Page 128 of Life of the Party

“I think you should at least get a job.” His blue eyes smiled at me. “It’ll help, knowing you have to go out and work. It’ll keep us from getting high all day.”

I stuck my tongue out at him and flopped back on the bed, dramatically. “Grey, come on. Can’t you just support all my habits?” I teased. Well, half-teased. I really never wanted this holiday to end.

“Not yet, sugar. Maybe one day.” He smirked at me.

I huffed. “I need a shower.”

“Don’t change the subject. Seriously. Where are you going to look?”

“I don’t know. The lumberyard? They must be hiring, since Zack and Alex quit.”

“The lumberyard? You wouldn’t last five minutes.”

I glared at him. “Would too.”

He chuckled. “Would not.”

“Really?” I pushed the sleeve of my shirt up and flexed my bicep—impressively, I thought. “Now tell me I wouldn’t.”

Grey burst into laughter. He pulled his guitar off over his head and set it gingerly against the bed, then wrapped his hand around the hard muscle of my arm.

“That is impressive.” He snorted. “I take it back. Maybe you’d last seven minutes.”

I knew it was futile, but I attacked him, trying to pin him back to the bed…apparently, the only wrestling move I knew. He let me win again, falling back easily and chuckling as I used all of my one-hundred and ten pounds to keep him there.

“Mackenzie?”

“Yeah?” I gloated from above him.

“You’re right.”

“I am?”

“Yes. You do need a shower.”

I attacked him again, gleefully, but he wasn’t having it this time. In seconds I was pinned to my side, and we wrestled, and he tickled me, and the sounds of our happy, youthful laughter floated down the hallway.

CHAPTER 52

It was Saturday night. I was out of the house, wearing clothes and makeup and fighting my way through the crowd of people packed into the Aurora. The guys were slated to play any minute. Serpentine’s infamy had only grown from their time spent away at the studio, and the club was busier now than I’d ever seen it.

“Excuse me, miss?” A familiar voice chuckled behind me. “Can I get you a drink?”

I turned around, recognizing her instantly. “Charlie!”

“You know it, baby.” She twirled for me, clad in an Aurora uniform, a little black skirt and a tank top with bright pink letters across the front. She carried a tray and wore a little waitress apron so full of cash she jangled when she walked.

I smiled at her in amazement.

“What? You work here?”

“Yeah. I just started last week.”

I felt terrible. I lived with the girl, and I had no idea. “That’s so great! Wow, I’m sorry I’ve been so out of it lately. I got a bit…you know…”

“It’s all good.” She smiled, her lovely blonde curls shaking around her face. “I knew you were alive. I figured you’d snap out of it eventually.”

“Do you like it here?” I wondered.

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