Page 40 of The Star

He couldn’t be more wrong.

Playing nice and flirty is easy as fuck, and I deserve an award because Levi is crossing lines that Carson is trying to draw between us. I’m getting in the middle of them, causing waves in their friendship.

Idiots.

Boys will do anything for pussy. It’s been proven for thousands of years, but I’m watching it firsthand.

Hayden pulls his Maserati up to his house, which is somehow bigger than the one I live in, and Levi literallyjumpsout to open my door for me. I resist the urge to laugh at him, instead peering up at the dark house once I’ve climbed from the backseat.

Jesus.If Sara is rich, then Hayden’s parents must beloaded.

The front of the house is all glass, thick black pillars holding each panel together and giving everything a creepy vibe since there’re no lights on inside. There’re also no cars on the cement except for Hayden’s, but there’s an industrial sized garage on the opposite end of the driveway that is probably full.

Cars pull in behind us, filling up the large driveway, and after a few minutes, there’s a crowd of teenagers following Hayden and Levi into the house.

The party gets going in no time, with music turned on and bottles set up on the kitchen island. I stand back and watch it all unfold, since 1. I have no friends, and 2. it’s pretty entertaining. It’s like watching a rich kid episode of Euphoria or something. Girls dancing, boys watching. Drinks poured, smoke puffed.

I find myself holding a cup filled to the brim with beer when Levi slides up next to me, leaning against the wall I’ve called my own for the last half hour.

“Sup, ma?”

I tip my drink at him. “Sup.”

My plan tonight is to find some way to get my revenge on Levi. I just need to find a sweet spot between beer goggles and white girl wasted so I don’t accidentally fuck it up.

“You just gonna stand here all night?” He takes a mouthful of whatever’s in his cup, then gives me that dimpled grin I’m starting to get sick of.

I wave my cup toward the kids around me enjoying themselves. “I’m observing.”

He moves even closer to me, trailing a hand up my arm. “I know something more fun we could do.”

I laugh a little. “Oh, yeah?”

He nods, his eyes dilating as he takes another step. He’s close enough now that I can smell the alcohol on his breath and feel the steady inhales and exhales from his nostrils on my face.

I lean forward, pressing my lips to his lightly, and then pulling back. His lips are so thick and soft that I almost go back for more, but that little voice inside of me reminds me that we hate him, so I don’t.

He hums in appreciation. “Let’s go, Logan.”

I smirk. “Let me finish my drink.”

I need more time to think of a plan, since I’m really just winging this shit. I don’t have any idea how I’m going to torture this boy tonight, but I need to figure it out quick before he realizes I didn’t come here tonight to take another ride on the train in his pants.

Putting my lips to my cup, it sloshes over the rim and splashes me in the face when someone jerks me to the side by my forearm. I pull it back, dribbling beer onto the floor and finding Carson’s stormy gaze on me as he pulls me away from his friend.

“Hey!” I yell, trying to dig my heels into the floor so he can’t keep dragging me across the house. “Let go of me!”

“Walk or I’ll throw you over my shoulder.”

His face is a mask of calm, but I can see in his eyes that he’s drowning in anger and fury.

I shake my arm from his grasp. “What the fuck?!”

He presses his face to mine, so I take a small step backwards. “I’m taking you home.”

I laugh. “I’m not going home.”

He grabs my arm again. “Yes. You are.”