Page 44 of For You & No One Else (Say Everything 3)

Hannah smiled. “That could get interesting.”

Beckham had been leaning back, enjoying being a passive player in the conversation. Hearing people’s stories about their own childhoods always fascinated him. Growing up, there were no boy-girl parties in his world. No spinning of bottles, no minutes in heaven. Just the mere mention ofheavenfor a game like that would’ve been considered blasphemous. All he’d been left with as a teen were raging hormones and the knowledge that his thoughts about girls were sinful and wrong. Unclean. Impure. Damaged.

He wondered, not for the first time, how different his life would’ve looked if he had grown up in a world where Spin the Bottle was just a harmless kids’ game.

Before he could get lost in his own thoughts, a flash of bright-red hair caught his eye. He leaned over, peering between Trinity and Khuyen, and saw Eliza walking in behind her friend Andi. Eliza’s dark hair was in a high ponytail and she was wearing teal patterned pajamas. She seemed a little hesitant as she scanned the room, looking for something. No,someone. For him. Tension he hadn’t realized he’d been holding released in his shoulders.

“Hey, excuse me a sec,” he said, getting up and stepping over Will’s legs. “I invited a couple of new people, and they just walked in looking a little overwhelmed.”

Trinity turned her head to see where Beckham was looking. “Bring them over if they’re scared. We’ll make them feel welcome.”

“Thanks,” Beckham said, meaning it. “I’m sure I’ll be back.”

He made his way across the great room, dodging a guy carrying a stack of pizza boxes. Eliza turned her head and broke into a relieved smile when she saw him. She lifted her hand in a little wave. Her friend, Andi, spun at the movement and looked his way. She gave him a quick once-over, and then a barely there smile lifted the corners of her mouth.

“Hey,” he said when he reached them. “You made it.”

He didn’t know what to do. His instinct was to hug, but he wasn’t sure if they were friends who regularly hugged or kissed on the cheek yet, and shaking hands or a fist bump would be ridiculous. Eliza made the first move, saving him the debate. She stepped forward and gave him a quick, one-armed hug. “Hey.”

The scent of her shampoo—something citrusy—filled his nose and her ponytail brushed his arm, sending chill bumps along his skin. The whole thing was over in two seconds, and he fought the urge to pull her back to him and turn it into a full, lingering hug instead.

Eliza tipped her head toward her friend. “This is Andi, the writer friend I told you about. Andi, Beckham.”

Andi stuck out her hand and gave his a firm shake—maybe a little too firm—as she eyed him. “Nice to meet you.”

“Same,” he said. He’d seen Andi at WorkAround, her bright-red hair hard to miss, but they’d never chatted. “Thanks for being willing to come with Eliza. I’m sure it sounded like a weird proposition.”

Andi smiled at that. “For what it’s worth, I like weird. This whole thing”—she waved her hand, indicating the room of people—“sounds like my kind of good time. But either way, I wouldn’t have wanted her to come alone.” She arched a brow. “I don’t know you and your people yet. Had to make sure you weren’t going to locked-room murder her or have her join a cult.”

He tried not to wince at the last part. “Or try to sell her a time share?”

Andi pointed. “Exactly. A fate worse than death.”

Eliza let out a half laugh/half groan. “I would like it to be noted that I am capable of going out and about unchaperoned, but I also know bringing Andi to a party will make it that much more fun.”

“Plus, I’m totally using this as book research,” Andi said. “You’ve been warned.”

Beckham laughed. “As long as names and details are changed to protect the innocent—and the guilty.”

“Obviously.” Andi’s lips hitched at the corner. “Welp. I’m going find us drinks. What’re you drinking?”

He lifted his club soda and lime. “I’m good. But I can get y’all something.”

“Nope, you two chat while I check out the scenery,” Andi said. “Eliza, what’cha drinking,chica?”

“I don’t know.” She wrinkled her nose as if the thought of a drink didn’t appeal. “Something fruity and virginal, maybe?”

Beckham nodded toward the bar area. “Sammy, the guy who mans the bar, usually has themed drinks and one’s always a mocktail. I bet there’s something sweet for slumber-party night.”

“On it.” Andi whirled around and headed for Sammy.

Eliza turned back to him. “I’m going to end up with something bright pink and topped with cotton candy or sparklers, aren’t I?”

“Most definitely. But it’ll taste good,” he assured her. “Sammy owns a bar downtown and knows what he’s doing.”

Eliza glanced downward, her lips curving as she read his shirt.“Wookiee of the Year.Oh my God.” Delight lit her expression. “You weren’t lying that you owned Star Wars pajamas!”

His neck warmed and he rubbed a hand along the back of his head. “I feel like there’s no right answer to that.”

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