Page 100 of The Hookup Type

I slid into an empty chair beside them and inched closer to the fire. The little heat it gave off felt good against my bare legs, and I knew if I continued to drink whatever was in this Pink Drink, I would feel warmer any minute.

Connor peered inside Katie’s cup. “What do you have in there?”

“Pink Drink.” Katie shrugged, and I giggled at her matter-of-fact answer.

“You’re lucky I watched Jared and Bryson make those, or else I would toss them over the railing,” Connor threatened in the most caring tone possible. He shifted into Dad Mode at least twice a day, sometimes more if it concerned Katie’s well-being.

I felt an arm wrap around my shoulder and I turned to find Bryson squeezing into my chair. He gestured toward my cup and grinned. “Whatcha got?”

“Pink Drink,” I copied Katie and she laughed in the background. I lost it once a snort escaped her, and I leaned my forehead against Bryson’s shoulder. I poked him in the chest. “You made it very,verystrong.”

In the last minute or so, all of the alcohol in my body decided to show up at once. I went from buzzed to drunk.

“I do what I can.” He looked me up and down. The light from the fire danced in his golden-brown eyes, and I was brought back to the night we met outside Brathaus.

We were interrupted when Brad came over and knocked Bryson in the shoulder. “Kennedy, we’re up in pong!”

“I’ll be back, okay?” Bryson adjusted and I fell lightly against the back of the chair.

I nodded and watched him head back into the house. There was a loud gaggle of screaming from the kitchen as soon as he stepped inside.

I laughed into my drink and stared at the fire in front of me. It felt nice not to care about what Bryson did this weekend. It had taken me a long time, but I was getting better at separating him from the guy I wanted to be friends with and the guy I used him for.

I widened my eyes at this new voice in my head. This version of Maci was welcome to pop in anytime. Apparently, she just needed some Pink Drink to show up.

“Hey.” Connor nudged my leg.

I paused mid-sip and turned to face him.

“Jaxon was looking for you earlier. I explained to him at least five times that you and Katie were coming later. He’s hammered.”

I peered over at the hot tub where Jaxon had an arm draped over Reagan. Another girl I didn’t recognize was sitting extremely close to him on the other side, but he paid no attention. I lingered over the sight of him shirtless but drew my gaze back to Connor. I had traumatic flashbacks of the Snapchat incident and decided not to witness anything firsthand.

“He looks a little busy,” I joked. I shook my now-empty cup and extended my hand to Katie. “I’m going inside for a refill. Do you want more?”

Katie shook her head. “I may switch to beer. Do you want me to go with you?”

I assured her I was fine and made my way back inside. As soon as I slid the door shut and stepped foot into the kitchen, Bryson’s arm was around my waist.

“I was just coming back outside,” he slurred, his eyes shiny from whatever game he just played.

A girl came over and leaned against his shoulder no sooner than he finished his sentence. She glanced at me and averted her gaze back to Bryson. “Bryson, I thought we were playing pool?” she whined.

Bryson shifted so he could smile at me. “Do you wanna play pool?”

I had seen that look one too many times to know that he was already debating on what bed he was sleeping in tonight.

When his lips landed on mine, I should’ve turned around and walked back outside to Connor and Katie. Pink Drink Maci was still in the lead in terms of making decisions, but warmth flooded my stomach when his hand glided past my hoodie and brushed the curve of my hip.

“Yeah.” I smiled against his lips. “I can play pool.”

Chapter55

Jaxon

March 2016

Katie’s cacklesounded completely different when I was hungover at nine in the morning. My head throbbed, and I felt the back of my eyes pulsing against my skull. There was no way I was moving anytime soon. I didn’t even want to open my eyes.

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