.”
“So funny! You had to wear those blue tights!” Her laughter is intoxicating as she leans back, shaking her head. “You were the grumpiest Flounder ever.”
“You would be too if you were seventeen in a fish costume.”
She snorts. “But you were so adorable.”
I shake my head. “Whatever. I looked stupid.”
She leans into me, her chin in her hands. “I didn’t think so.”
I’m lost in her blue depths. “You and Wes a thing?”
Why did I ask that? Why in the hell did I ask that?
Her brows furrow as her lips twist. “Wes? Wesley?”
“Yeah,” I somehow say, and am I not in control of my lips? What the hell?
“No,” she laughs and shakes her head. “We’re very good friends. We’ve known each other since pee wee travel hockey. He’s more a brother than anything.”
Oh. “Cool.”
“Why?”
“Just wondering.”
“Wondering why?”
I shrug. “You two seemed mighty close.”
“We were dancing.”
“Closely.”
She eyes me. “Why does that matter?”
“It doesn’t,” I say with a shrug. “Just making an observation.”
Her lips curve into the most sinful smile I’ve ever seen. It’s not only her lips that hit me straight in the gut—no, her eyes are dark and full of everything naughty. “Seems to me that observation was made out of a bit of jealousy. Do you not like me dancing with Wes?”
“I don’t care. You do you.”
She leans on her hand again, her eyes locking with mine. “You’re an awful liar.”
I scoff, rolling my eyes. “I’m not lying.”
“Mmm-hmm,” she says, her lips pursing. “Would you like to dance with me, Aiden?”
She says my name so slowly and with so much heat, I choke on my tongue. “I don’t think that would be smart.”
“Who cares?”
Her eyes are challenging mine, leaving me completely breathless. I want so badly to wrap my arms around her and move against her.
“Shell, come on. This is my jam!”
She doesn’t even look to where Wes is calling her. Her eyes are on me. “Last chance.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
She shrugs. “Your loss.”
And then she gets up, shimmying to Wes. In that tight skirt, I can see her ass jiggle. She’s right, it is my fucking loss. I sigh deeply as I reach for the bottle of water Boon ordered for me. I lean back in the booth, and I’m thankful for the dark shadow cast over my face.
Because I’m watching Shelli Adler move in ways I wish she’d only move for me.
As the night flows on, so does the alcohol. We hit up three more clubs before I start to notice this party is getting a little out of hand. Willy left about an hour ago to go home to Caitlin, while Boon is dry-humping anyone who will let him. He’s completely toasted, and I’m wondering if I should get him out of here. Wes was dancing with Shelli, but now I have no clue where he is. I’ve kept Shelli in view, and she hasn’t stopped dancing since we got here.
I’m watching Boon stumble into a chair when Shelli falls beside me in the booth I’m sitting in. She leans into me, her mouth coming close to my ear. “I’m really drunk.”
My lips curve. “Are you now?” She leans back laughing, and I grip her wrist so she doesn’t fall out. “Wow, you are really drunk.”
“I am.”
I mutter a curse under my breath. I move to get up, but she clutches my wrist. “Don’t leave me.”
“I’m gonna get Boon and see if I can find Wes.”
“But don’t leave me,” she says as she stares up at me, eyes half lidded. I can see her eyes floating in tears, and I want to groan. Great, she’s a crier when she’s drunk.
“I’m not,” I promise, and then I look up to see Wes coming toward me. I point to him. “How drunk are you?”
He holds up his hands, moving them up and down, like he’s weighing his answer. “I might be.”
“That’s not a unit of measurement.”
“Fine. A lot.”
“Ha!” Boon laughs. “Like mer-lot!”
The peanut gallery, ladies and gentlemen.
“Great. Give me your phone.”
He hands it over as he sits down beside Boon. I notice the bouncers watching us, and I know we gotta get out of here. I sit on the arm of the chair, and Shelli’s head falls into my lap. I move my hand over her hair absentmindedly as I use Wes’s app to request an Uber.
“Nice. It’s already outside.” I get up and grab Shelli’s jacket before putting it on her. “Guys, come on.” I then look down at Shelli and say, “Come on, angel. Let’s get out of here.” She takes my hands, and I pull her up into my arms. She’s so much shorter than me, and when she tips her head back, I can’t help but look down at her.
“You called me angel?”
I smile. “Yeah, I guess I did.”
