Best Served Fake

twenty // you shameless hussy

Kai turned back to his sister. "Well, here's my three-point system, if we're doing it that way. Firstly, you're fifteen. Secondly, Jake Bodrum is handsy." Isabelle glared at him, and Kai rolled his eyes. "Not that what you wear impacts or has any weighting on his decisions and actions, because we don't victim blame. Except that thirdly, oh wait, you're still fifteen."

"Maybe I want Jake Bodrum to think of me as a shameless hussy so that I can do shameless hussy things, Kai, did you ever think about that?"

Cora laughed.

Kai looked a little green. "No."

Izzy grinned triumphantly, red-painted lips curving into a satisfied smile. She seemed very content with her shameless hussy aspirations, and I couldn't help but admire her for it. Kai looked like he was regretting every decision he'd made in his life up to this point.

I stepped toward Kai and placed a hand on his chest. The skin beneath his thin shirt was warm and hard beneath my palm. He looked down at me, those beautiful eyes darkening again. He looked from the hand placed on his chest, and back up to me, and I heard Cora make a faint sound behind me. "C'mon, Kai. Let's just go. Isabelle is responsible—"

"I am?" Isabelle whispered to Cora, surprised, and Cora silenced her with a warning blow to the arm.

"—and plans to make good choices."

I shot her a warning look before she could say I am? again. She just smiled indulgently at me, wiggling her fingers in a small, appreciative wave.

Kai sighed, and ran a hand through his dark hair. The movement exposed a small strip of skin beneath his shirt, and I couldn't help but remember Madeleine's voice, reminding me, you don't have to be dating someone to have some fun. Maybe I had shameless hussy aspirations of my own. And when Kai was looking at me, the way he had when he'd first seen my skirt and my top and my hair, I didn't think he'd say no. Kai wasn't the kind of guy who often said no.

But then I thought of Tommy, twined on the bed with Sydney, and the two years that had come before.

"Well, if you two are going to continue being disgusting, I'm just going to collect my things and then we can go?" Isabelle suggested.

I tore my eyes, and hand, away from Kai. "Sure."

Izzy pulled a mini shot bottle from her bag and twisted the cap off, sauntering over to offer it to Kai. "Here. You can loosen up a little."

"I'm driving, Isabelle."

Her eyes widened. "Oh, no. And it's already been opened. Whatever shall we do?"

As she was tipping it toward her throat, Cora snatched it from her hands. She stuck her tongue out teasingly at Isabelle. "Thanks, Izzy!" And then she downed it. Cora never drank at parties; or ever, really. She grimaced at the taste of vodka, but as the burn subsided, her face lit up.

Isabelle didn't seem offended; a delighted laugh escaped her as she skipped around her brother and swung herself out of the room, leaning from the doorframe. She looked back at me and Kai with a pleased glimmer in her eyes. "C'mon, lovebirds, let's party."

Cora shrugged and followed her, with less enthusiasm, but there was still a spring in her step.

Kai looked down at me again, so much shorter than him. His hand came around me to press against the bare skin between my skirt and the top, long fingers splayed to span most of my waist. I couldn't help the shiver that wracked my body. I wasn't used to anyone but Tommy touching me, but the newness of the sensation was thrilling. "Let's party," he echoed, and in his face I saw everything he wasn't saying. Let's put on a show, Little Valerie.