“Well, come on in to the shit show.” Leilani frowned a little, disappointed that her partner in crime wasn’t there yet. She stepped aside and I followed her into the living room. Her mom was passed out on the couch, clutching a ragged blanket for dear life as she gently shook and moaned in her sleep.
“She okay?” I let my hand fall to Leilani’s shoulder. Just one touch and I was addicted. Her tiny shoulder fit perfectly in my hand as I watched her frown and roll her eyes dramatically.
“She’s goingcold turkeyagain.” She walked double time into the hallway where Dane’s room was and banged on his door. “Mav’s here.”
The door flew open and Dane stuck his head out. “Hey man, let me just get my stick bag.”
I waited in the hall, craning my neck to watch Leilani pull the curlers out of her hair one by one. “Do you need us to swing back by here later to pick you and Jules up for the party?”
As the words passed through my lips, my heart thumped faster and faster. My palms were sweaty. My knees were shaking again.
Fuck this shit.
I was usually a one-and-done kind of guy. I made the rounds with my musical talent and my ability to write poetry, to twist words into exactly what chicks wanted to hear. I had started to form quite a reputation for myself, but I didn’t give a shit. Girls talked, and as long as they weren’t saying I had a small dick, who cared?
Leilani was a complete one-eighty for me. She was a freaking virgin, not to mention sweet, loving, and beautiful. Her mom was a junkie in every sense of that scummy word and it broke my heart for them, but both Dane and Leilani were growing increasingly numb to their mother’s life choices and sicknesses. They spent a lot of time at my house because my mom hated them being left alone with their own mother.
“No. Jax is going to pick us up in a little bit. See you there though?”
“Yeah, for sure. See you later.”
My blood ran cold with jealously and complete, unwarranted hatred for the douchebag that would be driving her and my sister to the party. Jackson Mallory was a running back for our football team. A jock and a half, he was full of asshattery and had an ego the size of Texas cloaked in good looks and fake charm. The thought of him even being in the same car as Leilani or Julie pissed me the fuck off.
“Ready?” Dane walked passed, his worn leather stick bag in hand.
“Yeah, man.” I leaned through Leilani’s doorway. “See you in a bit. Call if Jax turns into a douche nozzle and we’ll come get you.”
“It’ll be fine, Mav. Why do you care anyway?” She was putting on her mascara and I wanted to throw her onto the bed only steps away.
“I just care. Isn’t it normal for a guy to care about his sister and his best friend’s sister?”
She rolled her eyes at me with the slightest hint of a smile. “I guess. You better go before my brother freaks out on you.”
Dane was standing at the end of the hallway. “Mav, any day now, fuckface!”
“Fine. Let’s get this show on the road.”