“It’s just a party, Scarlett. Breathe.”
I nod and do my best to refocus. My eyes are as big as saucers when we approach the front door. This place is so enormous, I bet ten families could live here comfortably. Letting my eyes roam over it, I have to admit, it’s gorgeous. The outside is a pale, cream-colored brick with huge windows and a thick wooden door at the entrance. I can feel the vibration of the music coming from inside the house.
“Max?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m freaking out a little bit.”
He squeezes my hand. “You’ll be fine. I get invited to these all the time and hardly ever come. They’ll be so surprised to see me, they won’t notice you sneaking in.” He shakes his head with a chuckle. “Ready?”
Chapter 28
There’s a whole lot of shouting and laughing just on the other side of the door. Max reaches for the doorknob and looks to me for my answer.
I nod. “Let’s do this.”
When I’d gotten into his SUV earlier, Max assured me he was wearing swim trunks underneath his joggers. Gingerly, I finger the strap of my bathing suit, tucking it back under the slouchy black blouse I’d thrown on top. I’d paired it with skinny jeans and ballet flats. I’m hoping to blend right into the crowd. I don’t really care if we actually swim or drink or dance. Survive without humiliating myself or being humiliated—that’s the goal for the night, nothing more. And maybe show them I’m not intimidated by them, the big house, or the fancy neighborhood.
Somewhere toward the back of the house, a door must have opened because as we enter the foyer, the volume increases and whoops and splashes hit the air, coming from outside. Feminine squeals. Giggles. More splashing.
“People are seriously in the pool? Isn’t it a little cold for that at night?”
“Nah. It’s heated. You’ll see.” He swings my hand in his between us. “Come on.”
It’s a lot to take in. In the big entryway, a ton of people hang around talking, most of them with red Solo cups in hand. I’d assumed there’d be drinking going on, but now I’m curious. “Are Beau’s parents here?”
Max laughs. “Yep. Somewhere. This place is big enough they just retreat to wherever and lock the door.”
My gaze follows a couple of girls, both with cups in hand. “They don’t care …?”
“We’ve been read the riot act before. If things get too out of hand, his parents will forbid more parties. There’ve been a couple of close calls in the last year, I guess. But their theory seems to be that they’d rather we drink under their roof than who knows where. I kind of see their point.”
“Does Beau always host?”
“Usually, but sometimes Micah.”
I chew on my lip, not wanting to ask, but Max reads my expression perfectly. “Xander, hardly ever.”
“Why’s that?”
“Well, his stepdad is out of town on business a lot, but his mom is usually home with his little sister. Isabella wouldn’t put up with this bullshit at all. Not with a five-year-old in the house.”
Our eyes follow a very drunk guy as he climbs the stairs, awkwardly works himself to a sitting position on the bannister and slides halfway down before jumping off.
“I see what you mean.”
“Yeah, sometimes things get pretty crazy. Come on, lemme show you around.” Max tugs my hand, and I follow him through the house. I think the entire senior class must be here—minus Daphne, of course—and probably part of the junior class, too. I seem to remember hearing Beau has a brother a year younger than he is, who is also a football player.Go figure.
When we get to the kitchen, I have to blink as I take it all in because it’s a lot. There’s a veritable sea of liquor, bottles of soda, and other mixers spread across the marble countertop of a massive island that spans the entire width of the kitchen. At one end, there are a bunch of coolers with bottled beer, wine coolers, and hard seltzers.
“What, no keg?”
Max snickers. “It’s usually out back.”
I’ve just started to laugh when I get the feeling someone is looming over my shoulder. Jerking my head to the side, my eyes meet solid bare chest, and I realize I’m going to have to look up to see who it is.
“What’re you doing here, Scarlett?” Micah’s low rumbling is enough to make me question my sanity in deciding to come at all.