After the graduation ceremony, everyone split up to go get dinner and celebrate with their families. We planned a huge party at our house tonight. Since most of the other guys are already practically wifed up and have their own places, ours felt like the perfect one to have a party at. It’s big enough to fit the amount of people that were invited, and I can’t even tell you who everyone on the list is.
Stella and Sterling both went out to dinner with their parents and Olivia went along with them. I was invited along but felt like I was imposing in a way. It wasn’t really my place to attend, even though I’ve been living with Sterling for the past two years.
Lincoln and I headed back to our house to get everything ready. After we stopped and picked up a few kegs, along with some bottles of liquor, we went back to set up. We decided to forgo on any decorations, because if we’re being real here, no one gives a shit about any of that.
Instead, we set up two different tables for beer pong and set up the kegs out back. Our backyard isn’t very big but we have a pretty decent-sized patio for people to hang out on. Lincoln insisted on setting up some corn hole out back too, so I didn’t bother to argue with him. It was his house too and he was just as excited to celebrate our friends’ accomplishments.
Lincoln and I end up on the couch, playing video games, while we wait for everyone to show up. About two hours after parting ways following the graduation ceremony, everyone begins to show up. The first ones to show are Isla and Logan. August and Poppy aren’t far behind them, along with Hayden and Eden.
I stand up as they begin to file into the house, hugging all of my brothers and their girls. August is the last one that I pull in for a hug and I take a step back, looking back and forth between him and Poppy.
“Where’s Ev at tonight?” I ask the two of them.
Poppy raises an eyebrow at me. “Surely you didn’t think we would be bringing a baby to the party… right?”
“He’s with Poppy’s parents for the night,” August chimes in as laughter falls from my lips.
“I mean, he is a part of the family, but I don’t think this is the best environment for him tonight.” I shake my head at Poppy and she laughs along with me.
“As much as I love having the kid, I’m ready for a night that we don’t have to worry about any responsibilities,” August admits as he pulls Poppy flush against his side. “I’m trying to get you home tonight and not have to worry about any interruptions.”
Isla makes a gagging sound from where she’s standing with Logan. “I don’t need that visual in my head, thanks.”
Logan and August both share a look before laughing.
“I mean, it’s not like your brother didn’t hear you fucking his best friend when the three of you lived together,” Hayden offers with an arrogant smirk.
Eden slaps his arm. “Hayden King.”
He glances at her with a look of innocence. “What? I’m just being real here.”
“You’re impossible,” she mutters, shaking her head as she fights the grin that pulls on her lips. She directs her attention to me. “Where’s the liquor? I need something strong to put up with Hayden’s antics tonight.”
“Hey, you know you love me,” he tells her with a wink.
“I do,” she admits, smiling up at him. “But when you’re around your boys, you’re something else. I don’t know if this house is big enough for you and your ego.”
Hayden gasps, slapping a hand over his chest. “You wound me, baby.”
Eden winks at him. “I’ll lick your wounds later.”
“So, about that liquor,” I break through their conversation, feeling like I’m imposing on each and every one of them right now. Lincoln and I are the only two here that are single and I’m slightly envious.
Eden looks over to me, smiling before she follows me into the kitchen where I have everything spread out on the counter. I grab a cup and mix her a drink as I hear Asher and his girlfriend, Sydney, walk into the house with Cam and his girl, Aspen.
After handing Eden her cup, I head back out into the living room to greet the rest of my friends. It feels like old times, having everyone here. And at the same time, it kind of sucks thinking about this being our last night together. Everyone’s lives have changed so much over the years and this is literally our last hoorah before everyone goes their separate ways.
Some other people that graduated with them or went to Wyncote end up coming in until we have practically a full house. Sterling, Olivia, and Stella are the last ones to show up. By the time they get to the house, I’m already two beers deep and have won one round of beer pong with Hayden.
I abandon the table and Eden takes my place as I head directly to Stella. She’s hovering near the couch, her eyes trailing around the room as she takes in the entire party that is already in full swing. There isn’t anything uncomfortable about her stance. Instead, it looks like she’s just surveying the area, almost like she’s people watching.
“Hey you,” I say quietly as I approach her. She lifts her gaze to mine, her bright eyes shining back at me. “How was dinner?”
She purses her lips and shrugs. “It could have been worse. My parents seemed pretty happy to see me and to hear that I finally declared a major. I told them I’m not drinking anymore, but I don’t know if they fully believed me.”
My heart hurts for her. I know that Stella has really been trying hard. Even though I haven’t personally witnessed it, I believe her. I don’t think she would really lie to me about it. What could she possibly have to gain? In the grand scheme of things, I’m not really anyone that makes a difference in her life. I’m just simply here to show my support as someone who has experienced similar struggles.
“You told them the truth. What they decide to do with that is completely up to them. All of that is beyond your control now, so there’s no point in letting it bother you or even entertaining the thoughts that enter your mind.”
