Page 84 of Off Limits

Taking his face between my hands, I push up on my toes and fuse my lips to his before pressing my forehead into his. “Let’s go back to the party.” Having calmed down, noticeably relaxed, I feel comfortable that he’ll keep it together.

Breathing deep, he gives my hips one final squeeze, lacing his fingers through mine as he pulls me back toward the fence.

Before walking through the gate, he brings my hand to his lips. “Come on, let’s go and try to make the most of this.”

Chelsea is holding court when we get back, having shown up sometime in the twenty minutes we were in the woods. If she’s noticed we were gone, she doesn’t mention it as she comes running over to throw her arms around my neck, Lochlyn having let go of my hand the second he saw her.

“I’m going to get a drink. Anybody want anything?” Lochlyn has his hand on my lower back, gently, a perfectly appropriate level for two people who have known each other for a long time.

I shake my head, glancing at him. Even though I’m off to Cornell in a few weeks, drinking still doesn’t appeal to me. While I’ve had a few here and there, it’s very atypical.

“I’m good. Bren’s getting me something.”

Lochlyn tenses before he walks away grumbling, still not overly fond of Chelsea’s boyfriend even though they’ve been together for about a year now and we’ve all been together a lot this summer.

“How’s the party so far?” Chelsea’s very bubbly, overly so. Is she already drunk?

“Oh, you know, good.” If you don’t count other girls trying to hook up with my boyfriend and Jay being creepy.

She rolls her eyes at me. “You need to lighten up, Shay. It’s a party. You’re supposed to be having fun, getting drunk.”

“Why do I need to get drunk to have fun?”

“It just makes you freer.” That’s what I’m worried about. I don’t want to get drunk and start spilling secrets. Or worse, put on a show for her to see exactly how together Lochlyn and I are. It’s safer to stay sober.

“I’m having fun without it.”

“Whatever you say.” She leans around me and waves to somebody enthusiastically. Being more outgoing and many of the people here being those Lochlyn knew, she’s spent more time with them than I have. She’s bound to know them. “I’m going to go say hi to Jane. You okay?”

“Mhm, totally fine.”

She narrows her eyes at me, and I plaster my fake smile on. “Good, see?”

I can tell she doesn’t believe me, but she bounces off anyway, yelling something at me over her shoulder.

Spinning around to search for Lochlyn, I find him sitting on the same couch I’d been planted on earlier, a glass with amber liquid in his hand stretched over the arm of the sofa. His other arm is stretched across the top of the back. It looks warm and inviting. His gaze is zeroed in on me.

My feet move of their own volition. I plop down next to him, inching closer until our legs are touching, my arm against his side. I lean my head back as he slides his arm forward the tiniest bit, my neck resting against the tattoo on his bicep. He brings his glass up to take a sip, trying to hide the smile that spreads across his face.

Though the stars are shining above us, the backyard is still bright, lights everywhere. Glancing around, I notice Chelsea on the other side of the yard with Brendan and a gaggle of girls. I decide to take a chance and lean into Lochlyn, resting my head on his chest as his breath stills below me.

There’s no hesitation as his arm wraps around me, resting for a moment at my hip before moving higher, tracing circles on my arm. I close my eyes, enjoying the closeness and breathing him in. It may not be something friends do, but I don’t care in this moment. I know Lochlyn will be able to come up with something to write it off as nothing if Chelsea says anything.

Which she does mere moments later.

“What exactly is going on here, Lochlyn?”

“Shh, I think she may be asleep.”

“Why is she on you?”

“She decided to have a drink before. I think it hit her harder than she thought. She said she isn’t feeling well. She doesn’t really know anybody else here.” I let my body flow with the natural shift as he holds up his other arm. “I’ve been drinking, didn’t really think I should drive her home. It was this or letting her lie alone on the couch with all these other guys here. I saw Jay corner her earlier.”

I can picture Chelsea’s face in my mind, lips pressed into a line, arms crossed against her chest. “Just keep your hands in a respectable place. Let me know if she needs something.” I’m surprised she glazed over the drink. Clearly, her priority is about Lochlyn and I being close instead of my supposed drinking.

“You got it, sis.”

Her wedges slap on the concrete as she walks away. “Nice play, baby girl.”

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