Page 21 of Kickoff

“Hotdog. All-dressed.”

He lifted an eyebrow.

“The season hasn’t started yet. I’m allowed a cheat day.” I usually avoided junk food and empty carbs during football season as much as possible.

“Not complaining. They’re getting me cheese fries. I’ll call them.”

“Get me some too.”

We high-fived, and I directed my attention back to my friends.

Most of us arrived at the cabin Jackson’s uncle owned a little after ten. I rode with Chase and my brother and stopped to buy beer while Paige and Melinda drove his car.

Set on a five-acre lot surrounded by thick woods, the two-story property offered enough privacy for our parties, the neighbors too far away to be bothered by the noise and loud music. A crowd filled the front lawn, and other people were on the dock, cheering the ones using the rope swing to dive into the lake. Guys flaunted their six-packs while girls paraded in tiny bikinis, scraps of fabric leaving nothing to the imagination.

Mindy, a girl from school, neared me as soon as I climbed out of the car. “How are you doing, Mase?”

“Good.” I continued toward the front door, avoiding her wandering hands, flanked by my brother and Chase on each side of me. “Seen Paige?” I asked Craig.

“Nah. She messaged she was inside with Mel minutes ago.”

I nodded and weaved through the crowd, the deafening beat of the music pounding in my head the closer I got to the front porch.

I scrunched up my face when the pungent scent of weed wafted in my direction, its smoke suffusing my nostrils.

Someone bumped into me as I climbed the steps, booze splashing the front of my shorts. Great, now I looked like I pissed myself. “Watch where you’re going,” I barked through gritted teeth. “Idiot.” I slid to the right to avoid a girl juggling too many shot glasses, steering clear of another unwelcome spill.

Music blasted from inside, the sound earsplitting even from the other side of the wall.

Chase pushed a couple about to jump each other’s bones on the front porch while I reached for the doorknob, desperate to escape this circus.

The house was crowded, every one of my cells throbbing with the intoxicating beat of the bass.

“This is a zoo,” Chase said with a shake of his head. “None of Jax’s party has ever been this crowded before.”

Sweat pearled on my nape. Too many bodies cramped in so small a place wasn’t my definition of fun. I loved crowds, but only the ones sitting in the bleachers and cheering on us.

“Let’s drop this in the kitchen and make our way outside,” I said, barely able to drag fresh puffs of oxygen to my lungs, pointing with my chin at the booze we were all carrying.

Chase nodded.

“Going to find my girl,” my brother said, forcing his way through the crowd, with us hot on his heels.

We entered the kitchen, and I halted, the scene playing in front of us making the blood boil in my veins, my mood turning sour by the second.

Melinda was cuddling with Nathan Fucking Bellevue, both sipping from the same beer bottle and smiling at each other. He leaned forward, whispering sweet nothings in her ear as she giggled.

My jaw tensed.

Heat crept up my back.

With keen eyes, I assessed the situation, trying to keep calm and banking the hot fury awakening inside of me.

My hands curled into fists once I dropped the two twelve-packs onto the counter. Before I could do or say something I regretted, I darted away, shouldering the screen door open with a bang, not caring if anyone stood on the other side and got swept by it.

“Asshole,” I cursed as I kicked the door shut behind me.

Mindy cornered me the moment I stepped on the porch, trying to wind her arms around my waist. Clingy much? Geez. With a gentle push, I sidestepped and lifted a hand. “Not in the mood.”