Page 65 of Replay

“Okay, sis. If that’s the lie we’re telling,” I smirk.

“You really want to go there…” Quirking her eyebrow, she gives me a knowing look.

Darby laughs and shakes her head. “Before I call both your asses out, let's go get a drink.”

“And Berkley, please don’t forget again and hand the bartender your real ID.”

I throw my hands up. “Ugh, I’m never going to live that down. It was spring break, and I was already hammered.”

Only a few more months until I’m legally twenty-one and don’t have to worry about it anymore.

We opt for shots so we can dance without spilling drinks on each other. After downing them, Bellamy notices the guys over in the VIP section. Nate and all his roommates are surrounded by a bunch of football players. I watch on as several groups of girls are let into the section as well.

Darby starts that way, but I grab her arm and nod toward the dance floor. “Let’s dance.”

She looks surprised at first, but then she says, “Oh, that’s right, gotta make them sweat.”

Bellamy and I giggle and head to the dance floor just in time for Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” to come on.

We dance and sway, singing along, but my eyes keep finding their way back to the VIP area. I see a girl I recognize as a Zetawhisper something in Nate’s ear, and hot prickles scatter across my body.

He smiles but shakes his head, slinging his arm around Nola’s neck. Nola gives the brunette his signature playboy smile; then he grabs her hand and heads out to the dance floor. The satisfaction I feel from witnessing what seemed like Nate turning her down floods me with renewed confidence, along with a need I’ve been ignoring.

A few songs later, Nola spots us and ditches his dance partner. The song changes to “Yeah Glo!” by GloRilla when he joins our little circle. Bellamy and Nola get in each other’s faces, having a rap off. Bellamy is always guaranteed to know the lyrics to any popular rap or country song; it's why she makes a fun karaoke partner, since she doesn’t even have to read the screen. Her red hair sways down her back as she bops her head to the beat.

Strong arms wrap around me from behind, catching me off guard. He smells good, but it isn’t the scent I crave or the touch I ache for. Turning around, I smile up at Carter. “Hi.”

He leans in to kiss me, and I turn my head in time for him to kiss my cheek.

The frown on his face brings on the guilt I’ve been feeling so much lately. I need to own my shit and tell him the truth, point blank, instead of gently trying to move him back into the friend-zone. It isn’t fair to him.

“Oh, it’s like that,” he huffs, and I smell the alcohol on his breath.

Part of me wishes I could just snap my fingers, and we could go back to freshmen year, when we were just friends before things got complicated.

“Come on, let’s dance,” I say, turning back around as the song changes again, wanting to keep things light. Seemingly satisfied, his hands rest on my swaying hips. I can officially admit to myself something about having his hands on me in the same room as Nate feels extremely wrong. No matter what my heart may feel, I remind myself I belong to no one. I haven’t made any promises to either of them.

I just need to relax and try to have a good time. Rocking to the beat, I let my body move to the music as I watch all my friends have fun around me.

Carter pulls me into him, and I feel him harden against me. Not wanting to give him the wrong impression tonight, I put some space between our bodies. My eyes flit over to the VIP section, but I don’t see Nate.

My attention must linger over the area for too long, because Carter interrupts me, “You’re looking for him, aren’t you?” he asks, biting my ear. “You know we haven’t fucked in what feels like forever. Hell, you barely even let me kiss you anymore. He’s right, isn’t he?”

With my heart now pounding harder, I ask, “What are you talking about?” I take his hand, dragging him away from the crowd around us.

“Never mind. Let’s get out of here.” He grabs my hips, pulling me into him again. “I miss you.”

I shake my head, feeling uneasy. “No, I’m here with my friends, Carter. I can’t leave right now.” I’m using a cop-out, and it’s obvious. This conversation is evidence enough I need to end things with him officially.

“Can’t, or won’t?”

I flinch at the bite in his question. “Both.”

“I bet if I were him, you wouldn’t be saying that. You think I’m stupid? You think I didn’t see what he was flaunting on his wrist yesterday?”

“Carter…” I swallow, trying to find the right words; the last thing I want to do is hurt him. “I’m sorry, I’m not trying to hurt you. But I think…”

“Don’t fucking say it, Berkley.” He jerks his arm out of my grasp. “You know what…fuck this shit.”

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