The Soul's Mark: FOUND

Page 18

After she forced down half the beer, she looked over at Erin, who was watching her as if she had never seen her before. “Better slow down, lush,” she said. “I’m betting you’ve never drank before and you don’t want the hottie to know he’s getting under your skin.”
The beer was hitting her hard. Amelia already felt a bit tipsy and she couldn’t stop the giggles from erupting. Her ears were ringing and pleasant warmth was spreading through her. “What, Eric? You’ve got to be kidding me. Didn’t even notice him,” Amelia said with a tight smile plastered on her face.
“Sure you didn’t.” Erin rolled her eyes and took a dainty little sip of her beer. She looked too young and innocent to be drinking, Amelia thought. But then, she was too young to drink in the grand scheme of things. But Erin looked like a kid with her bleach blonde hair tied up in little spiky pig tails—like usual—and she was wearing overalls and a spaghetti strapped ocean green tank. She had a purely “little girl” kind of cuteness. “Bet you didn’t notice that skank he’s hanging onto either,” Erin added.
Amelia took another swig, downing the rest and banging the empty can onto the counter. She glanced around, noticed that Angelle and Luke were chatting it up with some people she vaguely recognized and she thought one of them might have been Justin, one of the Barbie Squad’s boyfriends, but she wasn’t sure.
In the corner, some kind of drinking game was in progress. It didn’t look that complicated. There was a ping-pong ball and six red beer cups in a triangular formation on each end of a table. “What are they playing?” she asked Erin, nodding towards the game. Amelia watched as someone tossed the ping-pong ball, bouncing it off the table and into one of the cups.
Erin laughed. “You really were a sheltered kid. It’s called beer pong, Millie.”
There was a bunch of hooting and hollering coming from the game and Amelia looked back to see Tyler chugging a beer. Maybe it was the beer, but he was looking pretty yummy in jeans and a button up long sleeved denim shirt. He had the shirt open half way down his sun-bronzed chest and she watched as a drizzle of beer splashed onto it.
As if he knew she was watching, he finished the drink and looked over at her with a brilliant smile. “Millie,” he called, waving her over. “Didn’t think you were going to make it.”
Erin giggled, bringing Amelia’s attention back to her, and she blushed. “He’s got it bad for you,” Erin said, grinning like a fool.
Amelia raised her eyebrow. “Really?” She glanced over at Eric, who was now sucking face with the blonde tramp. She pulled her eyes away, grabbed Erin’s hand and with a great deal of focus, walked over to Tyler, swaying her hips with every step.
She was relieved that the kitchen wasn’t too packed and she made it to the table without tripping over anyone, because that one beer was making everything a tad fuzzy. But she made it, hoping she had pulled off the sexy walk she had been aiming for. And by the look on Tyler’s face, and every other guy around the table, she had.
“You look hot,” Tyler blurted, and then he blushed a deep red. “I mean… you look…” he fumbled over the words.
“Are you trying to flirt with me?” Amelia asked, giving him a look that she hoped was extra flirty.
He grinned and visibly relaxed. “Maybe, is it working?”
Erin looked back and forth between them. “Hey, Millie,” she whispered into her ear. “Looks like hottie noticed you making eyes at Ty.”
Amelia glanced over her shoulder just as Eric strolled up. He wrapped a possessive arm around her waist and gave her a sloppy kiss on the cheek. “Hey, babe. Who’s your new friend?” he asked, jaw clenched, and he narrowed his vibrant green eyes at Tyler.
The whole room froze, silently watching. All the buzzing stopped and the drunken laughter, even the music, stopped. It was quiet as night; everyone watched them as if it was a movie playing out for their enjoyment. Amelia tried to wiggle out of Eric’s arms but he had a firm hold on her. She caught the look on Tyler’s face, confused, hurt and worried. He took a step back, leaned against the counter and put his hands up. “Sorry, dude. Didn’t know she was with someone.”
“I’m not.” Amelia kept wiggling and managed to get Eric’s arm off her. Erin had backed off a few paces and was nervously watching the scene. Amelia completely understood it because the vibe Eric was giving off was ice-cold.
Eric snagged Amelia’s hand before she could move out of his reach and his eyes softened slightly. “You break my heart,” he said, dramatically, putting a hand over his heart and gave her a wounded look.
Amelia shot him a look that she hoped told him to screw off and pulled her hand away from him. It must have worked because he put his hands up in surrender. “Don’t you have something else to do?” she asked.
“Come on, Millie.” Eric reached out to touch her again. She pulled away before he could. “Don’t be like that.”
