“Claire’s here?”
“Yeah, she came with Abel.”
“Oh.” My heart crashes inside my chest. Welp, that answers that question. He really was only inviting me to invite me. I try to push past the way that makes me feel and focus on Henna. “Are there a lot of people inside?”
“A ton. But it doesn’t feel crowded or anything because this place is huge.” She over exaggerates the word. “Are you coming inside or what?”
“I don’t know.”
“What do you mean you don’t know? You drove all the way here.”
“I know, but now I’m thinking maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.”
“Why, because Claire’s here?” She reads me like a pro.
“Well that and I don’t really know anyone.”
“First off, I’m here. You don’t need to know anyone else. And second, don’t worry about Claire. She’s been hanging out with Nick all night. The two seem to be getting quite cozy.”
“Oh yeah?” I question, not sure why this makes me feel a whole hell of a lot better.
I know that Claire is Abel’s friend, his sister-in-law too, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little threatened by her. She’s Finley’s sister, which means her and Abel no doubt share a very deep and special connection. That happens when you share a loss with someone.
“Yes, now stop being weird and get your ass in here.”
“I’m not being weird.”
“Yeah, okay. Says the girl sitting in her car too afraid of a boy to come inside.”
“I’m not afraid of a boy.”
“No, you’re just afraid of what that boy makes you feel.”
“What are we, teenagers?”
“You tell me. You’re the one acting like one.”
“Gahhh,” I half yell, half laugh.
“Just get your ass in here.”
“Fine, but you have to come out and walk me inside.”
“You’re joking, right?” She laughs.
“No, Henna, I’m not joking. Seriously, come outside.”
“Oh my god. Fine. Give me a minute.”
“Okay, thank you.”
Pulling down the visor, I check myself in the mirror. After leaving Dad’s I touched up my makeup and applied a soft pink lipstick that highlights my lips without actually really changing the color.
My hair is pinned back on the sides, hanging in loose waves down my back. It’s my go to style when I want to try but not really look like I’m trying.
I close the visor just in time to see Henna making her way toward me. She’s dressed in a slinky red dress, her long black hair flowing in the wind as she walks.
Seriously?
I glance down at my dark shorts and white off the shoulder top, wishing like hell I would have asked Henna what she was wearing before settling on this outfit. It’s cute and all but now I’m gonna have to walk in next to Henna, looking like that.
“What the fuck?” She lifts her arms as she approaches.
“What?” I swing open the car door and climb out.
“You asked me to meet you outside. You didn’t say I’d have to walk all the way down here to get your ass.”
“Oh, shut it.” I wave her off, shutting the car door before clicking the lock button on my key fob. Shoving my keys into my pocket, I turn and face Henna. “Um...” I gesture to her dress.
“What? You don’t like it?” Her hands go to her hips.
“No, it’s not that. I just didn’t realize it was that kind of party.”
“What? The kind where you can wear a cute dress?”
“Um, err, yeah,” I stutter.
“Girl, you know me. Any excuse I can get to pull one of these bad boys out of the closet.” She smiles. “Besides, you look super cute.”
“Cute.” I look down at myself. “Great. That’s exactly what I was going for.” I let out an audible sigh.
“Fine. You look hot!” she corrects. “Is that better?”
“No, because now you’re just telling me what I want to hear.” I purposely choose to be difficult. “Come on.” I take off toward the house, stepping past her. “Let’s get this over with.”
“God, listen to you. You act like this is some formal dinner that you can’t wait to get through. It’s a party, Peyton. You know, the kind where people have fun.” She quickens her stride to catch up to me. “You used to know how to have fun.”
“I do know how to have fun.”
“Not since you’ve gone celibate.”
“I haven’t gone celibate,” I argue.
“Sworn off dick then. Does it really matter how you put it? You stopped putting out and now you’re lame.”
“You make it sound like I was such a slut.”
“Please. You’ve never been and will never be the kind of girl that can be classified as a slut. But you have been wound a little tight since things went belly up with that last ass hat you were dating. Maybe you need to get laid.”
“Oh my god, Henna, I do not need to get laid,” I say a little too loudly as we climb the stairs to the front porch.
“Well that’s a shame.” His voice comes out of nowhere and I stop so sudden my upper body jerks forward. It takes only seconds before I spot Abel at the far side of the porch. He must have been watching us walk up and probably heard every word we said.
My insides instantly warm and I can feel a flush flood my cheeks.
“I, uh, hey.” I can’t seem to make my mouth work all of a sudden.
“Hey.” He grins, lifting his beer to his lips before taking a pull. “I was starting to think you weren’t coming.”
“Sorry, it took me longer to get here than I thought it would. This place is really out there.”
“Yeah.” He looks around. “It’s kind of out in the middle of nowhere.”
“Well, I’m gonna let you two talk,” Henna interrupts. “I need to find Aaron.”
“He’s in the game room. Pretty sure Claire and Nick are putting a beating on him and Sven at pool.”
“Oh, I’m sure he’s loving that.” Henna laughs, throwing up a half wave as she takes off inside the house, leaving me standing on the porch all alone with Abel.
“So.” He smiles, and my insides seize up.
