Page 31 of Purity

That has to stop. I have to take care of myself.

I grab another one of the shots and throw it back. The cheers of the others register at the back of my mind, but I have to stay focused if I’m going to get through this. After inwardly plugging my nose, I lift the next shot, not wanting to give my brain time to register disgust. Within seconds, the burning liquid is trailing down my throat.

“Holy shit!” Mari shouts. “I can’t believe you actually did that.”

Exhilaration courses through my veins. I can’t believe I did it either. I turn to Mari, beaming. “I’m aging fast tonight. You had your first shot at what… Sixteen? Seventeen?”

“Fifteen.”

I smile, surprised that I don’t feel even the slightest pang of resentment she never told me about it. It’s probably because she knew I would have been disappointed in her. It used to bother me when these little facts slipped out over the years as she grew more comfortable opening up to me, but not anymore.

“So I just turned fifteen,” I say. “Hopefully, by the end of the night—”

“What was that?” Cole’s deep, rumbly voice sends a shiver down my spine. When I turn around, all the bewilderment in his eyes is gone. He’s glaring at Travis like he’s ready to punch him.

Goodness, I need to defuse this. I can’t let them fight over me again.

I smile at Cole as warmth drifts over my body like a low morning tide. Is this the alcohol? It feels lovely.

“I just took two shots back-to-back,” I say, “and it was amazing.”

When I giggle, Cole’s scowl grows. “I was out there for ten minutes at the most. Why do you look drunk already?”

My gaze snaps to Travis. “Could they have kicked in that fast?”

He shakes his head. “You’re probably feeling that first shot.”

“That first shot?” Cole is all but yelling now. “Are you telling me she’s had three shots in the amount of time I was outside? Fuck. I never should have left her alone for even a minute.” He looks at Mari and Zac. “Where were you guys?”

Mari crosses her arms over her chest. “What Livvy drinks is entirely up to her. Calm down, Daddy.”

He shakes his head, his jaw tightening.

“It’s okay, Cole.” Zac sets his hand on his shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “Just let her have fun.”

“She’s five foot nothing!” He gestures over me. “She’s going to start stumbling around in a couple of minutes.”

“So what if I do? Right now, I just want to dance!” I lift my hands in the air and sway to the music, gyrating my hips in a way I’ve only ever done in front of Mari and Vanessa.

Oh man, this feels good. Somehow, my limbs are looser and my hips are more fluid. I glance at Travis, gesturing toward the dance floor. “Let’s go!”

He grins as he grabs me by the waist. I twist around to give Cole a reassuring smile, but his grim expression freezes my face. His anger is mixed with something else… Desolation, maybe, like I’m being pulled away for good, and he’ll never be able to reach me.

“Don’t get pregnant!” Zac shouts, and Cole’s expression grows even darker.

Travis laughs and pulls me onto the dance floor. I sway my hips to the beat. Just as I find a rhythm I like, he pulls my body against his. He presses his hips into mine while we dance. It’s amazing that I don’t want to pull back.

Has alcohol really squashed all of my fear?

I test it by stepping away from Travis and turning my back to him. I peek over my shoulder while I whirl my hips. When he sends an appreciative look over my body, I laugh. My butt is jiggling, and I don’t even care.

His warm hands touch my bare shoulders, and he yanks my back against his chest. “Oh man, you’re fun when you’re drunk.”

I smile as I lean back. His body is warm and hard, just like Cole’s was last night. That kiss. The way he held me tightly and pressed his hips into my belly, like he needed more. I needed more too.

His warm hand drifts down my side, and heat pools in my belly. Yes. This is what I need. Something soft and wet presses against my neck, and I hum.

When I open my eyes, Cole’s face immediately comes into view. Why is he so far away? His body is utterly still, and his expression is blank, like he’s shocked.

---