Page 7 of Catch My Fall (Catch)

“Is it because of that stupid ginger bitch sister of Austin’s? Just because she’s coming tonight and she calls you a slut or whatever doesn’t mean that you have to deprive yourself of one of my legendary blow jo—”

The sound of his voice gave megoosebumps as he cut her off. “Don’tevertalk about Darby that way. You’re fucking done. The door is over there; I suggest you use it. Don’t come back—you aren’t welcome.”

Turning to Darby I found that her mouth was hanging open just like my own. I went to high school with some slutty girls, but the girl in the hallway with Tristan really took the cake. Walking closer to me with the bottle of water in her hand Darby whispered, “Of all the skanks around here, that one takes the cake. I call her Kenny G because she blows so much. If he had let her talk like that about me I would have—”

We both startled when Tristan spoke from the doorway. “You would have what, Darbs? You know damn well that I’ll always stick up for you—it shouldn’t have ever crossed your mind that I would do otherwise, you nut.” Stepping into the room, he threw an arm around her shoulders and pulled her in for a sideways hug. “You’re one of my people. If someone says something about you, I’m always going to toss ‘em out on their ass, no questions asked. I’m hurt that you doubted me.”

He said everything but the last sentence with conviction, but when he got to that part, he made boo-boo eyes at her and tried to look sad. Stepping away from him with a laugh, she slapped him on the arm. “Oh yeah, you’re real hurt, I can tell.”

Turning towards me, Tristan gave me a confused smile. “Oh, hey Mimi. I didn’t see you there. Did you come to get your pen or something?”

I spluttered like an idiot as I gaped at him. Christ, how embarrassing. “I’m here for…. um, no…I’m not here for the pen… my name isn’t Mimi….”

I hate to admit that it hurt that he didn’t remember my name. I’d spent most of the day thinking about him, but clearly the feeling wasn’t mutual. Dammit, not that it should be! I was trying to avoid guys, especially guys like Tristan Chamberlain. What the hell is wrong with me that I actually care whether or not he knows me from Adam?

His serious face crumbled as he burst out laughing. “I remember your name, Mia. Trace told me that when he saw you earlier you mistook him for me and called him Stan so I was just joking with you for forgetting all about me.”

I blushed from head to toe, whether because I was relieved that he remembered my name or because he was paying me any attention at all, I really don’t know.

His arm brushed against mine as he moved around me to walk to the refrigerator and I couldn’t restrain the little shiver of awareness that small touchsent through my body. I felt lucky that neither of them noticed and I tried to calm myself down as I watched him reach into the fridge to grab something. When he came back with a bottle of brown liquid, the mystery of who drank the Yoo-Hoo was solved.

As he pivoted and came backin my direction there was no way for me not to notice the way his t-shirt was stretched across his chest. He’s too good looking by half and it’s super annoying. His eyes stayed locked on mine as he crossed the room towards me and I struggled to remember to breathe in and out at a normal rate. He shook the bottle of Yoo-Hoo as he walked and my eyes shifted down to watch the way his arm moved as he went back and forth.

I jumped when the silence was broken by the loud pop of him opening thebottle, and I skittered foolishly as he came to a stop in front of me and took a big sip. We stared at each other in silence and I wondered if he could hear how fast my heart was racing as he reached around me to grab something off the counter. He smelled so good, like fresh laundry and sea air, that I actually found myself thinking I could understand why that girl had wanted to use her mouth on him.

Licking my lips nervously, I turned toward Darby in the hope that she would say something to break the tension, only to find that Trace had entered the room and all of her attention had gone to him.Like a magnet my head swiveled back to Tristan, and I found him watching me silently. I licked my lips again as I nervously rubbed the best friend necklace around my neck. He made a noise that sounded like a groan and my eyes flew back up to find him staring at my mouth.

Stepping away from him I let out a fake laugh and said the first thing that popped into my head. “So what’s the deal with you and the Yoo-Hoo?”

When he held up a bottle of Kahlua in his left hand, I realized that was what he had gotten from behind me on the counter. “My drink of choice is Yoo-Hoo and Kahlua.”

Against my will, my nose crinkled up and I shook my head. “Ew, that sounds disgusting, not to mention sacrilegious! That’s a lunchbox drinkfor kids who don’t mind drinking dirt water, not a mixer.”

He chucked as he set both bottles back on the counter and went about pouring some Kahlua into the Yoo-Hoo bottle. I realized that the giant sip he had taken had been to make room for the alcohol. After screwing the caps back onto the bottles he lifted his Yoo-Hoo and Kahlua concoction up and shook it a few times. “People always get grossed out when I tell them that this is what I drink, but I’m telling you, it’s good.” Holding out the bottle he offered it to me. “Here, drink some of it.”

I froze. Just completely froze to the goddamn spot, my fingernails digging painfully into my palms as my breath started coming in gasps and the roombegan to close in on me. Without realizing I was doing it, I maneuvered myself away from the front of the counter and started to back away from him. I startled when my back smacked up against the refrigerator and I wondered if it would be possible for me to die of embarrassment. I didn’t want to look as foolish as I did in the cafeteria earlier and I mentally screamed at myself to get it together. He looked unsettled, maybe even concerned, and I knew that he was wondering what the hell was wrong with me. Squeezing my fists tight enough that I felt like my fingernails might be breaking the skin of my palms, I shook my head emphatically. “No thank you,” I croaked past the anxiety that clogged my throat. “I’m drinking water because I’m the designated driver.” Holding up the water bottle, I said, “See?”

Walking back to the counter he grabbed a redSolo cup and filled it with ice from a giant bowl before crossing the room and handing it to me. “Here… now there’s plenty of ice for your drink.”

It was like he was saying and doing every damn thing on earth that would make me lose my shit. My head was shaking back and forth so fast that I’m surprised it didn’t take flight. “No! I mean, no thank you. I don’t like my water too cold. I’m going….I’m going outside. I’ll see you around.”

Confusion was written allover his face but I didn’t even stop as I practically sprinted out the side door and into the backyard.

There was a covered porch right outside the door that had about twenty or so people playing flip cup on a long table that was set up to the left. To the right there were a few people sitting in lawn chairs talking. I couldn’t help but be tense after the exchange with Tristan in the kitchen, and I was also anxious about whether the people at this party would be friendly, stuck up, or worse, shady. I felt an enormous rush of relief when the people who looked up as I came out all acknowledged me with friendly smiles.

Austinstood near the door with a beautiful girl with long dark hair. When he saw me he took her by the hand and brought her over.

“Hey Mia, this is my girlfriend Allie. Allie, this is Mia, Darby’s roommate.”

I was startled when Allie put her arms around me and gave me a hug as she said, “I’m so happy to meet you. We’re all so excited that Darby is all moved into her dorm and living the college life.”

As I pulled back, Austin smiled at me. “We’re expecting to see a lot of you this year since you’re living with Darby. Don’t tell my sister but my mom gave me orders to keep an eye on you both so if you need anything, just shout.”

Trace suddenly appeared at Austin’s side, where he elbowed him playfully in the stomach before he said, “Superman over here acts like he’s flying solo on this.” Smiling at me, he continued, “Tristan and I are also on Darby and Mia watch, just so you know. If someone so much as looks at you weird, you reach out to one of us and it will be taken care of.”

I startled when I felt an arm sliding across my shoulders. Before I even looked up, Iknew that it was Tristan. It was obvious because the hair on my arms stood up and my nipples hardened painfully.

“Never mind these morons,” he said with a husky laugh. “If you need anything you find me first. I’m the one you want.”

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