Page 121 of Tell No Lies

Mike had made it clear he was always willing, but I didn’t want to send him the wrong message before I had time to figure out how I felt.

My phone sat next to me on my bed, taunting me. It was beckoning me to make the call. I knew calling Tucker would be a mistake: Alexis had burned that into my brain from the moment I met her. It might be a mistake, but it was something to do. Plus, I wouldn’t be alone, so it would be within the rules, right?

The text was sent before I had time to change my mind. Just one night out wouldn’t kill me, and Tucker and Andy would be there to watch over me.

Thirty minutes later, I was dressed in the black dress Alexis had worn on the yacht. It probably didn’t look as good on me as it had on her, but it made me feel as if I was someone else. Someone who was brave and didn’t hide at home on Saturday nights. I was finishing my makeup when I heard a knock. Slipping into some nude heels, I grabbed my smallest purse and opened the door.

Tucker was leaning against the frame with a smirk on his face. “Hi, babe.”

I took in his dark jeans and tight white shirt. He looked as if he’d just walked off a Calvin Klein ad. Just behind him was Andy, who looked more casual in jeans and a soft-looking tee. Andy smiled at me, looking apologetic for his friend.

“Thanks for letting me come out with you guys. It beats being alone on a Saturday night.” I pushed Tucker out of the way so I could lock the door behind me. “Where’s the party?”

Andy pressed the elevator button but stayed silent. Tucker followed me inside when the doors opened. “It’s down on the peninsula. One of the guys from the team that graduated a few years ago lives there now.”

So, this was a college party? Oh boy.

Andy led us to a newer Jeep, but it wasn’t uncovered like Talia’s. He opened the passenger door for me and smiled as he let me in. Tucker slid into the back seat behind him. Rap music blasted out of the speakers when he turned on the ignition.

Andy grimaced and turned it down low. “Sorry. Tucker tends to turn that up whenever he drives with me.”

I looked in the back seat, and Tucker shook his head. “Whatever, man. You like it too.”

They both laughed and kept a conversation going as we drove along the beach to the neighborhood at the end of the peninsula. I’d run along these streets before but had never paid much attention to the houses. They were slender, tall structures that resembled row homes in the South. It must have been the best way to maximize beachfront property.

We pulled up next to a dark house, and I looked over at Andy. He must have understood my expression. “The house is a few blocks up, but there’s never parking, so I just took the first one I saw.”

I nodded but began to wonder how big this party was.

Tucker put his arm around my shoulders as we walked. I wanted to push him off based on principle, but I was kind of cold. I hadn’t expected to be walking a distance when I put this dress on.

Luckily, we only had to walk two blocks before I could hear the music coming from the house on the corner. It was similar to the others with its long, narrow design, but it was obvious only guys lived there. Several wetsuits were draped on the fence, and the windows were open, exposing the inside walls of surfing posters.

When we got to the door, Tucker dropped his arm and let us in. I stepped behind Andy, using him as a shield. I wanted to check out the party before I was seen. The smell of alcohol and weed was overwhelming, and there were people everywhere. With people standing on the stairs and sitting on the couch and along the walls, it was way mellower than I had anticipated.

I focused on one group and realized why they had caught my attention. They were passing around a joint. Before I had time to process it, Tucker put a drink in my hand.

“Loosen up, Aubrey. That’s why you came, isn’t it?”

On one hand, he was right, but this was not what I’d had in mind. I took a sniff of the drink and quickly set it down. It was one thing to sneak out, but Brandon would never forgive me if I drank too.

Andy noticed and nodded in the direction of the kitchen. I followed him in, and he opened the door of the fridge then offered me a bottle of water. I accepted with a smile, and he turned to grab one for himself.

“I don’t drink either.”

“Thanks.” I turned slightly away from him, looking around. “Do you know a lot of people here?”

“Nah, just Blake from basketball. I’ve been over a few times, but I don’t recognize anyone.” He smiled. “Hang close.”

That was enough for me, but it only worked for about an hour. Then a cute girl caught Andy’s eye, and he disappeared. Not that I could blame him. Who would want to babysit me all night? I ended up in the same situation that had gotten me here. I was alone and growing bored.

A few guys approached me but gave up when I refused whatever they were offering.

After midnight, things changed. The mellow crowd was replaced by the crazy, drunken groups normally seen at a party like this. People were slamming into me as the size of the party doubled. I hadn’t seen Tucker since we’d gotten here, and I started to panic. Did they leave without me? What if they forgot I was with them?

I took out my phone and debated who to call for a ride. It was only a few miles from my house, but I didn’t want to walk around in heels and a short dress this late at night.

Mike was out of the question. He would be beyond furious with every decision I made tonight—being alone in my house, leaving the house, leaving with Tucker and Andy, going to a party, going to a party with drugs and alcohol, and getting stranded. Perfect.