Page 41 of You Had Me At Thirteen

Although, Clive has been known to play both sides. There was a time back in eighth grade when a rumour went around school that Clive was screwing both Audrey and me. We made the most of it, showing off our affection for each other in public whenever we could. I mean, the man can kiss, but taking our relationship further was never on our radar. After a while, everyone gave up and found someone else to target.

Trevor’s face lights up when he notices Clive, who skips over and plants himself on Trevor’s lap with a kiss to his cheek.

‘Hey baby, I want you to meet my besties.’ He motions to Audrey and me. ‘This is Audrey and Matilda.’

‘Ladies,’ Trevor says with a nod. ‘Can I get you both a drink?’ He smiles up at us, giving us the full impact of his good looks, and pushes Clive from his lap to stand up.

Audrey agrees, and my first instinct is to decline, but with Clive’s death stare on me, I accept with a curtsey. Clive pokes me when he gets up, but the smile on his face doesn’t fade.

As we wait for the boys to grab our drinks, I steal Audrey away for a moment.

‘So… is Koby coming tonight?’

She shrugs. ‘No idea.’

I tilt my head and frown. ‘What happened? I thought you were going to message him?’

‘I’m not so sure he’s interested in me, Til.’ Audrey lifts a shoulder, then lets it sag as she hangs her head.

‘You’re kidding, right?’

‘Well, he hasn’t messaged me. I gave him my number like three days ago. What am I supposed to think?’

‘We aren’t living in the fifties anymore, babe. Women can make the first move.’

She looks at me as though I’ve slapped her. ‘No way, I can’t do that.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because if he’s not interested, I’ll just look like an idiot.’

‘Seriously? Where’s that brave woman from school the other day? He seemed very interested then.’ I raise my eyebrows at her.

‘I guess you’re right…’ Audrey says with a sigh, but the boys come back with our drinks, cutting off our conversation.

She doesn’t know how brilliant and beautiful she is. She’s one of the smartest people I’ve ever met in my life, her ability to solve any math problem rivalling that of Einstein. Well, maybe not that far. Not yet anyway. She has an IQ of 130-something, but can’t seem to send a simple message to a boy she’s crushing on.

When Audrey’s favourite song comes on, she grabs my hand, barely giving me enough time to hand my drink to Trevor before she’s yanking me towards the crowd of dancing bodies. I take a while to warm up to the sweat-fest going on around me, but by the third song I’m swaying my body against Audrey’s, my hands lifted into the air.

When I’ve had enough dancing, I head to the kitchen for some water, downing a couple of glasses as I catch my breath. I glance around the lounge room, spying a familiar face.

Shit. Wren’s here.

Although, I should have known. After the confusing week we’ve shared, and then our fight last night, I don’t want to be anywhere near him. It makes working on our assignment together even harder to endure. Even if he is beautiful when he lets his guard down, I’m still pissed at him for carrying on like a dick last night.

But one glance at him now has me aching between the legs. He looks fucking delicious in a white shirt and black jeans. Bastard. And with his hair pushed back, I want to run my fingers through it just to mess it up.

He’s sitting on the U-shaped couch in the centre of the lounge room with Koby, Emerson and Willis, a girl on his lap. Red and blue party lights hang from the ceiling above them, flashing in time to the beat of the music. The bleached blond rubbing herself against him sets off my jealousy radar. How can he do that? I should have known it wouldn’t take long for him to get over this… thing with me. I eye her with a scowl, the same type I’d copped a few minutes prior. She doesn’t even know I exist though, her focus remaining on Wren even though his is elsewhere.

The conversation between Emerson and Koby looks heated as Emerson throws his hands up, a look of disgust on his face as Koby throws his head back in laughter. And then there’s poor Willis, who looks as though he’s about to throw up.

You and me both, buddy.

Wren shifts in the seat, his eyes finding mine. They widen for a second before he takes in my body in this damn dress, stripping me bare with just one look. His lips part before he runs his tongue over the bottom one, setting my inner thighs up in flames in the process.

Goddamn traitorous body.

I make a beeline away from him, but just when I think I’ve freed myself, his hard body presses up against my back. I know it’s him by his scent, and how my body tingles all over when he’s near me.

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