Page 57 of Break Point
“Robbie here,” I say, pointing at my brother with my thumb as I glance at Paxton and Gemma, “wants to rat me out to my dad for coming to the party and having a drink. What do you guys think?”
Paxton laughs.
“You’re kidding, right?” He drapes an arm around Gemma’s shoulders, and Robbie sniffs, pushing his chunky black frames up the bridge of his nose. “We’re taking great care of them. Chill, bro. Let me get you a beer.”
Paxton drops a kiss on Gemma’s cheek, his lips almost brushing the corner of her mouth, before turning and heading toward the kitchen.
“Can I get a refill?” I shout as Paxton leaves.
“Sure thing!” he calls back.
One more drink should be harmless.
“Paxton? Really?” Robbie says to Gemma with a grimace, scanning her from head to toe. “He’s a player, so I’d be careful if I were you.”
“Well, I’m in a playful mood tonight, so thanks for the heads-up,” Gemma replies, tucking her short dark hair behind her ear.
“Paxton’s really nice,” I say to Robbie, chuckling after Gemma’s remark. “And you’re not going to rat us out to Dad. Or have you forgotten how many times I’ve had your back with all those girls you’ve snuck into the apartment late at night, when Dad’s made it clear that’s not allowed?”
Gemma chokes on her drink, clearing her throat a few times, andRobbie’s looking at me like he could kill me for revealing that in front of her.
“And Paxton’s the player?” Gemma scoffs. “Takes one to know one.”
“Belén’s drunk and blowing things out of proportion,” Robbie starts to explain in a serious and slightly agitated tone. I gape at him because I’m not drunk. Or maybe I am. I don’t know for sure what being drunk should feel like, but it’s not like I’m lying about it. “That’s not at all how?—”
“Right,” Gemma says, cutting Robbie off mid-sentence.
Paxton returns with our drinks, carrying two beers in one hand and my cup in the other. He hands me my drink and passes a beer to Robbie, who takes an angry sip.
Robbie loves pointing fingers at others, even though he’s not the innocent little computer nerd he likes to pretend he is. He’s a good guy, sure. But he’s also a single college guy living in New York City. We’ll never be this age again. He’s having his fun, so why can’t we?
“Give your poor sister a break,” Gemma says to Robbie. “You owe her, or so it seems.” She weaves her fingers with Paxton’s and they walk away.
Robbie drags a hand down his face, and I’m positive he’s about to go full alpha nerd on me when my phone rings. It’s Liam.
“Good luck with that,” Robbie says over his shoulder as he walks off.
I fumble with my phone, knowing how important it is to take this call, but it slips from my hand and falls to the floor. I try my best to bend down without flashing the people behind me, but this mini skirt isn’t helping. It’s no use. As I tug my skirt down, someone picks up my phone and places it back in my hand.
“Here you go, Bells.”
I freeze.
CHAPTER 15
GIN IS THE DEVIL
Lookingup to find Henry feels so confusing. I’ve never seen him look so beautiful. It must be the gin. I can’t pinpoint what it is, but there’s something different about him. He’s wearing the same outfit he had on at dinner: jeans, tennis shoes, and a white polo shirt, now paired with a simple black jacket. His hair is wavy as usual, the tips curling slightly. There’s a crease between his brows that I want to iron out with my thumb.
Everything about him screams: It’s just Henry, so it must be the gin making me focus on his full lips, chiseled jawline, and eyes so blue they look hand-painted instead of the ringing phone in my hand.
Once the ringing stops, I’m pulled out of my trance. I tear my gaze away from his face and stare at Liam’s missed call on my screen, then at the gin and tonic in my hand.
“Hi,” I say with a stupid smile, my heart beating a couple of beats faster than it should.
I probably wasn’t supposed to be here. Not after the way I left.
Henry isn’t smiling at me, but he says hi back.
