Page 15 of The Order of Disorder
He slides his arm around Peach’s waist, pulling her in a little closer, then leans in to whisper something in her ear. Whatever it is makes her giggle, her hand landing lightly on his thigh.
Rox shifts beside me, her tone light and casual. “So what’s your story?”
I turn my head to her, but words don’t come. My story? Where would I even begin?
“You’ve got a vibe,” she says gently. “Collar and heels, but sitting here like you don’t want to be seen.”
My mouth opens, then closes again. Idon’twant to be seen, and yet somehow she feels like the first person here who does see me.
Rox watches me for a beat longer, and something in her expression softens. She sits back just a little, like she’s giving me space.
“It’s cool,” she says. “You don’t have to talk.” She clinks her cup lightly against mine. “Just trying to figure out the cast of characters, you know?”
I nod…barely.
“Didn’t mean to pry,” she adds, and there’s a quiet sincerity there. No pressure.
Peach leans forward, forearms over Billy’s thighs, fingers landing on mine.
“He wants us to kiss again,” she says to Rox, loud and breathy. She smells like lime and candy and slightly like skin after dancing.
Rox chuckles and her thigh shifts against mine. We’re squished in tight on the couch. I become aware that the side of her breast is brushing my arm.
“Yeah, baby?” she murmurs to Peach. She threads her fingers into her pink hair, gives Billy a sideways look and a slow smile, and then closes the gap between them.
Their mouths meet, parting slightly, and the sight of Rox’s tongue slipping between Peach’s lips sends a warm ripple through me.
I can’t look away.
The heat of Rox’s body soaks into my side. Peach makes a soft, pleased sound, and Billy lets out a low growl.
“Fuck, that is so hot,” he groans, and then he turns toward me. “Why don’t you join them, baby? It would be so fucking hot to watch the three of you making out.”
The girls break apart and smile at me, expectant and open. But I don’t move.
There’s something so pure about the way they look together. So soft, so gentle. I resent Billy’s intrusion. The way he tries to ruin it. The way he tries to make it about him.
“Go on,” he says, that edge in his voice that means he expects me to obey. But I catch Rox’s eye and see something surprising in it. Something…kind.
“It’s all good,” she says easily. “Peach and I don’t mind giving you something to look at.”
She gives Peach a little smile, and leans toward her again, but Billy’s not smiling.
“No,” he says firmly. “I want Max to do it.”
Peach falters just slightly, sensing the tension, but Rox doesn’t flinch. She presses a soft kiss to Peach’s lips, and then turns to Billy with a smirk.
“You’re cute when you get bossy,” she says, tone breezy. Then she leans back like the rules don’t apply to her, impossibly self-assured.
With one smooth motion, she pushes her hair behind her ear, pulls a joint from behind it, and lights up. She takes a long, slow drag. eyes half-lidded, then leans toward me, close enough that her breath grazes my cheek.
She holds the joint out, lips curled in a smile.
“Try this,” she murmurs. “It’ll keep you feeling nice and chill. Guaranteed.”
I take the joint from her fingers, even though I haven’t smoked a joint in ages. I’d take anything to feel chill—or better yet, nothing at all.
I inhale deep and cough. But I hold onto it, and take two more drags before handing it back.
