Page 40 of Come Break My Heart Again

“Got stuck listening to gossip about you, yeah.” She parrots my line right back.

“I was in Jacksonville. With my dad. He taught me how to surf.”

Her gaze roves over my face like she’s trying to find more than I just shared, which was already a lot more than I’d intended to tell her. “You miss it?”

“No.”

She nods. “Right. You don’t get attached.”

“I get attached.” I hold her keys out to her. “I can’t take your car.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m not leaving you stranded at a party with no car. Not that you should be driving anyway … but still. You should have it. Where’s your friend? Julia?”

“Julietis in the pool house with Alec Hamilton.” Elle sips more of her lightly flavored vodka. “I’m fine. I can crash here if I have to, or I’ll get a ride with someone. My house isn’t far. I could walk.”

“He’s wasted, you know.”

Elle’s eyes narrow. “I didn’t mention Archer.”

“I appreciate the offer. But I’ll figure it out.”

I hold the keys out, but Elle doesn’t take them. I sigh, then step closer and slip them back into her shorts. We’re closer now, way too close, her familiar scent—jasmine and lemon—washing over me. My dick twitches as her head tilts back and her teeth sink into her full bottom lip.

“You used to kiss me before touching my ass,” she says.

I pluck the cup out of her hand and toss it over the balcony railing. “Switch to water, Clarke.”

“I have enough people telling me what to do. I don’t need it from you too.”

“You make your own choices, Elle.”

Her eyes narrow. “Fine.”

Then, her hand is wrapped around mine, and I’m getting pulled along by a girl half my weight for the second time tonight. Elle tugs me down the hallway to the left, lifting a ceramic figurine off a table, grabbing a key, unlocking a door, and then returning the key to its hiding spot.

“What the hell are you doing?” I hiss as we walk into a pink bedroom.

“Well, you won’t leave me here without a car, so I’m coming with the car. You can pick up your brother and then bring me back here like the gentleman we both know you’re not.”

“Doesn’t explain why we’re in Maddie’s bedroom.”

Framed photos cover one wall, Maddie front and center in most of them. I wonder if Elle’s bedroom has a similar display.

“I don’t feel like dealing with downstairs.”

I snort. “So, you’re jumping out a window?”

“No. I’m climbing down the trellis. I’ve done it before.” She opens the window, then sticks her head out.

For fuck’s sake, this is insane. But I don’t really want to pick up Cormac with Phoenix, Cruz, and Zane in tow. Cormac’s making enough bad decisions without their influence. And Tuck has done plenty for me. I don’t want to ruin his night.

I sigh, then stride over to the window. “Wait. Let me go first.”

“If I fall, are you going to catch me?”

“I’ll at leastconsiderit.”

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