Chapter One
It all started with a drink. Okay, really it all started with me telling my boyfriend to go to hell, but I don't want to start there. I'd rather start with the part involving sex.
"I'd be careful with that stuff." A guy in a blazer and jeans gestured to my plastic cup. "You never know how much alcohol is in there."
"I've had plenty of vat drinks before. I can handle it." I sipped the drink, turning away from the guy. The only reason I was at the stupid house party was because my high school best friend dragged me. She thought I needed to stop feeling sorry for myself. She was probably right, but when you find out your boyfriend's been hooking up with his ex the whole time you've been together, it's alright to feel sorry for yourself, isn't it?
"Okay, just saying." Blazer guy sipped a beer and nodded at me.
I gulped down more of the sweet beverage. I could taste the alcohol, which meant that blazer's warning was probably spot on. "What am I even doing here?"
"I don't know … I don't even know you."
"What?" I turned back and blazer was still standing there. "I wasn't talking to you."
"Oh, so you're one of those Bluetooth people then?" He straightened, and I realized he was taller than I originally estimated.
"Huh?"
He shook his head. "You know. The people who have the wireless headsets in and always sound like they're talking to themselves."
"Oh. Yeah."
"I was kidding. I could tell you were actually talking to yourself."
Wow. Awkward. I took another big sip. "Yeah."
"Does that stuff even taste like anything? They have a better bar set up downstairs."
"It's too crowded down there." I'd brushed past the swarms of people and found the roof as soon as my friend, Gabriella, found some guy she liked. There was a couple making out, but otherwise the rooftop patio was empty. I looked down at the vacant boardwalk below as the last rays of sunlight disappeared over the ocean.
"I agree. That's why I'm up here."
I looked at the guy again. Despite his unfortunate taste in clothing, he was actually kind of cute. Not my usual type, but then again, a member of my type had taken my virginity, half of my college years, and torn my heart into shreds. Besides, talking to a guy couldn't hurt. "Are you from here?"
"Nope. You?"
"No, a few hours away. My friend dragged me down to stay with a few of her college friends."
"Cool." He finished his beer and set it down. "So, what's the verdict? Should I try it?"
"The vat? Sure, it's decent."
He reached around me and filled a cup. "If it's gross, I'm blaming you."
"Pressure."
He cracked a smile before bringing the red cup to his lips. "Decent. You're okay."
"What would have happened if it tasted awful?" I leaned back against the wall.
"Nothing, I guess. I would have just given you a hard time."
"Aren't you doing that anyway?" And like that, my flirting instincts kicked back in. They weren't gone even after years of letting them rust while dating Aaron. I polished off the first cup and filled another.
"What? This?" He shook his head. "This isn't giving you a hard time."
"Then what is it?" I turned my head slightly, offsetting my blonde, somewhat curly hair.
"It's making conversation with a beautiful girl I have no clue how to talk to."
I couldn't hold back the smile that begged to come out. "Oh yeah? I'm a beautiful girl?"
"I think you already know that." He took a seat on the cement floor. I still couldn't believe Gabriella was friends with someone who had a house right on the beach like this-or rather who had parents that did.
I shrugged, deciding to take a seat next to him. "I don't know about beautiful, maybe pretty."
"No, it's definitely beautiful." He smiled and looked out at the ocean. In the growing darkness, you couldn't see much, but the size and scope of the water was still clear.
"Well, you're hot."
He turned back toward me. "Hot?"
"Is there something wrong with that word choice?" I took another sip.
"No. Not at all." He held up his empty cup. "Want one more?"
If I'd been with Aaron, he probably would have cut me off, but Aaron wasn't there to tell me what to do anymore. "I'd love one."
Three cups and a few hours later, I'd learned a lot about Blazer. I knew he liked action movies, espresso, and wanted a pet. I still didn't know his name, but that detail didn't seem to matter.
He took a strand of my hair and studied it. "Is this your natural color?"
"Yes."
He dropped the strand. "I've never dated a girl with blonde hair."
"Well, you're not dating me."
He gently brushed his fingers down my bare arm. "No, but I want to kiss you."
"Then kiss me." I was used to pushy guys. The kind that knew what they wanted and took it.
"Okay." He smiled before leaning in.
The kiss was hesitant at first, the kind of kiss that gets your whole body excited because you know there's more to come. I waited-hoping he'd take it further. His hand slid just under the hem of my shirt, brushing against my skin. The touch was light, but it was still enough to get a response out of me. I moaned.
That must have been what he was waiting for. He deepened the kiss, pushing into my mouth with such force I was taken by surprise. I kissed him back, enjoying the sweet taste of his mouth, and the way his hand slowly inched its way up my stomach. Blazer moved from zero to sixty. I didn't mind it. I moved onto his lap, welcoming the arm he put around me to pull me closer. I wrapped my arms around his neck.
His hand moved higher, cupping my breast over my bra. I was drunk and hot, and so turned on I was going to lose it.
That's when the door to the roof opened. The loud laughter of a group of girls pulled me half out of my lustful stupor.
"Want to go for a walk?" His question was asking something else entirely. I knew that when I answered with an enthusiastic yes.
Blazer held my hand as we made our way through the crowds. I looked briefly for Gabriella, but I didn't see her. The normal Cara would have called her to tell her I was leaving with a random guy-but was Blazer random? We had chatted for hours already.
Before I could worry about it long, we were walking along the dark and nearly vacant beach. It was January on the South Carolina coast, and the crowds were months away.
"You never told me your name." He said it as a statement as he led me further away from the party.
"Cara."
"Hi, Cara. I'm Chase."
I smiled. "Isn't it a little late for introductions?" I stopped and turned toward the ocean.
"It's never too late." He drew something on my arm with his finger. The sensation felt good. I closed my eyes.
"You look so gorgeous. The moonlight, that look on your face."
I opened my eyes and his face was inches from mine. "If you've never dated a blonde, does that mean you've never had sex with one?"
"Why? Are you looking to change that?" His eyes were lidded.
"I'd like to." I slipped a finger into the waistband of his jeans.
"Should we go back to my hotel room, or do you have one?" He looked down. "I'm going to be honest here. I haven't done this before."
"Please don't tell me you're a virgin." That would be just my luck.
He laughed. "No. Not saying that at all. I just don't generally hook up with girls I've just met."
"At least you know my name."
"I do know your name, don't I, Cara?"
Something happened to me when he said my name. I needed him. I reached up again, wrapping my arms around him. I crushed my lips into his.
We came up for air only after ending up horizontal on the sand. He laughed. "Or we can just pick things up right here."
We were at the very end of the beach, half in the shadows created by the bright moonlight and the boardwalk. The thought of separating myself from this sexy guy didn't sound appealing. What did sound appealing was getting rid of that blazer-and his shirt.
I tried to slide the jacket off his shoulders, but it was impossible with him lying beneath me.
"There's something satisfying about watching a gorgeous girl struggle to undress me."
"You know what would satisfy me?"
"What?" His eyes widened.
"If you'd assist me in undressing you. This gorgeous girl only has so much patience."
"It says a lot that I'm getting half naked for you in fifty degree weather."
"I'm guessing you'd like to see me naked too?" I loved this surge of confidence. Maybe it was the vat, but it felt good, and I was taking it.
"Is that really a question?" He had already shed his jacket and was pulling off his white t-shirt.
"No. I can infer the answer from the location your eyes keep settling on."
He reached over and pulled my long sleeve t-shirt over my head. "Can you blame me? I haven't been with a blonde, and I haven't been with a girl with a set of breasts like yours."