Page 28 of Ricochet

I’m not even in a goddamn relationship with Callum, and I’m about ready to fucking steal him away from all these people.

“Nice party, Simmons,” I say as he slaps his hand against mine.

“What’s your poison?” he asks with a bit of a slur as he motions to all the alcohol on the kitchen island, his eyes glazed over.

“I’m not planning on staying too long, and I gotta drive. Just wanted to make an appearance.”

“Very responsible,” he says with a lopsided grin. “I approve.”

“Says the guy who’s wasted.”

“Hey, I’m already at home. I can have as much as I want.” As though to punctuate his point, he picks up a bottle and pours more liquid into his cup before offering the whiskey to Callum.

Callum takes it and damn near fills his cup. With his eyes on me, he takes a long drink.

He doesn’t look drunk, but he might be by the time he finishes that one.

“Nate!”

We all turn toward the entrance of the kitchen where two women, a striking blonde and a stunning brunette, arepractically holding each other up with their arms linked as they half walk, half stumble over to us.

“We’re going to go smoke,” the blonde tells Nate. “Come out back with us?”

“You know I can’t smoke, ladies.”

“You don’t have to. Just come with us.”

“Please,” the brunette begs, looking at him with what I’m pretty sure are her bedroom eyes that no man in existence could resist.

“Oh, who’s the new boy?” The blonde turns her pretty blue eyes toward me. “You wanna come too?”

I don’t know why I do it, but I look at Callum.

He’s staring at me with a bored expression. However, I swear I see his jaw tick.

Turning back to the women, I give them a polite smile. “No, thank you. You guys have fun.”

As Nate moves past us, he gives me and Callum a wink. “Later, bitches.”

The brunette grabs onto his hand that’s not wrapped around his cup and pulls him with them toward the back door. His head tilts to the side so he can stare at her ass as she walks.

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, Captain,” I call after him.

He peers back at me with a grin, raising his arm and causing alcohol to slosh out of his cup. “Fortunately, I don’t know you well enough yet to know what that is.”

I let out a quiet laugh and shake my head as they all disappear outside.

Turning back to Callum, I find him still staring at me.

All these people in this house, and his attention is fixed on me.

I shouldn’t be obsessed with that as much as I am.

“What about you?” I ask as I nod at the drink in his hand. “You better not be driving tonight.”

When he laughs, it lacks humor, and I get the feeling he’s a bit more drunk than he seems. “I don’t have a car. My roommate’s driving us.”

“And is this roommate as wasted as you and Nate?”

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