“Stop it, Eric!” she snapped and rested up against the counter beside Tyler, who was clearly uncomfortable. He was about the same size as Eric and Amelia thought they would be well matched in a fight if it came to that, but there was an animalistic rage brewing in Eric’s posture that was cold and frightening.
Tyler slid away from her and he looked like he was trying to make himself smaller. He gave Amelia a sad, sorry look. “Hey, I don’t want to get in the way here.”
“No, it’s okay. He’s just my roommate and he was just leaving.” Amelia glared at Eric. “You’re trashy friend looks lost over there, Eric,” she said icily. She wasn’t sure if it would work, and for an eternal minute he didn’t even acknowledge her, just kept his intense glare fixed on Tyler. Then he shrugged, grinned and walked away.
Amelia looked after him, stunned and utterly confused. The tension had obliterated her pleasant buzz, and she snagged a couple of Jell-O shots from a passing tray, and slurped three, one right after another. That was the cue for the party to start again, and she was glad when the music picked up and the drunken banter started up again.
Amelia glanced over at Tyler. “You know what?” she said, taking another shot and pounding it back. “Let’s have some fun.”
“Fun sounds good,” he said, smiling and handed her a beer. Amelia glanced around for Erin and didn’t see her. But she didn’t blame her for sneaking out. If Amelia had been able to she would have as well, because that was really, really, uncomfortable. She joined in the beer pong game and in no time, she forgot about Eric and was having a blast.
Amelia didn’t know how many shots or beers she consumed. Every time she finished one, Ty handed her another. And since she wasn’t a drinker, it was hitting her pretty quickly. In no time, she found herself leaning into him. And flirting. Man, was she flirting!
At some point, he sat down and somehow she ended up on his lap but she didn’t have a clue how and she didn’t really care. Tonight was about normal, reckless teenage fun.
“I think I should cut you off,” Tyler announced, as he handed her another shot.
“Probably, but you’re not going to!” Amelia replied seductively—she hoped—but even to her own ears it sounded sluggish and slurred.
“But I really should. Eric doesn’t look too happy over there.”
“Forget Eric.” Amelia glanced up at Tyler. She didn’t know if it was the booze or the party, but he was looking pretty cute. Suddenly, she found herself thinking of Mitch. Mitch… she missed him. Missed him horribly and Tyler was no Mitch, but… and then, before she knew what she was doing, she kissed him. She felt herself leaning into him, blending, and molding.
His lips tasted like raspberries. The Jell-O shooters, her brain told her.
“Amelia,” Eric growled from behind her and Tyler broke away.
“Um,” Tyler said, looking from her to Eric and then he untangled himself from her and stood her up.
“What do you want, Eric?” she huffed. “I’m a little busy if you didn’t notice.”
“It’s time to go,” he replied coldly.
“You can leave whenever you want to.” Amelia tried to sit back down on Tyler’s lap but she missed and landed on her butt on the floor. And for some reason she thought that was funny, but she really didn’t know why, and started giggling uncontrollably. She giggled so much that her stomach hurt but she couldn’t stop.
Eric reached down and yanked her up so hard that she could feel bruises forming under his fingers. “Let go, Eric!” she screamed. “You’re hurting me.” A hushed tension fell on the room, the party stopped and everyone froze, staring at them.
“What’s going on here?” came Angelle’s sugary voice, and Eric dropped his grip on Amelia. Angelle gave the room her sweet glamorous smile. “Don’t stop the party on our account,” she chirped and then waited. After a moment, the buzz and chatter started up again.
Amelia was cradling her hand, and blinking back tears from the burst of pain. “Eric was just leaving,” she choked out.
“You’re drunk Millie, and he was all over you,” Eric sneered.
Tyler shifted uncomfortably beside her, inching away under the stare of her roommates, which was made even more intense by Luke. “Maybe you should go,” Tyler said, obviously trying to look anywhere else but at her.
“What?” Amelia asked. She tried to take a step towards him but he backed up. “Whatever, I’m going for a walk.” She turned on her heels, lost her balance and almost toppled over again but managed to catch herself and stomped off, out the patio door into the cool night air.
Behind her, she heard Angelle’s voice. “Let her cool off, Eric. She’ll be fine.”
It was chilly and it turned out that the fresh air did not do wonders for her buzz. It only seemed to make it hit her harder and with every cold, crisp breath, her head spun. Amelia hung onto the railing, glad it was there and focused on breathing which turned out to be a hard task. If the deck would just stop moving…