Page 9 of Teaching Cayden

“The best ever!” He flung his arms out to the side, almost taking out the couple to my right. “I gots a surprise for you.” He snickered as he leaned closer. I think he thought he was being secretive, but several people close by took notice and laughed. “Come with me.” He turned and began walking toward the back deck.

“Bro!” I called after him. “You know I can’t…” my words were cut off as I stepped through the door and saw her.

“Surprise!” He threw his arms out again just as Addison’s eyes lifted to meet mine. She was standing at one end of a table that was set up for beer pong.

“Freshman!” She giggled.

It took me a minute to gather my wits as I took her in. Black tank top, skinny jeans, and Chucks, with a messy knot on top of her head. “Are you drunk, Miss Porter?” I slipped my hands into my pockets to keep from touching her. She was on my turf, and despite that being around her put me on edge, I still wanted to touch her.

“Maybe a little.” She giggled again before turning her attention back to the table. “I’m a student tonight. I’m entitled to this.” She flipped her hand in the air before grabbing the ping pong ball and taking aim. I watched as her mouth twisted in concentration before her knees bent, and then pitched it toward the cups at the opposite end.

“Yes!” She fist pumped as Dylan groaned. “Drink up, pretty boy.” She laughed as Dylan lifted the cup, removed the ball, and downed the cup of beer.

“Oh fuck!” he hissed. “That one was warm.” He shook his head as he tossed the cup and covered his mouth with his hand. “Give me a sec.” I watched as he attempted to compose himself, and not lose it.

“Problems?” I snickered as he turned back to the table. “She’s a girl. You know that, right?” I was pushing his buttons, but he was so wasted that I hoped he wouldn’t remember most of this in the morning.

“Shut up, fucker!” He sneered at me before grabbing the ball and attempting to hit a cup at the other end. He missed, and Addison howled in laughter.

“You need to practice more,” she teased.

“Maybe the shoe would be on the other foot if you were into them as much as me when you asked me to play.” Dylan shrugged before glancing over at me. “Come here, Sutter.”

“Dylan. You know I’m the DD. I can’t drink.” I held my hands up.

“You’re not going to. If she hits one, I’ll take it. I need you to put her in her place.” His smile broadened as Addison smirked at our exchange.

“If Will sees this…” I glanced around, looking for him.

“He’s in his room with some chick by now. Get your ass over here. That’s an order.” He pointed at the spot beside him.

“Fine.” I moved to take his place just as Addison tossed the ball and missed.

“Ooh. Burn.” Dylan chided. “Let’s go, Sutter. Make her drink.”

Little did Dylan know, my brother and I used to play this when I was way too young to be drinking. I never played at the house unless I had a few in me to even the playing field. I picked up the ping pong ball, took aim, and sunk it in one of the cups.

“Drink up, Addy.” Dylan snickered.

I watched as Addison picked up the cup, fished the ball out, and tipped it to her lips. She downed the thing faster than I’ve ever seen a girl down a beer. When she finished, she used the back of her hand to wipe her mouth and tossed the cup over the porch railing. “Did that turn you on?” She shrugged but it came across as flirting.

“Maybe.” I shrugged in return. “Ready to go again?”

Without a word, she picked up the ball and volleyed it back, sinking it into another beer. We went back and forth like this until the game ended, and Dylan was too drunk to play again. Just as I was getting ready to ask Addison if she’d like another drink, Josh came up to me.

“Time to drive, DD.” He snickered.

“Thanks.” I groaned as I looked wistfully over at Addison. Her face was flushed from the alcohol and she wasn’t trying to hide the fact that she was staring at me.

“Oh, this is classic. Did I just cock block you, Sutter?” He threw his head back in laughter. “Wait until Will hears about this.”

“Let’s not and say we did.” I rolled my eyes as I shouldered past him to head toward the front door where my passenger was waiting.

When I got back to the party, it was late enough that most of the people remaining lived there. There were maybe a handful who didn’t, and they were walking distance away, except for maybe Addison. I didn’t know where she lived, and I was surprised she was still there.

“Hey.” I hip checked her when I saw her leaning against the back railing. She was looking out into the dark and sipping a beer. “Need a ride?”

“No,” she mumbled. “My car is here.”

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