Page 80 of The Cheerleader is Off Limits

I heard the music before I even got out of the car and this time, the street was lined with cars on both sides. As soon as we got out of the car, I could hear people cheering in the backyard. I hear the faint chanting of “chug, chug, chug!” as we make our way up the path to the front door.

This was already way more intense than last week’s party.

“Jesus, is everyone in the county here?” Delaney asks as we make our way up the stairs. A few people are on the porch talking, and one of the guys gives Mack a high five and congratulates him on the win.

“He invited more this time… but I didn’t think he was inviting this many. I think word of mouth may have caused this one,” Mack says as we open the door and make our way inside. I’m instantly hit with the smell of beer, pizza, and weed. Music was blasting from speakers somewhere in the living room. People were everywhere, almost to the point that you had to squeeze past each other to get by. There were people dancing in the middle of the living room. Near the wall, a group of guys was playing beer pong. On another table, flip cup, and around a coffee table in front of the fireplace, a few people were playing a card game.

“LET’S GO!” I hear someone yell from the beer pong table before he punches the air with his fist.

“You want a drink?” Mack asks, and I nod before following him toward the kitchen, where he grabs us both a beer. I’ve somehow already lost Delaney. My guess is she’s disappeared to find Cole, or maybe she's already been pulled into a game of flip cup, which is her favorite drinking game. “You look great, by the way,” he tells me, and I smile under his compliment. I’d gone casual with a black strapless top and white jeans that showed a hint of both midriff and cleavage. I’d left my hair up in the high ponytail from the game because I didn’t feel like fussing with it, and paired my look with all gold jewelry.

“Thanks, Mack.”

“But you always look great,” he tells me honestly. “Beautiful, actually.”

“You’re sweet—” I start when a girl’s voice interrupts me.

“There you are.” A girl with long sandy-brown hair and easily the best body I've probably ever seen stood between us with her hand on his arm, looking up at him like he’d hung the moon.

One of the girls from last weekend who was following him around everywhere, I believe.

If memory serves me correctly, I don’t think she goes to our school, but I can’t be so sure.

She tilts her head to the side and laces her hand with his. “I’ve been waiting for you to get here. What took you so long?”

“Hey, Heather.” He gives her a polite smile before smoothly pulling his hand out of hers.

“You did so well today. We have to celebrate! Come take a shot with me?” she says without taking a breath.

“Maybe later?” he says before handing me a beer.

I honestly think she had no idea that I was standing here, and I hope she’s drunk because otherwise, I feel bad for her lack of self-awareness. She turns her head to look at me, and confusion covers her face. Freckles dot her nose and cheeks, and I watch as they move when she scrunches her nose. “Hey, have we met?”

“Maybe here last weekend? I’m Sloane. I’m new to the area,” I tell her as I crack the beer open.

“She’s been living overseas, and she’s here for senior year,”Mack adds.

“You… go to school with Mack?”

“I do.” I nod.

“I see.” She smiles, but I see the look of irritation flash across her face. “Well, Mack, come find me when you’re ready for a shot!”

“You got it, Heather.” He smiles before giving her a side hug, and she disappears back into the crowd. “Sorry about that.”

“Sorry for what?”

“Just… some girls get a little… uncomfortable when I get other female attention.”

“Oh, you’re fine. It’s not like you’re my boyfriend.” I chuckle.

“And how does one go about getting that title?” he asks before taking a sip of his beer.

I take a sip of mine as well and shake my head at him. “You’re a real charmer, huh? All the girls must fall at your feet.” I raise an eyebrow at him, and he shrugs.

“Not usually the ones I’m interested in.”

I don’t know how I gotthisdrunk.