Page 54 of Reckless Liar

“So, you can’t flirt with other people around?” I asked.

“No, that’s not what I’m saying but...” He stopped, cocking his head to the side slightly as if something finally occurred to him. “Are you jealous?”

I stepped back, shaking my head, “No, of course not.”

He stepped into me, closing the gap between us. “You are, aren’t you?” His face broke into a huge grin at the idea.

“I’m not jealous! And besides, you’re one to talk. Scaring off Cory like that. You know, I could’ve told him no myself. I didn’t need you to—“

Xander’s eyes snapped to mine, and I stopped speaking, too caught up to continue. “I did need to. He knows better. It’s obvious that you’re...”

I stepped closer to him, resting a hand on his arm. “I’m what, Xander?” I asked, my voice low.

He stared down at me, the air around us thickening with tension. “You’re not for him. You might not belong to me Ana, but I…”

I could feel my heart beating loud in my ears, my breath catching with each moment that passed between us. He glanced down at my lips, and I licked them in reflex. It was going to happen. I was ready. I wanted this. I didn’t care we were at a party in front of all our friends. I needed his lips on mine.

“I belong to you,” he said, tilting his head down, his breath against my face. I pulled myself on my toes to be closer to his mouth. His hand slipped from my arm to my back pulling me closer. I closed my eyes and leaned in, feeling the warmth of his body.

A loud crash sounded, ripping us apart. We both jumped back looking toward the sound. Next to the keg, Eloise laid on the ground, sprawled out. We rushed forward, pushing past everyone else to get to her. Xander took one arm while I took the other. We pulled her to her feet, brushing the chunks of moss and twigs from her hair.

We walked Eloise to the closest bench, her feet dangling as we went. Sitting between us, Eloise groaned loud, leaning forward.

“I’m fine,” she slurred.

“Obviously not,” Xander replied. He kept a hand on her arm to steady her and smoothed her hair from her face.

“Why don’t you come home with us? You can crash on the couch. We’ll take you to breakfast in the morning.” I asked.

She nodded at me, and we hefted her up between us. As we made our way to my car, I prayed that she wouldn’t throw up all over my interior.

“What is going on with you two?” Eloise asked from the back seat. Her eyes were closed, the seatbelt catching her as she leaned in her seat. “You guys are acting weird.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked, not trusting myself to look at either Xander or Eloise.

“You guys aren’t fucking, are you?” Eloise slurred.

“No!” I snapped. Xander glanced at me, his jaw tense.

“Good, because that would be so weird. I mean, Xander is my brother’s best friend. Practically my brother. It’s like, incestuous, or something...”

“Go to sleep, Wheezy.” A waver in my voice giving me away. If Eloise were sober, she would’ve caught it, but in her drunk condition she only shrugged.

We set her up on the couch, wrapping a big blanket around her. She turned her head and buried her face into the overstuffed cushions. Minutes later her drunken snores reminded me of Max.

Xander glared at me, then motioned with his head for me to meet him in the kitchen. I followed him in, an ominous feeling settling over me.

“What was that in the car?” Xander hissed.

“What?” I asked. I bent down to pick up Eloise’s shoes off the floor.

“You know what. Not answering her question. You should’ve told her. Eloise has a right to know.”

“A right to know what? I don’t even know what’s going on here. What am I supposed to tell her? Sorry, but I’ve been fooling around with your brother’s best friend?” I walked to the hallway closet and set Eloise’s shoes down.

“Is that what you call what we’re doing? Fooling around?” he asked.

I bit my lip. The words sounded all wrong. Whatever was going on between Xander and I, it was far more than a simple physical connection.

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