Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 173392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 867(@200wpm)___ 694(@250wpm)___ 578(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 173392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 867(@200wpm)___ 694(@250wpm)___ 578(@300wpm)
Liv was there, too—with Clay—after what he did last spring? It doesn’t make sense.
Krisjen also didn’t invite us. She comes to all of our parties.
I pull around the well-manicured trees in the middle of the driveway and park alongside a black BMW, not caring that I’m blocking them in. We jump out and head to the house, but I veer for the backyard. A couple makes out in the back seat of a convertible, and I do a quick glance around for cops or parents.
Rounding the corner of the house, we slip between two cypresses that make up part of a privacy wall and step onto the back patio.
If you can call it that.
It’s damn near half a football field. Beautiful light-colored stone tile with a pool that almost looks like a Tetris pattern. A square, attached to a rectangle, attached to another square. Trees shade three different seating areas, two of them with firepits. A swarm of partygoers dance and loiter, talking and drinking.
I recognize some faces. Some who graduated with Liv who are back from college for the holiday. Some are even older, and some … way younger.
Krisjen stands waist-deep in the pool, dressed in a yellow bikini, talking to my sister, who leans back into Clay’s arms.
I scan the deck. No Milo.
Trace starts for her, but I shoot out my arm, stopping him. I head over instead, he and Dallas following closely behind.
I approach the edge of the pool, seeing Liv’s eyes dart up first, and Krisjen turning to follow her gaze.
I lock on her face. “What are you doing?” I ask.
She parts her lips, but all she can manage is “Hi.”
Flyaways from the bun on top of her head dance in front of her blue eyes—which are huge as she looks at me right now. A little scared.
Squatting down, I crook my finger, bidding her to come.
She does, slowly, because she knows she’s in trouble.
“I can’t believe they came,” I hear someone say in the pool, but I keep my eyes fixed on Krisjen.
“Is Callum here, too?” Dallas asks.
But Clay chimes in. “Don’t worry about Callum. I don’t think he’s coming back for Thanksgiving.”
Dallas falls silent, and I lower my voice, so only Krisjen can hear. “Did you invite Milo?”
“Not exactly.”
“But you let him in?”
She hesitates. “You didn’t have to come,” she says instead. “I just wanted Trace and Dallas.”
I cock an eyebrow. So she posted that photo on purpose. She did want a few Jaegers here. Just not me?
I let my eyes fall down her body. Having Milo here. Dressed how she is. Why?
I’m pissed enough at Liv for being here, but my sister can protect herself. Krisjen can’t. Not in a way where she’ll win.
She’s soft. And I like that about her.
I flex my jaw. “Why are you partying with him?”
“I don’t think I should tell you.”
Her eyebrows are pinched together in concern, and I reach down, grabbing her under the arms and hefting her out of the pool. She yelps a little, Liv and Clay rushing up to stop me, but I already have Krisjen’s feet planted on the deck. I glare down at her. “Then let’s go somewhere private where you can make me mad.”
I take her hand and pull her behind me, gazes following us as we pass a firepit and then a crowd of people outside the back patio doors.
She follows, holding my hand just as tightly as I hold hers, and a jolt hits my heart.
As soon as we’re inside her house, though, I stop. What the fuck?
Neon glows everywhere in the otherwise dark space. On people’s stomachs, their bare legs, their backs …
Most of the lights are off, and I spot a black light under the chandelier in the kitchen. Taking a step, I continue past the stairs and into the crowded foyer, as naked, sweaty bodies painted in yellow, purple, and pink move with the music. Some people are in bathing suits, others in their underwear.
I stop again, the dim glow of light making the wallpaper look blue as it climbs the stairs. “Your Woman” plays over the speakers, and I’m surprised she can hear me when I ask, “What the hell is this?”
“It’s a black light party,” she replies. She comes to my side, looking around, a little pleased with herself. “I told everyone to come scantily clad and I’d supply the highlighters.”
Some chick is topless as others draw all over her, some guy signing her ass while a girl colors in her nipples. There are vulgar drawings and asinine words on some people, while others have exotic designs and flowers and “Class of …” labels.
“Some of it’s kind of pretty, huh?” she asks.
I turn to face her and see that she, too, is covered. I hadn’t seen it out at the pool.
There’s a heart on her cheek, hand-drawn abs on her stomach, and I smile at the Wonder Woman symbol on her chest. Words are written up and down her arms, and I make out a few. Beautiful. Smells good. Happy. Sweet. Kind. Safe place. I wish I’d kissed you.