Stella stares back at me, her eyes searching mine. “You know, I really appreciate you, Simon,” she says, her voice soft and gentle, feeling like silk as it slides through my ears. “I haven’t really had much support from anyone else, but you seem to know the right things to say at the exact times I need to hear them.”
“That’s what I’m here for, baby girl.” The corners of my lips lift into a grin and I wink at her. “We all need someone to be on our side.”
Her lips mirror mine as they break out into a grin and she flashes her white teeth at me. “It looks like this is going to be quite the party tonight.” She pauses, glancing down at the bottle of beer in my hand. “What are you drinking?”
I lift it up to show her. “Some IPA your brother had in the fridge.” Falling silent, I mentally want to kick myself for not even thinking about her not drinking. “Shit. Is it going to bother you, being around alcohol?”
A soft laugh falls from her lips. “I’m not an alcoholic, Simon,” she says, shaking her head at me. “I was just drinking too much. It was never to the point where I felt like I needed it or had to drink. There’s literally no temptation there, so no, it doesn’t bother me being around it. I honestly don’t even want to drink at all.”
Her words bring me some reassurance that this isn’t going to be a bad situation for her.
“I’m glad. I didn’t even think about you being at a party where everyone is drinking.”
Stella smiles at me. “I don’t need to drink to have fun, Simon.”
“Good to know,” I tell her, holding my hand out to her. “Come on. Let’s go get on the list for the beer pong table. I want to kick Hayden’s ass from all the shit he’s constantly talking.”
Stella’s palm is warm as she slides it against mine, lacing her fingers through my own. “Let’s go kick his ass and knock him down a peg or two.”
Three games later, we didn’t manage to beat Hayden and Eden. The two of them are practically unstoppable. They’ve been running the table and loving every minute of it. And Eden is literally exactly like Hayden with the way she gets cocky and runs her mouth.
Seriously, he couldn’t have found a better girl.
Stella and I end up on the couch where some people are sitting and talking. Most of the guys are scattered throughout the room. August and Poppy have already left. It isn’t often that they get time alone from the baby, so I can’t say I blame them for leaving early for some alone time together.
It’s still loud with the music pumping through the speakers and everyone partying hard. After finishing the beer I had in my hand when Stella got here, I haven’t had another one since. There’s something about being around her and the fact that she isn’t drinking that makes me not want to as well. I want to have fun without having any alcohol involved.
“Aren’t you drinking anymore?” Stella asks me, her thigh pressed against mine. I inhale deeply, smelling her sweet scent that smells like berries.
I shake my head at her, leaning closer because of how loud the music is. “Nope. I stopped drinking earlier.”
Her eyebrows tug together slightly. “Why?”
“Because I didn’t want you to be the only one not drinking.”
She stares at me and her eyes briefly search mine. “You didn’t have to do that, Simon. I’m completely fine with being the only sober one here.”
Turning my head to the side, I lean toward her, my lips just barely brushing against her ear. “What if I wanted to be sober with you?”
Lingering for a moment, I hear the sharp intake of her breath before I pull away. There’s a fire burning deep inside her eyes as they burn holes through my own. I’m captivated and breathless from the way she’s looking at me right now. Like she isn’t staring through me… she’s looking directly at me, directly into the depths of my soul.
“You want to go upstairs where it’s quieter?” she questions me, her voice barely audible over the noise in the room.
A ghost of a smile plays on my lips. Without saying a word, I rise to my feet and offer my hand down to her. Stella slides her delicate hand into my own, letting me help her up before lacing her fingers through mine.
We walk around the couch and through the living room as we head toward the stairs. My eyes catch Hayden’s from across the room and I don’t miss the smirk that forms on his face. Just as we’re about to walk through the doorway, I see Sterling walking from the kitchen. His gaze meets mine before dropping down to his sister’s hand in mine.
I pause for a beat and Stella stops beside me, glancing up at me with a confused look on her face. I look back to where Sterling was standing, but he isn’t there any longer. I know how it must have looked to him, but if he had an issue, he would have approached me about it. He wouldn’t have let this go any further, even if we are just going upstairs to talk.
Smiling down at Stella, I wink before I begin to lead her upstairs. We bypass Sterling’s room that she’ll be occupying for the rest of the summer and head directly to mine instead. We step inside and I let go of her hand as she walks past me, dropping down onto my bed. Softly closing the door behind me, I take a deep breath and turn around.
Stella’s gaze collides with mine and the flames in her eyes burn brighter. I take a step forward, closing the distance between us, but I stop as I reach the middle of the room. We came up here to talk, but there’s a shift in the air and I don’t know what I’m supposed to do about it.
I watch her as she stands back up and walks directly toward me, not stopping until her toes reach mine. Tilting my head down to look at her, she tips hers back as she wraps her arms around the back of my neck, so our bodies are pressed flush against one another’s.
“Stella.” My voice is hoarse and thick with lust as she lifts up onto her toes, her lips just barely brushing against mine. “What are you doing, baby girl?”
“I don’t know,” she murmurs, nipping at my bottom lip. “There’s just something about you…”
