“Seriously though, I'd probably beat up everyone within viewing distance, then throw you over my shoulder and drag you away. Then I'd take you to your brothers and let them deal with you.”

“Well, that's just plain mean.”

“They'll punish you better than me. I'd bend you over my knees and spank you.”

She raises an eyebrow. “And what if I liked it?”

I groan internally. “How much have you had to drink?”

“Enough,” she coos, stepping closer and pressing her chest to mine.

“Maybe you should stop?”

“Or what? You'll spank me?”

I take a step back, trying to create some distance. If she says it again, I don't know that I'll be able to control myself.

She closes in on me.

I take another step back.

She does it again.

We do this until my back hits the wall. “What's with you?”

Her eyes narrow as her finger runs a slow line down my chest, past my stomach, only stopping when she reaches the band of my boxers, peeking out from behind my jeans. She smirks, then leans into me—her breath hot and heavy when she places her mouth next to my ear. “You're so fucking easy to get to, Tyler.” Pulling away, she laughs in my face before spinning on her heels and walking away.

We spend the rest of the party apart, but not far enough that we can't see each other. She makes the rounds and talks to all the boys like they've been friends for years. Occasionally, she'll catch me watching her and smile, or raise whatever drink is in her hand. A couple of girls approach, but I'm not interested in hooking up tonight. Especially since Allie will be sleeping in my bed...unless she's actually falling for whatever charm Shem is laying on her right now. As casually as possible, I make my way over to them and take her hand. “I want to show you something,” I tell her.

“Your cock?” Troy yells.

Shem sighs. “Rule number one, man,” he says to Troy.

I ignore them both and lead her upstairs and to the unused attic. I slide the window open and step out, holding my hand out to help her. She spills her drink and swears like a sailor before I finally steady her enough so she can place both feet on the roof. I'd taken her up here hoping we could talk—that maybe without anyone around, and with a little liquid courage I’d been building, I could tell her how I feel about her.

I help her sit down before taking the spot next to her. Wrapping my arm around her waist, I hold her tight so she doesn't end up falling ass over tit off the roof. “You're tanked, Al,” I say, just in case she's too drunk to realize it.

“I know,” she mumbles, resting her head on my shoulder. “I had to.”

“You had to get drunk?”

She nods.

“Why?”

“Because I needed to work up the nerve to tell you something.”

“Really? I wanted to talk to you about something, too.”

“Okay, but I need to go first.”

“Okay.”

She tilts her head up and looks up at the stars, then lets out a single laugh. It's not out of humor though. It's almost sad. “I've thought about this moment for so many years, Tyler, and now it's here and I don't even know where to start.”

“I get it,” I tell her, my eyes on her and my heart beating out of my chest.

“Remember junior year?” she asks. “When I told you that I was staying with my cousin in Boston for two weeks because her parents were getting a divorce?”

Not at all what I was expecting. “Is this really important because I need to get something off my chest.”

She nods quickly, refusing to look at me. “It is. Just let me get it out, okay?”

“Fine.” She rambles when she's drunk and half the time her stories don't even make sense. Still, I'll listen and I'll wait.

“I lied.”

I stare up at the stars, just like her. “About what?”

“About where I was. I wasn't in Boston.”

“Yeah?” My heart finally settles down enough so I can breathe properly. “Where were you?”

“I was um…in an institution.”

I face her. “What do you mean institution? What does that mean? Are you okay?”

“God, this is hard,” she mumbles.

“What's going on, Allie?”

She glances at me quickly, but long enough that I can see the tears welling in her eyes. She doesn't speak until her head’s tilted back and her focus is on the sky again. “Do you remember what happened right before I went away?”

“I feel like you're going in circles here.”

“I know, but just answer me anyway.”

I try to think back to that time in my life. I'd thrown a party when my parents were out of town and she wasn't at school on Monday. I called her like crazy and when she finally answered she told me she was visiting her cousin. “I had that party, remember? I had to shut it down early because of the neighbors and Jack Watson gave you a ride home.”

She snorts out a bitter laugh. “That's what you remember? I'm pretty sure something else happened that night.”

I know what she's talking about, but I don't see how it's relevant.

“Don't tell me you don't remember.”

“I do. I just don't see what it has to do with anything.”

She blinks hard, causing her tears to finally fall. She takes a sip of her drink and whispers, “Say it.”