And not enough alcohol.
“You dry?” Young Blood was hovering at my shoulder. Sweet Young Blood with his cute face. The only person who had really given me the time of day today.
“Yeah.” I let my eyes rove over him.
“Do you want mine and I will go and find you another bottle?” The amber liquid in his glass sloshed. It was either brandy or bourbon. The two drinks I couldn’t stand. But I didn’t need to like the taste, I just needed to forget the agony inside.
“I could do that.” My hand curled into the front of his shirt, pulling him down so our faces were just inches apart. “Or we could just share.” Pulling him closer still, I licked his bottom lip. My hands fisted in the material of his hoody.
“Jesus Chelsea.” He swore once but didn’t move. “You can’t be doing shit like that.”
Liquid bravery was heating my body. Again I swiped my tongue against his lips. And this time he moved his face to meet mine.
“You're drunk.”
I shrugged. “So is everyone else and anyway I’m no more drunk than anyone else here.” Loosening my grip on him I let my hand slide down his stomach.
“All I’m asking is a little company to take my mind off of things,” I whispered into his mouth, my fingers brushed against his belt buckle but I didn’t go any lower. “Nothing more than that.”
“I could help you take your mind off of things Chelsea.” One big hand came up to cup my skull. “I could help you a lot. I want to help you.”
Yeah, I was just betting he did. Young was a good guy, a sweet guy but I didn’t fancy him. Still, like alcohol, I didn’t actually need to like it to need it.
“But your brother and Wicked…”
My eyes rolled before I could stop them. “Ruin won’t say shit. And it’s none of Wicked’s business who I do.”
He chuckled darkly. “Who you do?” The hand on the back of my head starting to massage my scalp. His fingers tangled into my hair. “I would like to be the who in that sentence Chelsea.”
I didn’t speak. I needed someone of my own. And Young was a good a choice as anyone. For tonight at least.
I kissed him, pressing my lips to his and he kissed me back instantly. Pressing as close to me as he could get. He tasted of brandy.
I hated brandy. But I didn’t pull away.
It was Young himself that did. “I’m going to grab us a bottle for us Chels. And then we can take this party somewhere more private.”
“Sounds good.” I lied. Now we weren’t kissing. I wasn’t sure if I could go through with it. Making out was one thing. Losing my V card to a man I didn’t even fancy at my father’s wake was another thing entirely.
***
“Chelsea?”
“Hey Avery, everything ok?” I swayed on my seat a giggle spilling from my lips. I didn’t even know what was so funny. Apart from everything was.
Ruin was in love and had his own family.
My dad was dead.
And Wicked didn’t want me anymore.
I was totally and utterly alone.
And it was hysterical.
Still laughing was better than crying right?
“What are you doing Chels?” Avery wasted no time in getting straight down to business. “Making out with Young in front of everyone?”