“It was either you stand there and run away embarrassed, and that’s all anyone would be talking about for the next who knows how long, or this.” He crosses his arms over his chest, and the soaked material of his shirt strains and clings to him, outlining every single curve of his shoulders and biceps. “Would you rather be known as the girl who got a pie to the face and left crying or the girl who started a food fight?”
I can say nothing, only stare at him. That was . . . weirdly thoughtful of him? And also really . . . smart. Would starting a food fight then jumping in the pool to wash everything off have been my first, second, or even third thought? No. But it was Jay’s, and for all intents and purposes, it worked. I’m no longer the outlier at this party. I don’t even have any more pie on my face.
He smirks when he realizes the conclusion I’m coming to. “You’re welcome.Again. You know, having your back is becoming a full-time job for me.”
I try to remember what he’s talking about. First at the cliff when he stopped me from going over, then on the phone on my terrible date, and now this.
“Yeah, well, you’re still an ass,” I mutter, wading to the steps of the pool and getting out. My tight white dress is eventighternow, but at least there are no chunks of anything on it. The fabric clings to me like a second skin, and I might as well be naked for as much coverage as it’s giving me right now.
I wring my hair out poolside and turn to look at Jay, who’s trailing behind me up the steps. His eyes dip down briefly, then he breaks out into a knowing grin.
I glance down and confirm that yes, my white thong is very clearly visible for everyone to see.
“Don’t say it,” I warn Jay, but he laughs.
“I totally knew it.”
I shake my head but turn so he doesn’t catch my smile. He’s so infuriating and provoking, but something must be seriously wrong with me because I kind of like it.
Eleven
Emmett and Kalani find me as soon as I get out of the pool.
“Carina!” Kalani stops in front of me to take me in. Emmett hands me my purse, and I’m so glad he was holding it or else it would’ve ended up at the bottom of the pool. They both scan me, and Kalani jostles Emmett with the back of her hand. “Emmett! Give Carina your shirt!”
“Oh, right!” He unbuttons his shirt, but I stop him.
“It’s all right, Emmett. I might end up back in the pool.” My hair, makeup, and dress are already destroyed. No reason to ruin his shirt too. “Have you seen Emi or Daphne?”
Kalani shakes her head. “We should definitely find them before Emi ends up in the pool with her phone and keys and gets locked out of her houseagain,then we’re the ones stuck driving her around all night. Let’s go, Emmett.”
She grabs Emmett’s hand without waiting to see if he objects to leaving and pulls him through the crowd of people to find Emi.
“Whatdo you see in him?” Jay’s voice from behind me makes me jump. “The guy didn’t even offer you a napkin. He stood there, totally useless.”
I frown at Jay. He does have a point. I’ve never seen Emmett so unsure of what to do.
“Carina!” Ralph emerges from somewhere and joins us. His hideously patterned shirt somehow looks less hideous with food stains on it, if that’s possible. But then I feel terrible because I realize this ishisbackyard that we’ve covered in spoiled food,hispool that has chunks floating around in it,hisfood table we’ve ruined.
“Ralph! I’msosorry. I didn’t mean to—”
“Sorry?” he interrupts, breaking into a huge grin. “There’s nothing to be sorry for. This isawesome!People will be talking about it forever. It’s going to go down as the party of the year! I came here to thank you.” He squishes me to him in a hug, and I laugh as I pat his back.
“Um, you’re welcome? But it was technically Jay—”
He cuts me off, releasing me from his hold. “Hey, Zach! I bet I can chug at least three of . . .” His voice drifts away as he strides over to his friend.
“He seemed sober enough to mean that, right?” I ask Jay, who nods his head.
“He meant it.”
The breeze picks up, and even though it wasn’t particularly cold before, now that I’m soaking wet, I shiver. Jay’s eyes track my movement as I wrap my arms around myself for warmth, and a muscle in his jaw pops.
“Come on,” he says, turning and walking through the crowd toward the house.
I stand there, watching him part the crowd with his broad shoulders, making good progress even as he says hello to the occasional person. He gets past the makeshift dance floor and to the sliding door before he turns to look at me. He knew I wasn’t following, and he sends me a look that says,What are you waiting for?
Am I really going to spend more time withJay? I glance around the backyard as if I’m waiting for a better option to present itself, but then I realize I kind ofwantto see what Jay has in mind. Before I can overthink it, I start through the crowd and meet him by the door.