I wrap my arm around her waist and then follow my two buddies out. Thankfully, we all make it outside without any assistance from the bouncers. After a long argument with Boon and Wes about leaving their cars back at Brooks House, the Uber finally drives off with them in it. I promise to take them to get their cars tomorrow. It’s all good, and I’ll text my mom so she doesn’t tow them. We’re only a block from Brooks House, but I’m unsure Shelli will make it.
“You good there, Shell?”
“I think I might puke…or pass out,” she mumbles, and she looks a little green.
“Fantastic,” I mutter as I lift her into my arms with ease. I can feel her skirt riding up, so I put her back down, much to her dismay.
“But I don’t want to walk.”
“Hush you,” I murmur as I take off my jacket, which, luckily, she returned to me earlier, and wrap it around her waist. I then pick her back up, satisfied knowing no one will see her ass. She wraps her arms around my neck and cuddles her face into my chest as I head toward our cars. She smells like tequila, smoke, and absolute perfection. She drives me wild. Problem is, I’m unsure what I am going to do. I don’t think I can take her home. What the hell would I say to her parents? Plus, it’s almost three in the morning. They’re probably sleeping. There is really only one thing to do.
When we reach my car, I hit the unlock button for my brand-new Fiat Spider and open the door. I slowly lower her into it and then buckle her seat belt. When I go to make sure the belt is over her chest correctly, she opens one eye.
“Hey.”
“Hey.”
“You’re super hot.”
I chuckle as I pat her thigh. “You too, but don’t throw up in my new car, please.”
“You should kiss me.”
Yup, I knew I was going to die tonight. “No can do, angel. When I kiss you, I want you to know what’s happening.”
“Eh, knowing shit is overrated. If you knew it was me, we wouldn’t have had some really great sex,” she mumbles, awakening every fiber of my body. “God, we were so hot that night.”
My lips curve as I pat her thigh once more. “We sure were.”
“We should do that again. Here,” she says, and when she starts to lift her skirt, I stop her.
“Shelli, stop. Rest.”
She groans but then passes out again, thankfully. I shut the door and rush around the car, taking a quick peek at her car to make sure it’s good. Once in the driver’s seat, I start the car as I text my mom really fast. When she doesn’t answer, I’m thankful. I put the car in drive and head toward my place, which is only four minutes down the road. I’m not sure if this is the right idea, but I really don’t know what else to do. I can’t leave her in her car, and I don’t want her mom knowing she was out drinking with me and the guys.
When we reach my condo, she’s snoring loudly. It’s so cute, I can’t help but grin. After parking, I get out and then help her out. I learn very quickly that walking is not an option for her.
“I told you to slow down.”
“Shh. You can’t control me.”
I’ve never heard truer words.
I snort as I lift her up in my arms. I carry her to the elevator and hit my floor before leaning back on the wall. She’s cuddled into my chest, looking so small and perfect. Her hair falls along her rosy cheeks, and her mouth is parted sweetly. When the elevator dings, I tear my gaze from her and step off before turning left down the hall. I dig the keys out of my pocket and open the door before kicking it shut behind us. I don’t pause to turn on lights or anything. All the boxes are against the walls, so hopefully I won’t fall.
I push open my bedroom door with my hip before carrying her to my bed. My room is bare, but at least there is a bed and a dresser. I lay her down slowly before pulling the covers out from under her. She stretches all her limbs as her head falls to the side, her mouth still wide open.
What a sight.
I shake my head as I unbuckle her shoes, throwing them onto the floor once I get them off her. How she walks in these deathtraps is beyond me, but man I love watching her in them. I pull the blankets up her legs and over her torso when I remember her ID, money, phone, and keys are in her bra. I don’t want her key to stab her, but I also don’t want to touch her boob. But I also don’t want her to get cancer from her phone so close to her boob. So reluctantly, I reach into her bra.
Jell-O, a warm bowl of Jell-O, not Shelli’s boobs.
Thank God, I get her phone first and then finally her key. The other stuff can stay in there.
I set her things down, but then I see her phone flashing with a text. It’s Elli.
Shit.
Mom: You coming home tonight?
She sent it at twelve.
Shelli doesn’t have a password, so I open her phone to the text.
Me: Hey, sorry. It was loud in the club. I’m staying the night at a friend’s. I left my car at Brooks House.
Elli writes back right away.
Mom: Too much to drink?
Me: Yeah, sorry. I’ll be home in the morning.
Mom: It’s okay. Just remember to text me earlier next time. I’ve been worried.
Me: I’m really sorry.
Mom: I love you. Be safe.
