Page 54 of Always a Chance
“Hey, Talia.” His voice was slightly slurred.
“Not going to happen.” Michael had been trying to hook up with me all year. He was cute, but in a douchey sort of way.
He edged closer, wrapping an arm around my waist while drinking from the red cup in his free hand. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“No, thanks.”
“Aw, come on. Don’t be such a good girl, Talia. We both know you’re not.”
“He bothering you?” Johnny’s voice was both a saving grace and a further irritation. I hadn’t wanted to come, and then he left me to see his fans. Why couldn’t he have just let me stay home and watch movies with my little sister?
Michael tightened his hold on me. I wanted to fight it, but I knew Johnny, and if he saw me struggling, he’d cause a scene no one would forget about.
“I’m fine.” I could handle the likes of Michael Stanford without my bodyguard.
“Yeah.” Michael grinned up at Johnny. “She’s fine with a capital F.”
I recognized the look on Johnny’s face moments before he knocked Michael backward, taking me with him. As soon as we hit the ground, I rolled out of the way.
A familiar face caught my eye. No. There was no way she could be here.
As Michael and Johnny continued to fight like two dogs without a brain between them, I scrambled to my feet and ran after the girl who’d turned to walk down the beach. I could have sworn I saw my sister, but there was no way she was old enough to be here. Not with the drinking and high school graduates blowing off the steam of the last four years.
Johnny caught up with me, grabbing my arm to stop me. “Tali, wait.”
“No.”
“Please.”
“Let go of me. Gianna is here. I need to find her.”
He scanned the beach. “I didn’t see her. There’s no way they’d let anyone who wasn’t a senior into this party.” Our class made a big deal of partying without the younger kids, who were still in high school.
Johnny was probably right. Gianna and her friends weren’t dumb enough to show up. I turned with so much force Johnny stumbled. “What is wrong with you?”
He had the decency to look contrite as he rubbed the back of his neck. “I can’t stand that guy.”
I shoved his bare chest. “And you think that gives you the right to just jump in whenever I’m talking to someone you don’t like?” Most of the girls he dated weren’t exactly my BFFs.
“You can’t seriously tell me you were having a good time with him.”
I stomped one foot, but it didn’t make a sound. Stupid sand. “That is not the point.”
“Then what is?”
“You don’t own me. We’re friends, Johnny. We always will be, but you need some serious lessons in boundaries. And I need a life outside of our little trio, outside of us.”
“No.”
I couldn’t believe him. Shoving him again, I yelled, “What do you mean, no?”
“Just that.” His voice lowered and he took a step forward. “No.”
The moment his lips brushed mine, I thought I was hallucinating, just like I’d done seeing my sister. But this felt real, too real.
“What are you doing?” I whispered against his lips.
“If that’s not obvious, I’m not doing it right.”
