Page 94 of Unraveled

“Kurt thinks you’re hot, too, by the way,” Annie added. “And the first keg’s already low if you’re wanting any. Sis?” she asked hopefully, earning herself a look. Graduation or not, drinking wasn’t my thing.

Emma shrugged. “To each their own. Drink or not as long as you’re having fun. Hell, I’m just happy Corey’s brother brought extra tonight. It looks like this party might end up pretty big. I’ll probably get a refill soon.” She mused into her nearly empty cup, then jerked her gaze up to Annie. “Wait. Kurt thinks I’m hot? How do you know?”

“I passed Noah on the way to the kegs. He says Kurt keeps asking about you.”

“Oh, my God.” Emma chugged the beer she had left. “I’m gonna go talk to him.”

I watched as she took off for a refill and then broached the idiot side of the bonfire, striding straight up to Kurt with a flirty smile. She hooked a thumb in the pocket of her shorts and looked up at him through her lashes. Kurt immediately turned to talk, suddenly an idiot no more.

Annie rolled her eyes. “Boys… What a tank top and flirty eyes will do to them.” She shook her head and downed nearly half of one of her cups.

I frowned, watching her. Remembering the last time I’d been with her at a party and she’d filled two cups at once. “Annie?” She looked at me, and I glanced at her beers.

“Don’t. I’m just trying to get a good, solid buzz going. That’s all.”

“Fine.” I looked away. “But did you have to encourage Emma about Kurt? You know she doesn’t know he’s half-Hispanic.”

Annie shrugged, her dismissal telling me the alcohol was already taking its carefree effect. “Then her dadwon’t find out. Kurt’s not here for good, helookswhite, and he has a white last name. Pope. Yep. Her dad’s gonna freak.”

I raised my eyebrows at her sarcasm.

“What?! It shouldn’t matter.”

“It shouldn’t, but we both know that, in Emma’s case, it does.”

Annie frowned for a moment. “Look, I just want her to have fun after Ian’s dumb ass. Besides, who’s gonna say anything? We know who the snitches are now.”

I sighed, relenting, and Annie fell into chatter with another group that walked up, letting me go back to observing the crowd.

At least Mateo’s not here.He wasn’t taking any chances with his scholarship now and seeing Emma flirting withanothernew guy would probably set him off. I felt so bad for him, but I was glad he still had basketball.

I wish Nic had something he was into.Dwelling on what Enzo and Anna had done was eating him alive, and I was seriously worried. I was just thinking about finally sending him another text when Casey ran up.

“You’re here.” I bounced on my heels, excited to see her.

“Yep. Dinah and I heard when the party started to spread, and we got our asses here faster than you can say hot, fuckable spread of guys.”

I wasn’t sure what face I made, but she laughed.

“Sorry, wrong audience, wifey. Let’s go dance.”

I raised an eyebrow again. “You’re already drunk, aren’t you?”

“Maybe.” She popped a shoulder. “Now, come on. It’s not a party ‘til we’re on the dance floor.”

At that, I beamed,letting her pull me out into the crowd.

TUCKER

“Whatcha doin’, princess?” I jogged up to Izzy after a round of sand table beer pong with the guys and leaned down to give her a kiss.

She scrunched her nose. “You smell like alcohol.”

“Sorry…whatcha doin’?” I reached out to pull her hair off her neck, twirling it around my hand like a windmill, and Izzy sighed in relief.

“That actually feels good. I can feel some breeze.”

“Glad to be of service.” I winked, and she shook her head, the corner of her lips lifting in a slight smile.

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