Page 28 of Rebellious

Exhaling, I run my hands through my hair. “Don’t do this, Aspen.”

She steps out onto the mat, grabbing my towel from the rack. Wrapping the cloth around her body, she steps into me. “It’s better this way.”

“I disagree.”

She stands on her toes and kisses my cheek. “Text me when you’re ready to leave tomorrow.”

Nothing but panic courses through my veins. I can’t let her leave. I know I said dinner solidified my resolve for keeping us friends, but now—“Let me make you some coffee before you go?”

She pushes past me. “Goodnight Bennett.”

No tit squeezes

Aspen

Pushing through the crowd, I’m suddenly pulled to a stop. “You leaving already?”

I look into the same ivy green eyes as Bennett’s. But unlike his twin’s, Drew’s eyes seem brighter with that big, goofy grin on his face.

“Yeah,” I say, dropping his gaze. Not surprisingly, he doesn’t ask why I’m wet.

“In that case,” he says, dropping my wrist and snagging a hoodie off the chair, “I’ll walk you home.”

“That’s okay,” I argue. “You should stay and enjoy the party.”

Like all the Jamesons in my life, he ignores me and shoves the hoodie over my head. “Nah. I need to check on Vee, anyway.”

I cock my head to the side. “I think she’s probably safe in Sebastian’s arms.” Literally. Checking on Vee might leave an unwanted image in Drew’s mind.

“In that case—” He stops, pushing my arms into the sleeves. “—let me grab a bat.”

I hook his elbow before he can dart off. “Come on, walk me home.” I owe Vee some uninterrupted time with Sebastian. On the way home from dinner, she told me he wasn’t coming back to the foundation with her. He is visiting his parents. But unlike me and the boys, Vee isn’t staying the whole summer. After the carnival, she’ll be back here, cuddling with Sebastian.

If I didn’t love Vee like a sister, I would be jealous that she doesn’t have to follow a set of rules in order to be with Sebastian. They are just a normal couple. Well, not normal. Both of them are crazy as hell, I just mean they have a normal—never mind. We’re all fucked up.

Drew ushers me to the door, giving high-fives and taking a shot of tequila along the way. “Sure you want to leave?” I ask him when we finally get outside. “I can literally see my door from here. I’ll be fine walking the rest of the way alone.”

He scoffs. “Please. And have Bennett gouge me in the eye when he learns I let you walk alone in the dark?”

I roll my eyes. “He won’t gouge your eye out.” He might punch him, but he won’t go for the eyes.

“You don’t know my brother like I do,” he argues.

I turn around, arching my brows. “Really?” I point to my chest. “Idon’t know your brother?” He must be drunk.

“Okay.” He waves his hand between us. “I didn’t mean it that way. I’m just saying you don’t know my brother like I do when it comes to you.”

I scoff. “I know he’s unreasonable.”

Drew grins; it’s boyish, and just like his brother’s. Although, those smiles are rare for Bennett. “True. With you, there’s no negotiating with him.”

Ain’t that the truth?

“Speaking of Bennett…” Drews says. “Did you give him his shot?”

The question stops me cold. “Bennett needed a shot?”

Drew nods. “Yeah. Looked like he was struggling to give it to himself.” He shrugs. “I offered, but he told me no.”

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