Page 34 of The Pact
Presley sits next to me again.
The screen flashes white and blue across her face, and I watch her out of the corner of my eye.
She notices and mutters, “Watch your movie.”
“You rented a theater for this. For me.”
She looks at me just long enough for me to catch her wink.
When the movie ends, everyone hugs and says one last, “Happy birthday.”
Alie gives me a quick squeeze. Liam leans in and taps his shoulder against mine. Aston tries to give me the shirt with my face on it, but I refuse.
“I’ll take that,” Brody says.
“If Saint doesn’t want it, I’m keeping this beauty. You’ll never know when I’ll break it out. It’ll be like a Christmas surprise.” He points a finger at me, winks, and smiles.
This kid.
“Griff, you wanna give me a ride back to Jersey?” Brody asks him.
“I gotchu.” Aston taps his knuckles against Brody’s.
“I’ll take Presley home,” I say to her sister. “You and Pitz can take the car back to the penthouse.”
Presley and Alie’s parents live in a fancy building, in the penthouse. Alie also lives in the building, but on a different floor. Presley has her own place elsewhere, but often stays at her parents' or sister’s when she’s in the city.
“Thanks, man. We have a night alone, since Sera is with the Grants.” He fist bumps me, smirking.
“And with that news that no one needed to know … we’ll head out. Night, everyone!” Alie blushes, and waves, and Liam leads her away with his hand on her lower back, chuckling.
It’s just the two of us now. The city is quieter than it was, the streetlights glowing against the sidewalk. The late summer air is warm to me, but Presley crosses her arms like she’s chilled.
I hold the door open for her, then move around to the driver’s side.
“You want to go to your place, right? Not your parents’?”
She nods. “Yeah, I’m beat. I want to sleep in my own bed tonight.”
“You got it.”
The drive to her condo is twenty minutes, but we fill the silence with easy conversation and recaps of our favorite scenes from the movie.
I find a spot within easy walking distance to her building.
She turns to me. “You could have just dropped me at the door. You didn’t have to park.”
I point to my chest. “It’s like you don’t know me at all. I’m not letting you walk up to your place by yourself.”
She laughs. “I assure you, my building is very safe.”
I know it is. It’s one of the nicest buildings in Manhattan, but that’s not the point. I’m a gentleman.
“I know it is, but I want to make sure you get in there safely. Humor me.”
She smiles, then we exit the car and walk toward her building.
“Did you have a good birthday?” She asks.
