Page 2 of Only This Once
Jinx laughed from where he followed behind them. “We know. You’ve been saying that every day for a year.”
“And it’s still true. I just got scared since he’s graduating.” Phoebe’s grin fell. “It’s hard, feeling like I’m being left behind.”
“I thought he already lined up a job close by?” Julia reminded her. “You’ll still be together.”
“Yeah, he just seems so… adult lately. I’m still having fun.” She whirled around, grabbing for Jinx. “Something my little brother should do tonight.” She shook his arm. “I mean it. This party will be good for you.”
Jinx hesitated but nodded with his normal sweet smile. “Just this once.”
At the door, Phoebe let out a happy squeal. “There’s Kyle!”
Julia watched her friend launch herself toward her boyfriend before leaning toward Jinx. “No drinking,” she told him, and he nodded without complaint. She relaxed a little as she watched him scan the party. “Text me if we get separated and you need a rescue.” She eyed his blue shirt, the one she’d always thought made his eyes really pop and that now strained under his wider than before shoulders. Even his jaw looked more defined. “You look good. The girls will be all over you.”
Jinx flushed, following her over to Phoebe and Kyle. Her friend looked happy. It was nice to see since she’d been stressed lately. The party was crowded and loud, with plenty of people for Julia to check out to find her own moment of happiness.
She excused herself to do a round. When she next looked back, Phoebe and Kyle were making out, and Jinx was gone. Julia searched the crowd for him, relaxing when she saw him talking to a couple of girls from her biology class. They’d always seemed decent, so she left him to it.
After narrowing down her options, she decided to give Derek or Darren or something that started with aDa shot. He seemed hot enough for a hookup. It didn’t take much to get him to kiss her.
Julia leaned into it, seeing what he could do. She didn’t like relationships, but she really liked sex. Nothing beat an orgasm for calming her mind. Besides, she was good at sex.
Derek’s kiss was sloppier than she liked, though, and it wasn’t doing anything for her. Or was it Darren? She bit back a sigh and broke the kiss to trail along his jaw to his ear. “Why don’t you touch my breasts?” she offered, hoping that would get her excited. Her nipples were sensitive as hell, and a few strokes usually did wonders to turn her on.
Darren didn’t tease or stroke. He squeezed like he wanted to pop a balloon. “Like this?” he asked, breathing hard and pressing his erection against her thigh.
Julia did sigh this time, no longer kissing his neck. “Don’t squeeze. Maybe stroke along the buckles?” They were like a roadmap, passing right over her nipples.
His fingers dug in harder as he tried to hump her leg and slobber in her mouth again. “You’ve got me so hard.”
Julia pulled back. She’d had sex with a few guys who hadn’t known what to do, but they’d been willing to take direction. That made a big difference. She dragged his hands from her breasts. “This isn’t working for me.”
Derek’s eyes narrowed. “What are you saying?”
“Learn to listen to a girl and maybe you’ll have better luck next time.”
He grabbed her arm. “You’re a fucking cocktease!” His shout had eyes turning in their direction, and his grip hurt.
She grabbed his thumb, pushing it back toward his hand until he cried out and released her. “No means no, asshole,” she told him, stalking off before she broke his nose, too.
Some guys were entitled pricks. They thought they were owed something once they became turned on.
Fed up with the party, she searched for Phoebe to see if she was ready to take off. After pushing through the crowd, she finally spotted Phoebe with Kyle near the door.
“Hey, Feebs. You won’t believe what this jerk I kissed did.”
Phoebe turned, her cheeks red and her eyes unfocused. “Count on you to find a jerk,” she slurred.
Julia frowned, her eyes shifting to Kyle. “How much did she drink?”
Kyle’s eyes were damp. “It’s my fault.” He caught Phoebe as she began to slide to the floor. “She thought I was breaking up with her. I’m not, but—”
“You are! You are!” Phoebe burst into tears.
Julia turned on Kyle. “Are you breaking my friend’s heart?”
“No! At least, not on purpose.” Kyle’s arms pulled Phoebe closer. “I love her more than anything.”
Phoebe sniffled. “You do?”
