Page 26 of Villainous Summer

Pulling my arm out of Van’s grip, I stepped back, wiping my lip with a finger. “That was a bit more than I was expecting for the cameras.” I frowned at where my phone landed. “You didn’t even take a picture.”

Van scoffed, grabbing onto my hair at my nape. “Who cares about a picture?”

“I do. That’s why you kissed me, right?”

He snorted, shaking his head. “No, I did that for me.”

His hands were still in my hair, a pulsing need to close the gap again tearing through me.

His touch should’ve stung but instead only made my thighs clench harder. The way he was looking down on me, the strength in his grip, showed me he would know exactly how to handle me in bed. How he would take control and wring every last drop of pleasure out of me, taking me to the point of pain before allowing me to crumble around him. Judging by the massive ridge against my aching core, I would have plenty to work with.

This was dangerous. A thudding started in my ears, and the party was fading. It would’ve been so easy to fall into bed with this man. From how he was looking at me, he seemed willing. But then what? Another foolish mistake? Getting my emotions involved? I couldn’t afford to get attached.

Reaching behind me, I traced the back of his hand before pulling away. “We shouldn’t have done that. Next time you want to show off, a simple peck will do.”

“You think I was showing off for someone else?”

Raising my eyes to his, I inhaled, trembling. “I know you did. This can’t be real, right?” When he didn’t correct me, I stepped back, wrapping my arms around my waist. “I’m getting another drink.” Scooping my phone off the ground, I left him on the side of the house.

I felt exposed again. Cory was making me a fool in love and in the flesh. With the feel of Van’s lips still lingering on mine, I washed down the taste of his kiss with a long swig. I didn’t need Cory. Or anyone. A toe-curling kiss couldn’t distract me from what was important. And at that moment, it was drinking enough to forget.

Van

Two and a half hours later, the parade was over. Thin streamers littered the road between candy wrappers and half-melted popsicles.

Summer stood beside me, another drink in her hand. I had lost count of how many she had, the colors of the can changing from red to purple to pink to green to green. It wasn’t my place to ask her to slow down on drinking, but she was getting less sure on her feet. Her laugh louder, she kept hugging people.

At some point, Summer had disappeared inside the house with Devin, leaving me on the porch to make small talk with partygoers. When she came back, she had a new can in one hand and her phone in the other, a list visible on the Notes app.

Devin trailed behind her, brows furrowed. “Sum, why don’t you rest in my room?”

“I’m fine.” She waved around the room. “Besides, I can’t neglect my date any longer, can I?”

Rather than approaching me, she passed me and plopped down in a chair in the middle of the lawn.

Devin came to stand beside me. “Look, my grandpa obviously trusts you, so I will, too. Can you help me get her home? She won’t listen to me.”

How Summer had been acting wasn’t my business, but her behavior was odd.

“Of course.” I hesitated. “I don’t want to sound like an asshole, but is this normal?”

Devin shook her head, the blue streaks whipping her cheeks. “No. She—” She grimaced. “It’s not my place to say, but just know she never acts like this. She’s going through a rough time. Don’t hold today against her.”

“I don’t have much to go on, you know?” I offered.

Devin smiled, brows downturned. “I know you don’t. But in the decades I’ve known her, I’ve only seen her like this maybe two other times. I am sorry you had to see it, though. Some date, huh?”

Sighing, I glanced at Summer, who was sitting with her face resting on her hand, eyes drifting shut. “Can you give me her address? I’ll get her home safe.”

Devin nodded, texting me the address.

According to the map, her place was a twenty-minute walk from the party on the other side of downtown.

Getting Summer out of the chair was a feat, but with some cajoling and the promise I’d get her a big pretzel, she stood. Her balance was wobbly, but she could walk.

A block away, I handed her a water bottle from my back pocket. She leaned against a wall and chugged half of it before handing it back to me.

Her hair was a messy riot of blond crimps and what looked like a fleck of confetti. A strap of her dress fell, exposing the swell of her breast. From my angle, a rosy nipple peeked out.

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