Page 11 of Our Darkest Summer
I cut the thought off.
“I’m gonna go freshen up,” I blurted, slipping away from Aaliyah before my brain could ruin the night.
I made my way toward the picnic tables, searching for anything that looked like water.
Nothing.
Which meant I had to go inside.
I inhaled deeply, and hyped myself up. Then I pushed through the sweaty, tangled mess of bodies, dodging hands reaching for my arms, my hips.
It took twice as long than it should’ve, but eventually, I made it to the front door.
I pushed it open, and slammed straight into someone.
“Sorry,” I muttered, but the guy just brushed past me, disappearing into the crowd.
I exhaled, stepping inside, and shutting the door behind me. The music muffled, and for a split second it was just silence.
Chapter Six
Thomas
As soon asKinsley disappeared into the house, I put down my cup and pushed myself away from the table. After the disappointing discovery I made earlier, my plan had been simple: lock myself in my room, gather my thoughts, and figure out what my next move should be. I needed to keep looking. Needed to find something that could actually help me.
But then, I saw her, in that tiny white dress, and everything changed. Hours later, watching her move to the rhythm of the music, I was regretting my decision of coming here. The sight of her twisting, laughing, letting loose, with others pushing in close, was my own personal hell.
And with a sick twist, I liked the way it burned.
I deserved it.
I cut through the crowd, my focus locked on the front door until it shut behind me, muffling the music, the laughter, the chaos.
The house was quiet. No one was inside. At least, not that I could see. Because I knew one person who was definitely here somewhere. I started toward the stairs, following a wooden arrow-shaped sign that hadbathroomscrawled across it in messy handwriting. My steps were steady, but my head wasn’t.
Not because of the one drink I had earlier. But because I was about to do something I shouldn’t.
I reached the top just as a door swung open, and Kinsley stepped out into the hallway. She stopped when she noticed me, her gaze flickering over me with surprise before shifting into something unreadable, then shutting completely as she smoothed her expression into calculated indifference.
Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes bloodshot, these were the only signs of her being drunk. I rested my hand on the handrail, stopping myself from moving closer to her. For a split second we just stared at each other, but then she moved. I knew she’d try to walk right past me, so I shifted, blocking her path, surprising both of us. She stopped short, but she was still too close. Just in reach. I swallowed, and she pressed her lips into a hard line.
“Do you mind?” she asked, tilting her chin up, her voice clipped and cold, clawing at my skin.
I should have stepped aside, let her leave. But I didn’t.
“Not really.”
The words came out low, and a flicker of annoyance crossed her expression. She let out an exasperated breath, too familiar in sound. At least that was something. She took a step back and crossed her arms over her chest, wrinkling her nose.
“I’m surprised you aren’t hiding in one of these rooms.” She gestured at the closed doors on the dim lit hallway.
I stayed still. It has been too long since I could watch her this closely. Her eyes narrowed when I didn’t answer, but instead of saying anything else—like she clearly wanted to, from the way she opened and closed her mouth—she tried to step around me.
I moved.
My body caged hers before she had the chance to run. Her back hit the wall, but I made sure not to touch her. Even our clothes kept the cold distance that stretched between us. I was waiting for the alarms to go off in my head as they always did,but this time they let me down. I wasn’t supposed to be here. She wasn’t supposed to be here.
I had made a promise, and I was too close to breaking it. I should’ve stepped back, and walked out of this house. But, I couldn’t.