“So.” I rock back on my heels nervously.
“You look really pretty.” He gestures toward me.
“Um, thanks. You too,” I say. “I mean, you look really handsome.”
Stupid, Peyton. Geez. Get your shit together.
“Thanks.” He chuckles. “You want something to drink?”
“I probably shouldn’t. I have to drive home later.”
“Technically you don’t.” He grins, that damn dimple making me weak in the knees. “Usually at these parties everyone crashes here. Sven has about ten bedrooms and wrap arounds in the living room and basement so there’s plenty of sleeping space.”
“Is Henna staying?”
“I believe so, yes. Is that a deciding factor for you?”
“If she stays I might, but if she’s not staying I probably won’t.”
“Well then, let’s find out.” He grabs my hand and tugs me toward the door.
The minute we step inside we’re accosted by loud music and the roar of laughter and conversations taking place all around us. Abel pulls me through the house so quickly I don’t have time to look around.
I can tell you that the place is incredible. High ceilings. Expensive furniture. No doubt decorated by a professional designer. Not to mention each individual room is about the size of my entire apartment, maybe bigger.
We find Henna in the back, in what I assume is the game room considering there are arcade games, a ping pong table, a pool table, along with many other little things set up throughout the space. She’s standing next to the pool table laughing at Aaron who looks aggravated.
“I take it you beat him.” Abel slides in next to Claire who’s looking quite pleased with herself.
“Didn’t know I could play pool.�
�� She smiles, her gaze sliding to me for a split second before going back to Abel. “Turns out I’m actually quite good.”
“’Bout time someone put my brother in his place.” Abel laughs.
“Okay, who’s next?” Nick appears at Claire’s other side, dropping his arm over her shoulder. The action causes her smile to spread and it becomes very obvious that she’s into him and that he’s into her. I relax a little.
“I think me and Peyton might like a go,” Abel volunteers us.
“Um, you might want to rethink that. I’m quite possibly the worst pool player ever.”
“Oh, come on. You can’t be that bad. Who knows, maybe you’ll surprise yourself. I know I did,” Claire encourages me.
“Please.” Abel pouts out his bottom lip and I instantly wonder how much he’s had to drink. He seems so much more laid back than usual. There’s a playfulness to him that I don’t think I’ve ever seen before.
“Fine.” I cave, knowing there’s no way I can resist that face. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“You’re going down,” Nick playfully boasts, crossing to the opposite side of the table where he proceeds to collect the balls and place them in the rack.
“Probably,” I mutter, walking over to where Henna is consoling the sore loser that is her boyfriend.
“Hey.” She smiles when I slide up next to them.
“Hey.”
“Here.” Abel appears at my side, sliding a pool stick into my hand. “Hey, Henna, are you and Aaron planning on staying here tonight.”
“That was the plan.” She nods.
“Perfect.” Abel smiles at me. “I’ll be right back.” He hands me his pool stick and quickly walks away.
“What is he up to?” Henna cocks her head to the side.
“No idea,” I answer honestly.
“I see we scared your partner before the game even began,” Nick calls over to me from across the table.
“Abel doesn’t scare off,” Claire informs him. “He’ll be back.”
As if right on cue, Abel reappears with a fresh beer in one hand and a red solo cup in the other. Stepping up next to me, he holds the cup out to me.
“If I remember right, you’re quite fond of long islands. Though I can’t promise I’m very good at making them.”
“I said I wasn’t drinking.” I smile, taking the drink anyway.
“No, you asked if Henna was staying and she is,” he corrects. “Therefore, so are you. Now taste it and tell me how I did.”
I try to fight the smile threatening to spill across my lips but it’s no use. You would think I would’ve learned by now that my attempts are in vain when Abel is involved.
Lifting the cup to my lips, I take a tentative sip.
“Well?” He waits for my reaction.
“Not bad,” I admit. “A little heavy handed on the liquor but it’s pretty good.”
“I’ll keep that in mind for next time.” He winks, turning his attention to the pool table when Nick announces that they’re ready.
We spend the next hour alternating playing pool with Claire, Nick, Sven, Henna, Aaron, and a couple others. Despite my best efforts, we lose every single game. By the time we finally call it quits, I’ve downed two of Abel’s long islands and am feeling quite good. Not drunk but buzzed enough that I’ve relaxed a little and let my guard down.
“Hey.” Claire slides up next to me when Abel leaves to make me another drink.
“Hey.” I smile.
“Can we talk for a minute?” she asks, gesturing outside.
“Yeah, of course.” I nod, following her to the back door before stepping onto the deck with her. While it was warm earlier, the air has a chill to it now, and I rub my hands up and down my arms in an effort to warm myself. “What’s up?” I ask when Claire walks to the banister and looks out over the expansive backyard, having yet to say a single word.
“I just wanted to talk to you about Abel,” she says, eyes trained forward.
“Okay,” I draw out, waiting for her to continue.
“He likes you.” She lets out a soft breath. “I can tell by the way he looks at you. I wasn’t sure I’d ever see him look at another girl that way.”
“Claire,” I start, but she cuts me off before I can even think about what I want to say. Hell, I haven’t even processed her first statement before she continues to say more.
