Page 56 of Disorderly

I swallowed. How could I have been so stupid to think our friendship could compare to sex? Peter and Jarrod had shown me that over the years, leaving me on my own at their parties so they could go hook up with women. Why would Mason have been any different? It’s why I never wanted to go to parties. I couldn’t trust that I wouldn’t end up in this exact situation. Yet I didn’t want to tell them the truth. I didn’t want them to think poorly of Mason since he wasn’t acting any different than other guys.

“Katy? Where’s Mason?” Jarrod’s harsh tone pulled me from my rambling thoughts.

“He’s fucking Kailee.” The words came out flat, without any feeling. I didn’t even notice that I’d sworn, something I almost never did.

The mumbles on the line grew heated as I zoned out again. I just wanted to go home, to cuddle with Jarrod and Jason, to let them comfort me, but I couldn’t. Jason wasn’t here, but Peter was which meant I couldn’t get the comfort I needed.

“We’re here, Katy-bear. I’m hanging up now okay since I can see you.”

I nodded and then dropped my phone to the ground as Jarrod’s SUV pulled up to a stop in front of me.

“Are you guys here to pick up, Katy?” That voice was back. The one that hadn’t gone away, keeping a near silent watch over me.

“Yes, we are. And you’re?” Jarrod asked as Peter crouched in front of me. I didn’t hear the voice’s answer because I climbed into Peter’s lap, burying my face in his chest as he wrapped his arms around me.

“Come on Katy-bear, let’s get you home and cleaned up.” I didn’t need to answer, even if I could, as Peter carried me to the SUV, climbing into the back with me when I wouldn’t let go. “It’s okay sweet Katy, I won’t let you go.”

The car door slammed and then the engine turned on. Despite the mid-teen temperatures, I shivered in my sweater.

“How’s she doing?” Jarrod warm voice washed over me, thawing out my cramped muscles. My head continued to swim, making the words rush to and fro like waves. Some I heard, some I didn’t, making their conversation strange and disjointed. “… water… needs… drink.”

An open water bottle pressed against my lips. “Drink up. It’ll help.”

The water hit my throat, quenching the fire I didn’t know burned there. It soothed the parchedness of my stomach, soaking it up as if I’d never had something to drink before. And then it was empty. The entire bottle gone, but I still felt thirsty.

The rumble of a chuckle from Peter made me moan as my head jostled. The sound only made him chuckle harder. “I thought we agreed that you weren’t going to get drunk tonight.”

I lifted my head to glare at him even as the scent of beer on his breath made my stomach roll. “I didn’t get drunk. I only drank some glasses of punch.”

He poked my nose. “Katy, dear, remember how you used to watch Gilmore Girls all the time.” I nodded and then slammed my eyes shut as everything turned grey. “Remember the episode with the Founder’s Day punch? Well, you just had the Voyageur Bay equivalent.”

“I’m gonna kill Mason for getting you drunk and then leaving you on your own.” My lips curved up into a little smile at the venom in Jarrod’s voice. It covered the volcano of anger and hurt that kept trying to force its way back to the surface. Maybe tomorrow it would return, that feeling of hurt and anger that they didn’t answer their phones after assuring me that they would have them on all night. But right now, I just wanted soak up the comfort.

When we arrived at the house, Jarrod pulled me from Peter’s arms, carrying me into the house while covertly placing kisses along my temple and cheek as he whispered apologies for taking so long to get there. He carried me into their bathroom. “A shower will make you feel better. Think you can stand on your own because Peter might get suspicious if I get in there with you?”

Before I could answer, Peter walked into the bathroom with a giant water bottle, filled with a liquid and a straw. “Good idea on the shower, but I don’t think she’ll be able to stand on her own. We’ll have to get in with her.” He handed the bottle to me. “I added some electrolyte solution to help rehydrate you. Drink some of this while I go grab you a shirt and boxers to sleep in. Jarrod, the water.”

Jarrod and I jumped to do his bidding even if my jumping consisted of sitting still and drinking. Once the water was on, Jarrod returned to stand in front of me. “Sweetie, are you okay with this? With Peter and I in the shower with you?”

I pulled him to me, kissing his lips. But at the sound of Peter’s hand connecting with the door, we jumped apart.

“I brought you some clothes.” Peter’s gaze roamed over me as he bit his lip. “I don’t think that sweater will work or those jeans. Want to wear the t-shirt and I can grab another?”

Whatever was in that punch messed with my hormones. From the crazy, scared, paranoid feelings to the lethargic, sadness, and now to a bold confidence that I never experienced before. I handed Jarrod my drink and ripped off my sweater, leaving me in just my lace bra. I slid off the counter and wobbled, nearly tumbling over except for Peter’s swift hands, grabbing my waist holding me up.

“What are you doing?” The growl in his voice made me lick my lips. A soft, choked chuckle had me glancing over at Jarrod, who’s heated gaze roamed over my exposed chest.

“Katy?”

I turned my focus back to Peter. “Taking my pants off.”

I reached between his arms, popping my button, and lowering my zipper.

“Whatever for?”

“Uh, shower.” I mean, wasn’t he the one who said they wouldn’t work in the shower? Why was this now a problem? Yet there was another voice in my head that questioned everything I was doing, telling me I wasn’t acting like myself. But that voice was easy to quiet. One glance at the heat in Peter’s gaze and the desire in Jarrod’s acted like duct tape over the other voice’s lips.

“It’s like a bikini,” Peter muttered under his breath as he pushed my hands away. “Hold her up while I take her pants off. We really don’t need a trip to the ER with her in this condition.”

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