In this small ass town, I should have known that my sister will be going to the same party as I am. And, of course, since she’s hell bent on making sure this is going to be my summer, she chooses my outfit and even puts a little make-up on my face.

When she pulls out the mascara I push her hand away. “I don’t need that shit on my eyes.”

She pouts but drops the mascara back in her bag. “Fine.”

I allow her a minute to check herself out in the mirror—she looks flawless as usual—before I pull her arm. “Let’s go.”

Thankfully, she doesn’t put up a fight and lets me drag her out the door. “Someone’s excited.”

We hook our arms together and step out into the chilly night.

“Of course I’m excited. Since you refuse to help me out with Adam, I’m hoping to do some research on him while we’re at the party.”

“I told you, you don’t need my help. You look great. Thanks to me, of course. I’m sure every guy would be jumping at the chance to answer your questions.” She looks at my shirt and wrinkles her nose. “If that shirt doesn’t ruin things, that is. I can’t believe I didn’t burn itwhen I had the chance.”

I stick my tongue out. Colbie has me putting on one of her skirts that barely reach my knees. I draw the line at wearing her fitted tops. Besides, my loose, white Talk Nerdy To Me shirt is way cooler.

She couldn’t get me to change my shirt so she’s taken the hemand tucked it inside the skirt. Who would’ve thought that would make a difference? I finish the look with my white sneakers and voila, party-ready Riley.

I grin at her. “It’s funny.”

“To you,” she mumbles.

“Hey, I’m not going to the party to impress guys. This girl’s on a mission.”

“Whatever.”

Her phone rings and she answers it. “Oh, okay. We’re two blocks from our house.”

She comes to an abrupt stop and turns just as a sleek car slows down and stops beside us.

Sean lowers the passenger window. “Hey. You guys need a ride?”

Colbie beams at him. “Yeah. Thanks.”

I get in the backseat and Colbie rides shotgun, and we’re off.

The beach house isn’t the same one from three years ago, that much I’m sure of, but the vibe is the same. Music is blasting from huge speakers on the porch. People are scattered around, red cups in hand, forming their own little groups. I’m pretty sure some of them are underage. I don’t drink, but I try not to judge—to each his own.

We go inside the house in search of food and drinks. The music is louder in the enclosed space, but there are fewer people.

I have mixed feelings about being here. On one hand, I’m nervous as hell. On the other hand, I feel weirdly excited. Like sweaty palms excited. Eck.

Wait. What is that smell?

Sean reads my expression and grins. “You haven’t been to parties much, eh Riley?”

“Not to stinky ones, no.” Colbie answers. She knows I’m a neat freak and I’m like a dog sniffing out week-old Cheetos from under the bed.

There’s a makeshift DJ’s booth in the middle of the living room where a guy with gigantic headphones is working on his laptop, bobbing his head to the beat. There’s no dancing yet, but people are starting to move to the music.

It’s clear with a single glance that there are way more girls in attendace than guys. And the girls look older. Maybe it’s the make-up—they have too much of it.

Why anyone would want to look older, I don’t know. My mom borrows my clothes sometimes because she wants to appear younger. I guess there’s no contentment while you’re alive.

I’m lost in thought when I see a familiar set of eyes looking back at me from the sofa on the far end of the living room. It’s Adam.

I fight the urge to look behind me to check if he’s looking at someone else. I’m here because of him, aren’t I?

Just then I feel a touch on my lower back and Ben appears beside me.

“You came.”

I shrug. “I told you I’d be here.”

With him standing so close, I realize I have to lift my chin up to look at his green eyes. He’s tall, almost six feet. He’s wearing a plain, white V-neck shirt and faded blue jeans. I have to admit he’s pretty.

I tilt my head to the side and he mimics my actions. I laugh.

“What?” he asks as he slides his hands in his jeans pockets.

I shake my head. “Nothing.”

He extends his hand to me and I just look at it. He wants to hold hands?

When I just stare at his hand he sighs and goes behind me, holds my shoulders and pushes me forward. “Let’s go. There are some people I’d like you to meet.”

Ben takes me out on the back deck overlooking the ocean. It’s beautiful. The moon is big and bright and it reflects on the water’s dark surface—a light in the dark.

“Hey, guys. This is Riley. Riley, these are my friends.”

I smile at the group of girls and boys in front of me and wave. “Hey.”

There are a couple of heys and hi’s while some just nod. Ben says their names one at a time, but I only remember one of them. Rick—Adam’s bassist. Jackpot.

He doesn’t have a girl beside him so I give him a big smile. He smiles back, eyeing me up and down. My perv signals go haywire, but no guts no glory, right? So I take a tentative step in his direction.

Ben has other ideas though. He pulls my arm gently to the left side of Rick so that he is sitting in between Rick and I. Shit.

I have to crane my neck to see Rick and ask him, “You played in the café last Friday, right?”

He leers at me. “Yeah. I thought I saw you there.”

His icky smile makes me want to barf.

Ben interrupts, “You want a drink?”

I’m startled and lean back a little. Ben seems intense.

“Uhm. Yeah. I would love one.”

He stands and pulls me up with him. “C’mon. I need your help.”

I glance back at Rick and see that he has a smug look on his face.