Page 44 of Faux Real
“She’ssomethingalright,” I hum as he closes the door behind us. “Thanks again.”
“Don’t sweat it,” Lemar says, scanning for his girl. “She can keep the shirt too. I have tons.”
“Cool,” I say, nodding goodbye.
Lemar seems like a chill dude. I wonder if he’s in any of my classes. Not that I’m interested in becoming mates or anything. Opening the door to the backyard, I’m stopped by Sawyer. Oh right. Should’ve told him.
“I found her. She was outside,” I say before he can ask. “Thanks for your help though.”
“Oh,” Sawyer nods, his gaze darting out toward the pool. “She’s okay? You sure? Maybe I should—”
“Yeah, she’sfine,” I state, narrowing my eyes. What is his deal? Clearly, there are unresolved issues here, but I have a feeling if he talks to Kenny right now, her mood will do a complete one-eighty. I’d rather have a happy stoner than a sad one on my hands. “I’ve got it covered, mate. You can get back toyourgirlfriend now.” I nod toward Corrine, who’s passed out on the couch. “Looks like she’s ready to go home.”
“Oh, shit,” he mutters, walking away. Not very attentive, is he?
I shimmy open the door and head toward the pool, Kennedy’s lingering by the ladder, hugging her body. “I’m cold now!” she whines as I approach. “Did you find towels?”
“Oh,nowyou’re cold?” I tease, cocking my head to the side. “Perhaps you should’ve listened to me earlier, yeah?”
“I wasn’t cold then though,” she pouts, pulling herself out of the water. I hold out one of the towels and she wraps her shivering body in it. “Ah, so much better.”
“Let’s go inside,” I suggest, handing her the T-shirt. “You can change into this.”
“No,” she says, shaking her head. “Can we just hang out here? It’s so quiet and calm. I don’t want to go inside. Inside sucks.”
“Inside sucks? Okay, but inside is alsowarmanddry,” I say slowly. “Outsidecoldandwet.”
“Oh shut up.” She rolls her eyes, handing me the towel. “Hold this up so I can change.”
“What?” I ask, my mouth hanging open. “You’re going to change righthere?”
“Yeah, there’s no one around,” she says, removing her straps. “Just close your eyes. Don’t be a pervert and peek!”
Bloody hell.
fifteen
Hell Hath No Fury
KENNEDY
“Okay,youcanopenyour eyes now.” I tug on the long black T- shirt, hoping it’ll stretch out further than mid-thigh, not because I think it’s skimpy but because it’s as cold as balls out here.
Oliver clears his throat, his eyes fluttering open as he slowly lowers the towel. “That was fast,” he comments as I plop down on the ground and lean against the hard surface of the brick perimeter.
“I’m surprised you didn’t peek,” I muse, bringing my knees to my chest. I totally thought he was going to sneak a glance, but his eyes were shut tighter than my grandma’s pickle jars. Oh, pickles. I could go for a pickle. Or some pepperoni. Or cake. “I think I’m hungry.”
“Well, I was raised to be a gentleman,” Oliver smirks, sitting down beside me, our shoulders almost touching, the heat from his body radiating onto mine. He passes me his flask. “Here, have some malted barley, that’s all we have unless you want to go inside and grab some food.”
“Nope!” I snatch the flask out of his hand. “We’re already established that inside sucks, this will suffice.” I twist open the lid and take a reluctant sip, the liquor jolting me awake, sending a shiver down my spine. “Oh God, it still tastes like acid.” A second passes and warmth spreads through my body. “Oh, never mind...it’s actually kind of nice. It’s like a blanket...made of booze.”
“Christ,” Oliver chuckles, his eyes bright with amusement. “How high are you right now?”
My jaw drops. “What? I’m not high! Why would you say that? I feel fine. I feel better than fine actually, I feelgreat.”
“Sorry to break it to you,” he says. “But you’re high, love.”
“I am?” I hum, pulling the T-shirt over my knees as a gust of wind encircles us. “Are you sure? Maybe the cookies were defective. Maybe I’m just drunk?”
