Page 41 of Since Always

I know I can't stay here all night and risk being found sneaking out of her bedroom later. I pull myself up, using every ounce of willpower I have. Fumbling around in the dark, I quietly dress. Even though it’s rare for anyone to come down this hallway, I still peek my head out to check before I step out of the room. I consider heading to bed, but want to know what's going on upstairs. I pop into my room only briefly to check my appearance and plan my story.

The crowd in the house has thinned out. Couples have found couches and corners to make out in and, instead of dancing, people are congregating in groups talking. Everyone is drunk. I pass by a table of kids I recognize, who I think went to school with Cass. They are playing a drinking game with cards and laughing hysterically at something that has just happened. On the patio, another group passes around a joint. The girl taking a hit sees and recognizes me, and jerks the weed behind her back.

"Sorry, Senator," she coughs out, and they all start laughing.

I chuckle. "Not illegal. Also, I'm off duty. Carry on," I say, as I head back inside, looking for Chris.

I find him with a few close friends in the family room, off the kitchen, all draped over couches and smoking cigars.

"Oweeeen," he slurs when he sees me.

"Hey man," I say, hitting the fist he has put up for me and sitting down next to him. "Your mom is going to murder you for those." I nod to the cigars.

He ignores me, taking another puff. "Where've you been? I was in my room with Steph and when I came out, I looked for you."

Perfect.

"Yeah, I was wondering where you went," I lie, feeling the slightest twinge of guilt. "I looked forever. I got a little too drunk, so I went and slept for a while."

"Yeah, man, I hear you. I don't think we are 25 anymore."

"No, I don't think we are. So, good night with Steph?"

One corner of his mouth curves upward. "Better than good. Fucking incredible."

"Yeah, say what you want about her, but that girl is still hot," Dustin says. "Her ass is insane."

Chris nods. "I can attest to the fact that her ass is, indeed, insane."

"Did you guys see Jamal left with Adrianne Stinson?" Greg Archer, the VP of Marketing for Sloane Technologies, asks. Everyone coos their admiration. Adrianne Stinson is an actress, and a former Victoria's Secret model. When she walked into the party earlier, I thought my male friends were going to maul her like a pack of wild coyotes.

"Lucky bastard," Dustin says. "She was fire. You know who else looked insane tonight? I'm sorry for saying this, Chris, but dude, your sister. Jesus Christ, did you see that dress? Half the guys at the party told me they wanted to get with her."

My body tightens, and I instantly find myself wanting to punch Dustin in the face, although I have no right to blame him for admiring the way Cass looked tonight. After all, I had done nothing all night but admire the way she looked.

"Motherfucker, I will beat your ass," Chris says.

"Look, I hate to say it," our friend Jacob Dearborn says, and I look at him, puzzled, because I would have sworn that he was passed out. "But your sister might be one of the hottest chicks I've ever seen. It feels weird to say because I knew her when she was like ten, but she's for sure not ten anymore. I'd tap the shit out of that ass."

"What the fuck, man?" Chris says, the levity gone from his face. I can't even stop him because I'm hoping he gets up and decks the asshole.

At the same time, though, my heart sinks into my stomach. This is his reaction to hearing someone say they hypothetically would have sex with his sister. It's not hard to imagine what his reaction would be if he found out I actually did.

So much for that guilt-free night he wanted me to have.

"He's just drunk," Dustin says, and they look over at Jacob, whose eyes are closed again.

"Dick," Chris says, falling back on the couch.

"He shouldn't have said that, but your sister is objectively hot. You can't be mad at us for noticing it. Right, Owen?" Dustin says.

I startle at the mention of my name. If only I could close my eyes and pretend to be passed out like Jacob.

"I—"

"You're sick," Chris says, still slurring his words. "Owen was there the day Cass was born. He's not going to tell you he thinks she's hot.”

I meet Dustin's inquiring eyes across the room but decide the best thing I can do right now is not say anything at all. I am hoping they forget this conversation in the morning completely. Which, given the state of everyone here, seems like a real possibility.

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