Page 17 of Broken Promises

“Wait, really? You don’t need to check with the guys or anything?”

That made me scowl, annoyance washing through me. “No, I don’t need to ask permission. I kicked them out and never want to see them again.”

“Girl, what the hell happened?”

“I don’t want to talk about it. Lead me to this party. I’ll kick your ass at pool, by the way,” I teased, changing the subject.

“I’m so excited. You never come to these things anymore. If you ever want to hang out, just text me. This is going to be so much fun!” she squealed, hooking her arm through mine as she started walking.

We could hear the music well before getting to the street that the party was on, and nerves flickered through me a little when I saw how many people were there. The house was full, some spilling out into the yard as they drank and laughed at each other’s antics.

I liked parties, but I’d always had the guys there to back me up.

My hand absently lifted to check that my knife was in my bra as we stepped inside, Cami keeping her arm tightly in mine as she spoke over the music. “You want a drink?”

“I’m good!”

“Go on, Rae. Have a couple. I’m sober, so I can keep an eye out!” she insisted, and I hesitated before nodding.

“Okay, but just one!”

A few people greeted us on our long journey to the kitchen, my body relaxing the longer we were here and nothing happened. My beer went down fast, so I waited a while before having a second, sipping on that one instead to make it last.

There was no way I was having more than two.

I played one game of pool against Cami before standing back to watch her take on other people, and I was a little surprised by how much fun I was having. Especially after dealing with Reid earlier.

The thought of him had my chest aching, and I downed a mouthful of beer to try and drown it out. I’d wanted to forgive him, but there was no way in hell I could yet. I was still too angry, and it was the fear of being alone that was getting to me.

“Hey, Raven,” a girl said with a smile as she wandered over with her friends, and it took me a second to remember her. Chelsea Hartmann. I’d gone to high school with her.

We’d been at opposite ends of the social food chain. I kept to myself with Logan and his friends, and she was the skanky cheerleader.

We’d never really interacted before, and I was a little surprised that she knew who I was.

“Chelsea,” I greeted, flicking my gaze to her friends. “What’s up?”

“Nothing. You’re here without your guard dogs? That’s unusual.” I went to snap at her, but she grinned. “It’s about time they let you lose to have some fun. Come hang with us.”

I turned, frowning when I didn’t see Cami.

“She’s sucking some dude’s face in the kitchen,” one of the other girls offered, knowing exactly who I was looking for. “Come on. We’re just sitting in the corner with some of the guys.”

I didn’t have a reason not to trust them, it wasn’t like they’d been mean to me before, but I kept my guard up as I agreed and followed them towards the couches in the corner.

Some guy tried to hand me a beer, and I shook my head. Two was enough, and there was no way I was dumb enough to take an opened drink from someone.

He shrugged and downed it himself, some of the other guys moving to sit on the floor so us girls could have the couch, and after an hour of talking and laughing, I was actually enjoying their company.

I could see Cami dancing with a guy, worry seeping into me when I noticed the drink in her hand. It might have been a coke, but my history of knowing alcoholics didn’t give me much faith.

Especially with her track record.

“I think we should play never have I ever,” one of the guys announced, giving me an amused look. “Raven will have to sit this one out. She’s never done anything.”

“Leave her alone, Zion,” Chelsea scolded, coming to my defense. “That game’s dumb. It’s just so you guys can hear about slutty things we’ve done so you can add the mental image to your spank banks. It’s gross.”

The guy beside me who’d offered me a drink laughed, apparently agreeing with her.

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