Page 42 of Foul Territory
“Why don’t we both go get them?”
She regards me for a moment before going back to her phone. “I don’t think so. We can do the planning part together but after that it’s better if we split up.”
I scoff. “That isn’t true. We’ve always been better together,” I murmur.
Her jaw ticks as she bites down on her lower lip. “Should we have a theme?” she asks, ignoring my remark even though it clearly bothers her.
“Like what? You, Charlie, and Wyatt are the only ones who like costumes.”
“We could do a luau or sports themed or maybe a masquerade,” she says, deleting her original decorating ideas and typing up new ones. Then she takes a quick sip of her coffee.
“But then you wouldn’t be able to see my face,” I joke.
“All the more reason to do one,” she grumbles. “Let’s do a luau. Nash will like that. He can get lei’d all night by girls in bikinis. It will make all the other guys happy too. Can you handle the guest list if I make invitations?”
“Yeah, I can do that. I’ll invite a few guys from the football team, his friends from class, maybe some of our neighbors.”
“Not too many. Hart will never forgive you. Don’t forget about Enzo and Marco. We need to do this on a night they're free too.”
I pull out my phone and send them both a quick text. They may go to a different college but we all went to high school together. They’re an important part of our friend group. They’re family, with some of us more so than others.
“I’ll let you know what they say,” I tell her, but my mind keeps drifting back to the dress code for the party. “What are you going to wear? Nash won’t be able to relax and have fun if all his friends are checking you out and hitting on you.” The lie is one I’ve perfected over the years.
The truth is I’m going to be the one struggling to keep myself in check around her if she’s wearing nothing more than a bathing suit. I have a hard enough time being around her when she’s wearing everyday clothes.
Like right now her blouse dips low on her back. I’m tempted to drape my arm over the back of her chair and tracemy thumb over the scar she has on her shoulder—she got it when she fell out of the tree in her backyard.
She lets out a slow breath. Her eyes narrow on me. “That sounds like a Nash problem to me. What did he ask you to do exactly when we left for college?” She puts her elbows on the table and leans toward me. “He obviously put you on some kind of big brother mission. Whatever it was, you can stop now.”
I’m not sure how to answer her. The truth is he asked me to keep an eye on her. Make sure she’s happy, making friends, and adjusting. I’m the one who chose to make all of her business my business.
I’m the one who couldn’t stop watching her once she got settled in her new life on campus. I’m the one who can’t let her go.
“He asked me to keep an eye on you when he isn’t able to.” I shrug to play down the whole thing.
She chuckles coldly. “Right. You know what. Why don’t you pick out my outfit? That way it will be something you both approve of.”
“Sydney,” I say with a sigh.
“I’m serious. Add it to your list. You can rummage through my closet and find me somethingappropriateto wear to the party.”
The idea of watching Sydney trying on outfits has my jeans feeling like they’re suddenly a size too small. I squirm in my seat hoping that will offer me a little bit of relief.
“Fine,” I reluctantlyagree.
“Great. So you’ll do invites and coordinate outfits. I’ll handle the food, drinks, and decorations. Anything else?”
“No, I think that about covers everything. I can help with decorations.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll get Charlie or Wren to help me. You’re already busy enough with games, practice, and following me around everywhere. I would hate to burden you more,” she snarks.
“Helping you with Nash’s party isn’t a burden.”
“Of course. You would do anything for your best friend.” She begins to gather up her things and stands from the table.
“Wait a minute. What does that mean?” I ask, taking a step toward her, blocking her departure.
“Don’t worry about it. In fact, don’t worry about me either,” she says with a fierceness in her eyes. “I don’t want you hanging around everywhere I am anymore.”
