I don’t say anything about staring because we all know I was doing it, so instead I look at her. “Laney, huh?”

“Yes. Her name is awesome, but it’s long.” Like hers isn’t.

“It’s okay.” Casper shrugs. “Most people call me Laney.”

“I don’t call you Laney,” I say, because I know she won’t expect it and won’t have an answer.

“Why do you do that? You’re always trying to fluster me.”

Her ghosts are hidden right now, her eyes glassy portals to her soul. “You’re drunk too. Were you guys having a party without us?”

“When did you ever need anyone to wait for you?” Colt’s got Cheyenne on his lap now, his hand on her hip.

“You’re right. Where’s the booze?” I stand up and walk over to the kitchen, which is obviously in the same room we’re already in.

“You don’t need any alcohol. You’re always drinking or smoking something.” Cheyenne watches him.

“I forgot how that was your business,” I reply at the same time that Colt whispers to her, “Hey. Don’t.”

“Why? He’s my friend now, too, remember?”

She’s right on that fact. We are friends.

Colt keeps his eyes on her, though. “Okay, fine. Have a drink. And get me another one while you’re at it,” Cheyenne adds.

I look at her and wink. “Stop trying to get me all liquored up.”

Everyone laughs as if on cue and I want to make a comment about it but don’t. I’m still shocked to come in and find Delaney with Cheyenne. I know they came to my party, but this feels different. If she’s friends with Chey, that means I’ll see more of her…

“Did you get any sleep today?” Delaney asks me.

“A little. I do some work with a mechanic friend of mine and I had to help him out.” I’m sure everyone wonders where my money comes from. The mechanic thing they know about, but I don’t really talk about Lettie.

She gets that womanly look on her face. The one that says she’s concerned or worried when really it’s not that big a deal at all. She doesn’t know me well enough to be concerned anyway. I don’t deserve her concern and I definitely don’t want it.

“Be careful. You look at me like that and I’m liable to think you like me.”

“I thought we were friends? Doesn’t that automatically mean I like you?” she tosses back at me.

“No.” I lean closer. “I mean really like me. You do, don’t you? I see it in your eyes. You want me.” I watch as pink starts at her hairline and then makes the descent down her face. I want to make the same journey down her body, covering and tasting every part of her along the way.

“You’re such a player. Do you ever stop?”

At that, Cheyenne jumps in. I’d almost forgotten they were here. “He’s horrible! I’m always telling him that. Though usually—” When I give her a dirty look, she cuts off. “Not to say I think he’s just using you,” Chey tries to cover.

“Smooth move,” Colt tells her.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s not as if it’s some big secret.” One of Casper’s eyebrows lifts as though she’s daring me. Like she wants me to make a liar out of her. Little does she know I’m the biggest liar of them all.

When I say nothing, the expression on Casper’s face changes. It’s the way I wonder if people think I’m looking at them… as if she’s trying to figure me out. Like I’m words on a paper she needs to decode. The need in her sets my desire aflame. I don’t remember ever wanting a girl as much as I want this girl sitting in front of me.

“Do you wanna get out of here?” She uses almost the same words on me as I used on her last night. Only she’s asking, like there’s any fucking chance I’m going to tell her no.

Pushing to my feet, I glance at Colt and Cheyenne. Before I can say anything, Colt looks at me all cocky like he has some shit on me he’s about to spill. “I thought you had people going to your house tonight. You can’t hang out long, ya fucking liar.”

I know exactly what he’s doing. Not long ago we sat around my kitchen table and I told him he was different with Cheyenne. I can see it in his face. This isn’t like that, though. I just want her, and that’s all… isn’t it? That’s all it’s supposed to be and she knows that. “Maybe I have something better to do now.”

“I hope you’re not talking about me?” Casper says with a smile on her face. I didn’t expect that one.

“Oh my God! I love this girl. That totally sounds like something I would say,” Cheyenne adds, and I think she’s right.

“Are we leaving or what?” I ask before they can break into girl time.

“We’re leaving. Thanks for inviting me over, Cheyenne.” Her eyes wander over to Chey, who gets off Colt’s lap to hug her.

“Have fun. Be good,” she tells Casper before turning to hug me too. It catches me slightly off guard. “Be happy,” she whispers in my ear.

Happy. I pull back and look at her, really look and know she sees more than I show. It’s not as if I’m perfect at hiding it, but most people don’t take the chance to look. Colt knows something’s up with me, but he’d never say anything. We’re just not like that, but she’s different.

“I can’t,” I say before pulling away. Delaney is putting her shoes on, so I know she didn’t hear, but I feel Colt’s eyes on me. I know he heard, so without looking back, I head for the door, open it, and wait for Delaney to walk out.

“Where are we going?” I ask her when we get outside.

She looks unsure when she asks, “Want to go back to my place? Just to hang out and talk or whatever? It’s not… I don’t…”

“We’re good. I’m not going to jump you as soon as we get inside. Well… unless you want me to.”

“Do most girls want you to?” she asks as we start walking.

Inside, I’m saying, Fuck because the last thing I want to do is talk about other girls when I’m with one, but then she speaks again. “I shouldn’t have asked that. I don’t know why I did.”

For some reason, that makes me want to answer. There’s something so real about her that opens me up. She’s done it before and it scares the hell out of me that if I keep hanging around her, she’ll do it again. “I’m not going to lie and pretend I’ve been an angel. There have been girls. There will be girls, but I also don’t fuck around. I don’t let anyone think there’s something going on that’s not there.”

“How very noble of you.” Her voice is bitter like a lemon, but also with a little sugar sprinkled on top. She doesn’t like it, but she doesn’t hate me for it either.

“You asked and I was being honest. Haven’t you ever just had a good time with someone?”

She stops in front of an apartment and unlocks the door. “Will I lose cool points if I say no?”

She’s looking down at the key in the doorknob and not at me. It’s then I realize she’s serious. She’s the girl who lost her virginity to someone she loved. I was fifteen years old, when I didn’t know how to be a man. Christ, what the hell am I doing with this girl? “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea.” So much like her words a few minutes ago; mine taste like lemon.

“I thought we were friends? Just because I don’t screw around with a lot of guys, we can’t be friends?”

“I didn’t say that, but you know I want you. That only makes things more… difficult.”

Delaney sighs and I feel like an asshole.

“I am so lucky I’ve been drinking right now or I’d never say these things. First, I do want to be your friend, Adrian. I want that a lot. Things are… complicated for me, but I think we’d be good… as friends.”

“But?” I step closer to her, thinking I know what she’s going to say.

“But… I think after last night it’s pretty obvious I’m attracted to you too. And while I’m not like the girls you pick up at parties, it doesn’t mean you have to pretend I’m going to break or I’m not up to your standards.”

With that she starts to open the door. I put my hand on hers, stopping her. She’s soft and warm even though it’s cold as hell out here. “Hey, I don’t think you’re not up to my standards.”

“Thanks,” she says, and I don’t add that she’s way better. That in a world full of people who are just as fake as me, there’s something about her that feels so fucking genuine.