Page 9 of The Spider Queen
“How is this guy going to make you happy?” I demanded. “You don’t even know him.”
“That’s why we’re going to the party. So I cangetto know him.”
“Unless he’s already drunk,” I pointed out.
“God, can you really be that cynical?” she asked.
“Yes.”
We fell silent for a few minutes, but then Anita started up again. “If you would just give someone a chance, you might find—”
“No. I’m doing this for you.” I threw her a smile. “See? Best face forward.”
We trekked a few more blocks and turned the corner onto Ashley Avenue. I frowned. “What’s the address of this house party?”
“Don’t remember. Blue house. Third floor.”
The back of my neck prickled, but I held in my reservations. There was no way… “Fifteen Ashley Avenue,” I murmured when we arrived at a blue house with a third floor balcony.
“Come on,” Anita exclaimed, gripping my hand in excitement and hauling me to the door of the side porch. She flew up the flight of stairs, not even her heels slowing her down.
The third-floor balcony was congested with partiers holding red plastic cups. Somewhere inside the house, music blasted. Despite the cooler temperatures, girls were in tank tops and some of the guys were even in khaki shorts. Wishful thinking that spring would make an early appearance.
“Come on, let’s find the keg,” Anita said.
I trailed behind her, discreetly looking for Hunter. Part of me wanted to see him again—the stupid, hopeful part of me I could never manage to kill no matter how much I wanted to. The other part of me—the rational part of me—knocked my subconscious upside the head with the reminder that he’d probably disappoint me. Just like my dad had disappointed my mom for the entirety of their fifteen-year marriage.
The keg was at the end of the balcony and a few guys flanked it. One held a sleeve of red cups, another had his hand on the spout.
Anita flashed a brilliant smile. “Two cups please.”
“Five bucks,” the dark-haired guy with his hand on the spout said. He glanced from me to Anita. “Each.”
Anita opened her mouth to protest or flirt, I wasn’t sure which, when a voice behind me said, “It’s cool, guys. They’re with me.”
I turned to find Hunter leaning against the balcony rail, red cup in his hand, a wide grin on his face.
“Thank you,” Anita said as she innocently batted her eyelashes at him.
“Yeah. Thanks, Hunter.”
“You know him?” Anita asked.
“Yes.”
“How?”
“We met at the library this afternoon,” Hunter answered.
“Intriguing,” she said, her eyes darting to mine.
I shrugged. There was nothing to tell.
“One beer please,” Anita said, turning back to the boys at the keg.
“None for me, thanks,” I told them.
“You want something else to drink?” Hunter asked. “There’s some soda inside.”
