Read Every Kiss for Free Online Page A

take this.” I nod at him, and he walks to the other side of the balcony
toward his room. “Hey, Allie. What time will you be here tonight? I really need
to see you.”
    I step back in my room, guessing Allie must be his
girlfriend, but before I can shut the door, a hand slaps against it to keep it
from closing. I jerk it back open to find Wes standing outside, still holding
the phone to his ear.
    “Hang on a sec, okay?” He lowers the phone and surprises me
by reaching for me, pulling me into an awkward hug. “I’m sorry and thank you.”
    “Mmmhmm.” My response is muffled by his chest.
    He looks into my eyes for a split second before he puts the
phone back to his ear. “Okay, I’m back.” Just before I shut my door, I hear him
say one last thing. “Oh, I was just talking to one of Shane’s little friends.”
    He may not have meant some of the ugly things he said to me,
but it’s clear to me that he wholeheartedly believes the babysitter statement. Something
about that makes me want to prove to him that I’m not a child.

 

     
     
    “SEE, I TOLD you I’d end up alone.
I’m so glad you came with me.” Makenna nibbles on a chip and nudges a bowl of
car keys under the bed with the toe of her shoe. “Help me keep an eye on the
stairs. Most people know they aren’t allowed up here, but that may not stop a
drunk from trying. We have to make sure no one finds the keys.”
    “If I have to sit at the bottom of the stairs, no one will
be getting up here.” Just another reason I adore Shane. Everyone knows his
party rules. You either a) have a predetermined sober driver or b) bring your
sleeping bag to sleep over. If you plan to sleep over, your car keys go in the
bowl when you walk in the door. The bowl is then hidden until the next morning.
After losing a friend to drunk driving, he takes it very seriously.
    I follow her back down and help her put the doggie gate up
at the bottom step. An adult can easily step over it, but we’re hoping it sends
a message that it’s off limits. Deep bass echoes throughout the house along
with the mixture of voices, laughter, and clinking glasses. Bodies are crushed
together in the living area, which has been transformed into a dance floor. The
dining area has become the bar, so quite a crowd is gathered there, waiting
their turn for a drink of their choice. The kitchen island has a few gifts and
a large sheet cake, still in the box. This is a birthday party unlike anything
I’ve seen before. Who knew Tall, Dark, and Moody could have so many friends?
    Well, speak of the devil. He appears through the back door,
and I’m just about to walk over to officially give him my birthday wishes, but
he drags a tall brunette in the door with him. I’m assuming this is the girl he
was on the phone with earlier. She’s not the kind of person I’d imagine him
with. Her wiry, curly hair could use some styling product to control the frizz,
and she dresses like a slut. Okay, maybe it’s just a little tinge of jealousy
talking, but she’s definitely not what I’d expect.
    Hmm. Jealousy? Is that what that is? Maybe I’m just still
aggravated that he considers me a child, but let me tell you, I look like more
of a real woman than she does.
    “I don’t think we’ve met before. Name’s Jake. You?”
    I turn to the mountain of man approaching me. Whoa. Talk
about sex on a stick. With a face, body, and voice like that, this guy isn’t
melting hearts when he walks into a room . . . he’s melting panties. “Pleased
to meet you, Jake.” I hold out my hand to shake his. “I’m Callie.”
    He lifts my hand to brush his lips across my knuckles before
releasing my hand. “The pleasure is all mine, gorgeous.” Yep. Definitely
panty-melting. “Wes and I have been best friends since we were playing Kiss
Chase in first grade. We’d take turns helping each other corner the girl we
wanted to kiss. How do you know him?”
    “Really, I don’t. I just met him this afternoon. His brother
is