Page 73 of The Chemistry of Us

I stared at myself in the mirror. I was wearing cute white linen pants and a white crop top. My tan had really come in, so I didn’t feel the need to put on a ton of makeup, just some gloss and mascara. Again, it was the last party. I had nobody to impress.

Plus, I had Vaughan.

Well, he and Sam, one of my old foster brothers who was visiting. He was one of the only friends I had and was driving through the area. We’d grown up in the system together, and he was like a brother to me. Even though people always thought we were together because he was so good-looking, it would be weird not to be attracted to him.

I wasn’t.

He was family.

I stretched my arms over my head, then grabbed my phone and shot a quick text to Vaughan to let him know I’d meet him at his house. Apparently, his family always hosted the end-of-the-year party, which made sense. They had one of the biggest houses on the beachfront. Also, knowing his dad, they liked to show off. They wanted to be the first and the last.

Poor Vaughan. I couldn’t even imagine the sort of pressure he was under all the time.

I quickly walked out of the house and down to the beach. It was maybe a one-minute walk to the stairs that led up to his house. The white sand had come up a bit against all the houses and the stairs, but that was normal for high tide.

I tripped about halfway through my journey, then was suddenly pushed in the back. I tumbled face-first into the sand and quickly jerked out of it so I didn’t suffocate. It waseverywhere, down my shirt, in my eyebrows, attached to my lip gloss. “What the hell?”

The girl, one I didn’t recognize, was dressed in a tight black tube top-looking dress and holding her heels with red bottoms in one hand. “Sorry, I tripped. Also, you should be used to being on the ground, right? Begging for crumbs?”

I was used to insults, so I just shook my head and tried to get up when she kicked me down again. “Wait for me to pass. It’s how they train dogs, you know. They force the dogs to wait for the owners to walk in first and then you’re allowed. The same goes for eating, drinking. You’ll fit right in if you follow the rules.” She bypassed me and started walking up the stairs. “Oh hey Vaughan, you up for our regular end-of-the-year party one-night stand? I’m not wearing any underwear!”

I just stared.

I had nothing.

He smiled down at her.

He hadn’t seen me yet.

I crawled closer to the stairs. “Not tonight, Phoebe.”

Of course her name was Phoebe.

“Vaughannnnnnnn.” Her voice was like nails on a chalkboard. “It’s tradition. Like Christmas, don’t turn me down. You know our dads are working on the deal that will put us even more on the map. Let’s go have some dirty sex, a dirty martini, then walk out and show them how perfect we’ll be when we’re married.”

“We’re not even engaged.”

“I know, but you know it’s going to happen. It’s business.”

My throat dropped to my toes.

“Sorry,” he said again. “Seriously, get off me. Go find someone else to celebrate with. I’m waiting for someone.”

Me. It was me.

I quickly dusted myself off and stood at the bottom of the stairs.

His face lit up.

For me.

Not her.

I looked around him and gave her the finger.

She just threw her perfect blond head back and looked up at the sky. “You’re his plaything? He picks one every summer. Sorry I dirtied her up, Vaughan. Call me when you’re ready for some golden pussy, not one dried with sand.” She kept walking like she wasn’t the most evil and offensive person on the planet.

“Ignore her.” Vaughan pulled me into his arms and dusted the sand from my face. “Even covered in half the beach, you look stunning.”

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