“I know he puts on a brave face, but inside he’s barely holding it together. I just need to know that you’re not only having fun. But that you like him too. Because the last thing he can take right now is opening his heart to someone only to have it stomped on. I don’t think he’d survive it.”
“I would never,” I start.
“Do you like him?” She cuts me off again.
“I really do,” I admit.
“Good.” She smiles, her gaze coming to mine. “Just don’t hurt him. I may not look like much, but I will throw down for that man, no questions asked.”
“Understood.” I smile back despite the seriousness of her words. I can’t help it. It’s sweet how much she cares about him.
“Good,” she repeats. “I love Abel. My sister loved him. I just want to make sure he’s in good hands.”
“Oh, we’re still getting to know each other. And he’s made no advances toward me. I get the impression he just wants to be friends.”
“Oh honey.” She shakes her head. “A man doesn’t act the way Abel acts around you if he just wants to be friends. Truth be told, I don’t even know if he knows it yet. But he will. And when he does, I need to know you won’t hurt him.”
“I would never,” I answer truthfully.
“I can see why he likes you, ya know?” She grins.
Before she can elaborate, Abel walks outside, his gaze jumping between the two of us.
“Hey,” he says to us both.
“Hi.” I smile, taking the drink he extends to me.
“Everything okay out here?” he asks.
“Everything is great,” Claire answers. “Peyton and I were just getting a little fresh air.”
“Okay.” He nods, deciding to accept this as an answer even though I can tell he knows there’s more to it.
“I’m gonna run inside and find Nick. He said we’re gonna try our hands at beer pong next.” She laughs. “I’ve never played, but who knows. Maybe I’ll be good at that too.” She bumps her shoulder into Abel as she passes him. “I’ll catch up with you later,” she calls out, seconds before she disappears inside.
Chapter Sixteen
Abel
“You doing okay?” I lean against the deck railing, my body angled toward Peyton.
“I am.” She takes a drink before looking up at me with a smile that makes my insides feel funny.
“Good.” I take a drink of my beer in hopes of dulling the feeling. It’s not a bad feeling. Maybe a little scary, but not bad. “So, what were you and Claire really talking about?”
“Nothing.” She shrugs. “We were talking about Nick. I think she likes him.”
“Yeah, you got that impression too?” I chuckle.
“I think it’s pretty obvious any way you spin it.”
“Out of everyone here, Nick is the last person I would have expected Claire to connect with.”
“Why’s that?”
“I don’t know. She’s just so...nice. And caring. And she has her shit together. Nick? Not so much.”
“I don’t know. He seems okay to me.”
“He’s a good guy,” I admit. “Just not someone I would have picked for Claire.”
“Well, lucky for her, you don’t get a say.” Peyton taps me on the chest with her pointer finger. I catch her hand mid motion and wrap my fingers around it, pressing both of our hands against my chest.
I don’t know why, but I find it impossible to let go. I keep waiting for that familiar feeling to return—the weight, the heaviness, the guilt—but to my surprise it’s nowhere to be found.
“You’re beautiful.” I v
oice my thoughts aloud.
“How much have you had to drink?” she jokes, shifting her weight from one foot to the other like she doesn’t know how to stand still.
“Five beers. But don’t worry, I know what I’m saying. This isn’t the beer talking.” I reach out with my free hand and tuck a chunk of hair behind her shoulder, feeling her shudder under my touch. “You are beautiful.”
“Abel.” Her voice shakes as my hand slides from her hair to her neck.
“Yeah?” I stroke my thumb across her jaw, my eyes glued to that spot.
I don’t know how it happens. One minute I’m watching my thumb move across her skin, the next I’m leaning in, the urge to be closer to her too strong to resist.
“Abel.” Her voice sounds small and I pause a mere inch from her lips. “If you kiss me, I’m not sure I’ll ever recover.”
“I’m not sure I will either,” I whisper, closing the small gap between us. The instant my lips brush hers a wave of electricity passes over my body.
It’s like grabbing ahold of an electric fence. The shock flows through me, and even though every part of me is screaming let go, I can’t. Because beyond the pain there is something so much more. Something unexpected. Something I didn’t even realize I needed until this very moment.
Her.
Chapter Seventeen
Peyton
His lips are like fire, branding my skin in the most delicious way possible. His touch is everywhere; my hair, my face, my chest, the backs of my thighs as he hoists me up against the closed bedroom door.
It’s so overwhelming.
I squirm under his touch. A part of me wants to pull away, the other part never wants him to stop.
I don’t know how this happened. One minute we were on the deck. The next he’s kissing me in a way I don’t think I’ve ever been kissed before. Like he’s a starving man and my lips are the only thing that will satisfy his hunger.
When he suggested we go upstairs to somewhere more private I thought maybe we’d talk. Maybe he’d tell me that kissing me was a mistake. What I did not expect was for him to pin me against the door and kiss me even harder, even deeper, with even more need.
And now I’m lost to him. The frenzy of his hands. The power of his lips. The way he groans deep in his throat, making me ache for a man in a way I’ve never ached before.
What Comes After Page 12
