The Thrashers(54)

He walked away, and Jodi smirked.

Paige was a nervous wreck when Jodi found her in the kitchen. She was able to carry on a conversation, but halfway through, she’d turn and check that the stove burners were off. Jodi caught her counting the number of knives in the block.

In the living room, a few people chatted while the music played from Lucy’s parents’ stereo system. Lucy’s mom and dad had promised to give her some space on her birthday; they were at a hotel tonight.

When Jodi headed toward the couches, she saw that Spencer was already there, chatting with a few guys from school. Spencer was nice enough, and pretty cute. He had curly brown hair and deep-set brown eyes that made him look constantly exhausted, but they brightened when he saw her. He stood up and gave her a little wave.

“Hey,” she said, trying for nonchalant. “I don’t think we have any classes together this semester.”

“Not a one.” His cheeks dimpled when he smiled. “Did I hear you’re in the school play?”

“No, god no.” Jodi laughed. “I’m painting the backdrop.”

She told him all about Mrs. Calloway and her dramatic tantrums. Spencer kept his full attention on her, and she felt almost smothered by it. Jodi tried to enjoy herself but she couldn’t help it when her gaze drifted to the patio where she could just catch the corner of the hot tub.

When Julian was called into the living room, his gaze swept over Jodi and Spencer on the couch, and the cat-that-got-the-canary grin on his face made her want to lock herself in the garage for the rest of the night.

“Hey!” Julian called out, getting the attention of the whole party, but keeping his eyes locked on Jodi. “Truth or dare time!”

Jodi groaned, watching Julian cut through the room like a shark hunting a minnow until he happily dropped onto the couch across from her and Spencer. She tried to think of any way to excuse herself to go do something else for the next hour, but everyone was coming in from the patio, piling onto the couch cushions.

The game started out easy. A handful of truths later, and Jodi had learned that one of the water polo guys had slept with the girls’ softball coach, that Paige cheated on her math final last year, and that one of the girls there had enough cocaine in her purse to get her put away for a long time. The dares were gradually getting less tame. Lucy had to switch shirts with one of the guys, someone had to eat a raw egg from the fridge, and Julian agreed to strip down, run naked down Lucy’s street, and then jump in the pool. (A few of the girls there ran to the window to watch.)

When Julian had climbed out of the pool, slipped back into his shorts, and plopped back down on the couch next to Paige, Jodi was hoping that had been the big finale. But with a clap of his hands and a bellowed “My turn!,” Julian drew their attention back. His eyes were locked on her, mischievous and bright. He ran a hand through his wet hair, and Jodi sipped from her water bottle.

“Dillon. Truth or dare?”

She swallowed. Julian knew too many of her secrets already, and some of them she knew he would make her say in front of everyone just to humiliate her.

“Dare.”

His brows shot up, and a smile lifted his lips. The murmurs around her indicated that no one thought she’d choose dare. Neither did she. But if the dare was too ridiculous she knew Paige and Lucy would be there to fight it for her, maybe even take her shot for her.

Julian opened his mouth—closed it. Then grinned like the Cheshire cat.

“I dare you to make out with the hottest person here, in your opinion.”

Jodi watched him settle back, slinging an arm behind Paige’s head on the back of the couch. The group laughed, and the tension ratcheted.

Her skin felt like a rubber band pulled tight. He wanted to see if she’d tell the truth and kiss Zack, thereby embarrassing herself. Or lie and create some false hopes in Spencer by kissing him. She wouldn’t look at either of them, afraid of what she’d find.

When she spent too long staring Julian down, someone started to chant “Jodi. Jodi. Jodi” until everyone was joining in, except for Paige, who was smiling softly and jumping at every noise the house made, and Julian, who just smirked at her, waiting.

An idea hit her—there was a way to kill two birds with one stone. She rocked forward onto her knees and crawled to the couch, passing Spencer, passing Zack. Reaching their knees, she pulled herself up to lean over Julian. The room started screaming in joy, watching Jodi Dillon about to choose Julian Hollister as the hottest in the room.

Julian’s smile dripped from his lips. His lashes fluttered in shock and his bare chest didn’t move.

She smirked at him, swerved right, and grabbed Paige’s distracted face. Paige laughed into her mouth as she pressed their lips together, and the room shook in glee. She dropped to the couch, kneeling over Paige.

Jodi opened her eyes to pin Julian with a glare that she hoped read joke’s on you.

He wasn’t laughing. Or cheering. His eyes were glued to her mouth on Paige’s. His face had a rosy blush from either the alcohol or the run around the street. He almost looked mad.

Grinning, Jodi finally pulled away, finding Paige almost crying from laughter. Jodi had pulled her mind off her troubles and had singled her out as the hottest in the room.

“I said guy,” a voice cut over the clapping.

Jodi and Paige looked at Julian. He was definitely mad about something.