Twelve Truths and a Lie Read online

  But I didn’t want him. I wanted Hot Boy. Just for one night.

  “My name’s Avery,” I said, loud enough for Hot Boy to hear.

  Hot Boy only paused at the sound of my voice without looking my way. Damn. Maybe he had a girlfriend, or maybe he was gay. The pretty boys always were.

  “Nice to meet you, Avery. I’m Nate.” His friend slid his hand to my hip, and I considered giving up the hunt and taking him upstairs. But for some reason, I just wasn’t feeling it.

  “I’ll be right back.” I left him swaying unsteadily on his feet.

  I headed back to Ella and Joel, who were still hot and heavy on the couch.

  “I’m going to head home,” I said, close to her ear.

  Ella came up for air. “No prospects tonight?”

  “One.” I glanced over my shoulder to the kitchen. Hot Boy’s friend was still waiting for me. “But I’m not really into it.”

  “Bitch, you’re always into it.” Her lips curved into a devilish grin. “Gonna hook up with Rob tonight instead?”

  “Maybe.” I didn’t want to disappoint her. I was ready for a good time most weekends. And, even though she didn’t really approve, she was ready for all the gritty details the next day. Ella hadn’t gotten me to change my ways in high school, and she wouldn’t now. But if I wasn’t in the mood, I didn’t feel like explaining it to her.

  I looked around for Rachel to say good-bye, but she was already somewhere private with jock boy. Ella went back to ramming her tongue into Joel’s mouth.

  She’d probably felt stranded by Rachel and me too many times to count, so seeing her with Joel actually thawed a corner of my frozen heart. A real live boyfriend was what Ella had always wanted. Someone who got her, she’d said. Whatever the hell that meant.

  Hopefully Joel would keep treating her right, or he’d have to answer to me. I wasn’t opposed to grabbing hold and yanking those balls down hard. My self-defense classes had taught me well.

  I decided to give Hot Boy one last shot as I passed by him on my way out the door, luring him with my sexiest voice. Unfortunately that meant passing his friend, too.

  “Excuse me.” My mouth was close to Hot Boy’s ear, my chest brushing past his arm. He smelled like coconut shampoo. Like warm sand, hot sun, and sex. I wanted to wrap myself inside of his arms, but I kept on moving.

  “No problem,” he said without even a glance.

  Damn. Rejected again. That made me want him twice as much.

  Just as my foot crossed onto the landing, I felt a warm hand reach around my waist. I almost fist pumped the air. Got him.

  I turned to greet Hot Boy, my breaths already fluttery. But the smile slid from my lips and slumped to the floor when I realized it was his friend who’d grabbed me instead.

  “Hey, baby, where you going?”

  “I’m leaving.” I twisted away, hoping to break his embrace.

  But he kept in step with me. “How about you hang with me awhile longer?”

  “Maybe another time.”

  His hands frisked around to my stomach, and normally I’d accept that kind of action—initiate it, even—but for some reason I couldn’t shake Hot Boy’s rejection.

  I was more of an emotional train wreck than even I’d realized. Despite Ella reminding me almost every fucking day.

  And just as I was chastising myself and changing my mind about hooking up with his friend, I heard Hot Boy’s low rumble of a voice. “Give it a rest, Nate. She said she was leaving, and I’m pretty sure that means without you.”

  I blinked in shock. Maybe he’d noticed me after all.

  His friend backed away with his hands raised. And then turned to the keg.

  Hot Boy gave me a once-over. “You good?”

  “Yeah, thanks.”

  Wait a minute, this was backward. I was thanking Hot Boy for being all chivalrous. And the boys I hooked up with were so not chivalrous.

  Hot Boy nodded before turning on his heels and heading out of the room, leaving my ego collapsing on the cold hard tile.

  Chivalrous Hot Boy was so not into me.

  I walked the two blocks back to my apartment alone.

  I tossed and turned, imagining Hot Boy’s lips on mine, a fire blazing across my skin.

  My cell phone buzzed from the night stand.

  Rob: You in the mood?

  Me: Not tonight.