Read Every Kiss for Free Online Page B

dating my best friend, Makenna.”
    “Oh, yeah? I saw him with her earlier. Cute girl. So, which
lucky guy are you here with?”
    I open my mouth to answer, but I’m silenced by the
appearance of Wes at my side.
    “She’s here with me,” he says with a slight chill in his
voice. His words stun me, and I can’t figure out what the hell to say to that.
    Jake belly laughs and punches Wes’ shoulder. “Oh, man. Does
Allison know that? Because I have a feeling she doesn’t like to share. She
certainly doesn’t look too pleased with you right now.”
    I whip my head in the direction of Jake’s gaze and see
Allison perched on a bar stool, glaring in our direction. Her too-pink lips are
tightly pursed, and she’s shooting daggers at him. At me. I’m not sure which.
    “I don’t mean ‘ with me’ in that way,” Wes says,
shaking his head. “I mean she’s off limits to you. She’s off limits to all of
the assholes here. You make sure and remember that.” He points his finger at
his chest.
    I clamp my hand around his wrist. “Excuse me. Can I talk to
you for a second? In private?”
    He jerks his head toward the stairs and stalks over to
Allison. “Be right back,” I hear him grumble. He follows me across the room,
occasionally grabbing my shoulders to steer me around the crush of bodies or a
staggering drunk. I hear his footsteps following mine up the stairs, and I’m
thrown into the sudden realization of what this looks like to everyone
watching. If the cat calls and whistles are any indication, I’d almost bet the
rumor mill is already circulating. Great.
    I turn down the corridor toward my room, but he grabs my
elbow and pulls me into his instead. Shutting the door behind us, he sits at
the edge of his bed and looks up at me, waiting.
    “What the hell was that down there, Wes? I’m with you ?
I appreciate your help and all, but I don’t need you cock-blocking for me.” I
feel my pulse firing rapidly in my chest, but I can’t figure out if it’s
because I’m angry at him or if it’s because I’m alone with him. In his bedroom.
    “You may not know those people down there, but I do, Callie.
I’ve been watching them looking at you, and I can promise that every single one
of them is going to try to get you out of those tight ass jeans tonight. And
Jake is probably the worst one. I’m just trying to protect you.”
    I place my fists on my hips. “Protect me? Are you freaking
serious? Jake was being nice to me after you’ve been an ass to me all
afternoon. Why don’t you start by protecting me from you? I’ll handle the
rest.” I turn to the door and jerk it open, but his hand appears beside my
head, slamming it shut again.
    “Callie, I’m serious. Not with him. Jake may be a good
friend of mine, but there’s no way in hell I’d let any girl I know have
anything to do with him. He’s a player. I’ve seen the way he treats women, and
I don’t want to see you treated that way. And Shane would kill me if I allowed
that to happen. I know I treated you like shit today, and I’m trying to make up
for it. Please, just promise me that you’ll stay away from him.”
    I turn around to face him, and he presses his other hand to
the door, effectively pinning me to it without physically holding me there.
“I’m not going to promise you anything of the sort. Who are you to tell me who
I can or can’t talk to? If you want to protect somebody, why don’t you go
protect the girlfriend you left alone down there? She’s the only woman here
that you need to be worried about.”
    “Callie.” He stares at me for a long moment and finally
groans a sigh. “Fine. Suit yourself.”
    I spend the next hour dodging the accusing stares of the
other partygoers. I don’t want to know what’s being said about my little trip
up to Wes’ room. I busy myself with refilling appetizer trays and picking up
empty cups and beer bottles from every flat surface in the house. Only an hour
in, and the place looks—and