Page 27 of Salto

And that sounded worse than enduring some socializing right now.

“I’ll come,” I said finally. “But only for you guys.”

Laney whooped on the other end.

“Thank you. It’ll be fun. I promise.”

CHAPTER 10

The party was already packed when I arrived. It was at Liam’s parents’ house, and they lived about thirty minutes from campus. It was always the party place because Liam was an only child, and his parents were, well… rich. There were three stories, ten bedrooms, several giant living rooms, a basement theater, a game room, and a pool.

Liam and I had dated for a short period of time, and we’d gotten far enough into our relationship that I’d attended a few family barbecues. Though it was short-lived, I still remembered the layout of his house.

The bass vibrated through the floorboards as I stepped inside. The house was crowded with athletes. Team warm-up jackets were draped over the backs of couches while people played cards in a circle in the living room. Others gathered in small groups in the kitchen, and some had spilled out onto the back patio. I could even see a few heads bobbing in the pool despite it being a cooler night.

I hesitated just inside the front entryway.

“Scar! You made it!” I heard Laney scream before I saw her.

Then I finally spotted her and Mia running toward me.

“Hey, guys,” I said.

“You’re late!” Mia said, and the two of them didn’t hesitate to grab me by the arms and pull me into the kitchen.

There was an ice bucket on the counter with a bunch of sodas stuffed into it.

“Drink first,” she said. “Then socializing.”

I grabbed a Root Beer and snatched some chips from a basket on the counter.

I had just pulled out my first Dorito when I heard someone else call my name.

“Scarlet.”

I looked up.

Liam stood in the kitchen doorway, his short, spiky brown hair slightly disheveled, and a familiar grin spread across his face. His bright blue eyes met mine.

He was boy-next-door cute.

I’d always been a sucker for cute.

He had this energetic, bubbly personality that made him impossible not to like.

“Hey, Liam.”

He studied me for a moment before letting out a small laugh.

“You came. I honestly didn’t know if you would.”

“Well,” I said with a sheepish smile, “they basically dragged me here.”

I gestured to Mia and Laney, who were watching the moment unfold like a movie.

Laney reached for a bag of popcorn from the snack basket and started munching.

I shot her a look, but she just smirked at me.