Page 44 of Aftertaste

Her eyes slowly blinked open, but I didn’t move my attention off her face. I needed to see if she recognized me—I needed to know who she was.

For several seconds she didn’t focus on anything, just groaned and smacked her lips together, no doubt feeling the morning-after effects from the alcohol she must have drank last night. “Oh god,” her raspy voice whispered. “I knew I shouldn’t have—” She paused, her gaze finally landing on mine and registering. “What the fuck?” She jumped off the bed so fast she stumbled, her hip connecting with the bedside table and knocking over the nightlight I used every single night until I was nine. “Who…what…I…” She blinked over and over, but all I did was lift one side of my lips in a smirk.

“Hey,” I greeted. “Have a nice sleep?”

“I…” She backed away several steps, glancing around the room in panic. “I’m sorry, I must have—”

“Fallen asleep?” I interrupted, slowly standing. I towered over her, like I did with most people. “Name?”

“Sage,” she immediately replied, not missing a beat. She was responsive, something I wanted in every girl I met. The problem was, most of the girls at school faked it, they never truly wanted what I had to offer, and if I was honest, I never really wanted to give it to them. But there was something about this girl—about Sage—that had me intrigued. Who was she? Where did she come from? And how fast could I undo the button on her denim shorts and shove my hand down there?

“Why are you here?”

“I erm…” She bit down on her bottom lip and I clenched my fists to stop myself from reaching out to her. “I came with my friend, Thalia, to the party. And I was dancing and had a couple of drinks, then…” She glanced around the room again, taking in the dinosaur wallpaper and the basketball posters—like I said, this was my childhood bedroom. “I’m not sure how I got in here.”

Her face paled, her green eyes glistening with unshed tears. I didn’t like it. I didn’t like the lost look on her face on bit. “Where’s your friend now?” I asked, trying to soften my tone, but it was harder than I’d thought.

“I don’t know.” She audibly swallowed as she reached into the front pocket of her shorts and pulled out her cell. “I don’t have any messages from her.” She shot her attention to me then back to her cell as her thumb flew across the screen. She held the cell to her ear, but after several seconds, she let it drop. “She’s not answering. Maybe she’s still here?”

I shook my head. “Nope. Party rules, no one stays over. It’s just you and me here, sugar.”

She nodded, her body trying to react to what I’d said, but I could tell she wasn’t concentrating on me. “I don’t understand. I can’t remember anything after the second drink and…” She frowned and rubbed her fingers on her temples. “This is exactly why I don’t drink.” Her voice became firmer. “I knew I shouldn’t have taken that goddamn drink.” She slammed her hands onto her hips, her gaze meeting mine again. “I hate parties.”

I chuckled. “Then why did you come?”

“Thalia.” She acted like the one-word name should be enough to answer, and maybe it was, but I still had no idea who this girl even was. She stared down at her cell again, bringing it to her ear a second time, but all she did was huff when there was no answer. “She’s still not answering.”

I didn’t move my attention off her, deciding whether I should help her or not. If this would have happened with anyone else, I would have kicked them out of my house by now and not cared one bit how they got home or why they came in the first place, but there was something about the way Sage looked that had me wanting to…I didn’t know…protect her?

Shaking my head at myself, I pulled my cell out of my gym shorts. “What does she look like?” I asked, not looking up at Sage.

“Long auburn hair—”

“Auburn?” I raised a brow. “What the fuck is auburn?”

“It’s a color between brown and red,” she answered, her voice lower now. “This is her.” She handed her cell to me, showing me the image of her and her friend. I was meant to be focusing on her friend in the picture, but I couldn’t help staring at Sage. The baggy T-shirt paired with skinny jeans was casual, effortless, but I couldn’t help but wonder what was underneath all of that. She was trying to hide behind the clothes, but what she failed to realize was the vulnerability in her eyes. Something I saw as clear as day.

I clicked a few buttons and sent the picture to my cell then shot it off to the group text, asking if anyone had seen Thalia or knew where she went and when she left. One of my teammates was sure to know.

“I’ll find out where she is. Shouldn’t be long until I get an answer.” I pocketed my cell. “You need a ride home?”

“Thalia’s car should still be…ah shit, she’s got the keys.” Sage huffed out a breath, her cheeks reddening. “It’s okay. I can walk.” She pushed her shoulders back and licked her lips. “I’m sorry for crashing here.” She glanced at the bed then back to me. “Thanks for erm…yeah…thanks.”

She rushed toward the open bedroom door, but I wasn’t done with her yet. “You live around here?” I asked following her down the hallway and to the grand staircase that led into the foyer. Under the stairs sat a pond with the most expensive fish my dad could have bought. Just another way for him to throw his money around as if it made an inch of difference to the man he really was.

“In Lakemere?” she asked, not turning back to look at me as she practically ran down the stairs. “Yeah. I live in Lakemere.”

“Not this side, though, right?” My words had her halting at the bottom of the stairs, but I didn’t let up. “You think I don’t recognize someone from the other side of town?” I grinned at the back of her head. “It’ll take you at least two hours to make it across the bridge.” I paused, waiting to see how she would react. When she didn’t turn to face me, I moved ahead of her, blocking the doorway. “I’ll give you a ride.”

“No, I’m good.”

“Wasn’t asking you, sugar.” I winked. “Just telling you what was about to happen.”

She snorted. “Does that work on all of the girls?”

I shrugged as I pulled open the door. “Pretty much.” Sage laughed, the sound punching me in the gut and making me want to pull her against me. My reaction was visceral, something deep inside me I could barely control. “Fuck,” I murmured, trying to get ahold of myself as she walked past me.

My cell vibrated in my pocket, but I didn’t move to take it out because my attention was too focused on the girl in front of me. The girl who had come out of nowhere. The girl who already had me wound so tight. And I’d only met her thirty minutes ago. What the fuck was going on?

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