Page 174 of The First Time
Not with the look of confusion and hurt that flashes in his eyes.
I take a seat on the couch next to Violet and try to join in on the conversation—Ethan and Mal are debating whether Godzilla or Predator is more threatening and Violet is staring at her boyfriend with starry eyes—but my attention stays on the door.
They're already onto28 Days Latervs.Shaun of the Deadwhen the door opens.
Finally.
But it's not Kit.
It's Joel. He's in his usual t-shirt and designer jeans combo and he's wearing a wide smile. "Look who I found making out in the elevator." He winks at me, then steps into the room.
Pete Steele and his wife Jess—I don't know if she took his last name or not— are behind him. And they're gooey affectionate. He's got his hand around her hips and he's holding her body close to his.
I can completely see why I harbored a crush on him at thirteen (okay, twelve through sixteen, AKA until I met Kit). He's tall and handsome with strong shoulders and gorgeous dark eyes (only made hotter by his black eyeliner). He's almost as beautiful as Kit, not that such a thing is possible.
And he has this intensity to him. The way he holds his wife is playful and demanding.
Pete winks at Joel. "He's not mentioning the part about how he invited himself to join."
Ethan laughs.
Mal too.
Joel shakes his head at Pete. "Like you'd ever share."
"Of course I wouldn't." Pete leads his wife inside. "But that wouldn't stop you from asking."
Jess giggles. "No way. You already wear me out." She plants a long, slow kiss on her husband's lips then pulls away with a needy sigh. "It's nice to see you again, Joel." She nods hello to Ethan, Mal, and Violet. Then she's nodding to me. "You too, Piper. How'd finals go? My last one was a month ago, but I still wake up with nightmares about showing up for my test naked."
"Sounds like a nice dream." Pete pulls her closer.
"For you." She presses her lips to his.
"For your classmates." He whispers something in her ear. Then he's not quite whispering. "Baby, if you kiss me like that again, we're going back to the car so you can come on my cock."
She smiles as she pulls back. "I'll keep that in mind." She shakes off her lust enough to move to my side of the room. "Just finished freshman year, right?"
"Right." I stare at the half-open door. There's a decent view of the hallway, but there's no sign of Kit.
Where the hell did he go?
"I remember that." Jess takes the seat next to me. She looks to Violet. "Do you remember that?"
"Feels like it was a million years ago." Violet addresses Jess. "Piper just announced her major."
"Let me guess." Jess takes a long look at me. "Something in the arts?"
I smooth my dress, suddenly self-conscious about my hair and makeup. "What makes you say that?"
She motions to my outfit— black dress, hot pink shoes, matching hot pink purse in the shape of a heart. "It's creative in a put together kind of way, like you know how to present colors. Or maybe yourself."
I noduh-huhbut most of my attention is still on the door.
"Piper?" Violet nudges me. "You okay?"
"Yeah. Um." I shake my head. "I'm studying drama."
The guys, save Kit, join the conversation. Ethan whispers something in Violet's ear.
