That or Preston is already drunk enough to genuinely not care who goes home with him, as long as it’s a warm body.
“You know, you should come with us, Pres.” Mariah turns her head to look at him.
Preston finishes gulping whatever he had in his red solo cup, leaning back further into the couch, hands lazily resting on Mariah’s hips.
He blinks up at her a few times, clearly not having caught exactly what she just said but instead of asking her to repeat herself, he just nods and says, “Sure.”
And I snort again because I know for a fact that Preston isn’t going to go anywhere with anyone.
“What about you, Lucas? Got any plans for the summer?” Xanthe, Mariah’s friend, turns from her spot on the couch to look at me.
She scoots closer to me, despite the fact that Denise is perched on the arm of the couch next to me with my arm loosely wrapped around her waist.
I don’t want to push but I also can’t seem to keep very far from her. Considering she hasn’t pulled away yet or told me to stop, I keep my hand there and her close by.
Attitude and all.
I shrug. “Usually I just head back home to see my family.”
“Aww.” Xanthe pouts. “You should come with us too.”
I open my mouth to explain that there’s nothing that can really stop me from going back home to San Diego for the summer but Denise speaks before I get the chance.
“Xanthe here has a point, Lucas,” she says, her voice sweeter than I’ve ever heard. My spine straightens at her tone. “I betyou’d have so much fun. You know, maybe you and Xanthe could even fuck.”
Xanthe’s and my eyes widen and my head snaps to look up at Denise but she’s laser focused on Xanthe.
She’s wearing a smile, leaning in like she’s just a friend giving advice but she shifts so my hand falls away.
Xanthe awkwardly laughs, looking at me like I’ll have the answer to what’s happening. I want to tell her to give me a minute to decode Denise but I remain quiet instead.
“I’m sorry?” Xanthe says.
And I got to give it to the girl because her smile only falters for all of a second before she straightens her shoulders and pretends to be unaffected.
“That’s what you want, right?” Denise crosses her arms. “Why you’re practically climbing onto his lap, twirling your hair and laughing a little too loud?”
Xanthe doesn’t know how to answer. I don’t say anything but only because things are starting to click into place.
Denise continues. “But don’t worry babe, given the fact that Lucas is allowing all of this to happen, I’d say shoot your fucking shot.”
And with that, she gives Xanthe one last sickeninglysweet smile before standing up and walking away without another word. I watch her move through the crowd—my handprints on her ass—before she disappears. I turn to look in front of me to see Moose and Bethany curled up together on the opposite couch, eyes wide, apparently having watched the whole thing.
Sarah and a few others try to hide their laughter while Mariah and Xanthe both look at each other like they’re silently asking the other if that just happened.
And Preston…well yeah he doesn’t give a shit. He just slips Mariah off his lap to go in search of another drink.
I don’t even allow anyone else to say anything before I stand up, offer Xanthe a quick apology, and move past people to search for Denise.
Like she knew I’d follow, she didn’t go very far. She only made it down the hallway where she’s currently standing in line to use the bathroom. It doesn’t take her very long to notice me, eyes locking on mine, testing.
I don’t know how she hasn’t learned by now that I’m willing to play whatever game she has in mind. I finally step closer to her so that her shoulder is brushing against my still bare chest. Her arms are crossed and that sugary sweet smile is completely gone.
“Wanna tell me what that was about?” I ask even though I have a feeling but I’m trying really hard to not let it get to my head.
Denise scoffs. “Don’t act all coy now, Callahan.”
“I’m not acting coy.” I shrug my shoulders, leaning down a little more so that we can hear each other better over the music. “I just want to hear you say it.”