Free Back Where We Belong (A Second Chances New Adult Romance) by Alana Hart, Caia Fox Page A

crumby
student place. Though it's dark and they’ve moved the furniture to the side of
the main room to make space for the party, I can imagine how good the apartment
looks normally with its high ceilings and tasteful décor.
    “It belongs to Dan's parents,”
Brad tells me. “His mother designed the interior.”
    He and his friends have really
struck it lucky.
    “I'm impressed. She has good
taste.”
    “You should see my room,” Brad
says, winking.
    I laugh.
    He gets me a drink, some kind of
punch with fruit floating in it.
    “What's in this?”
    “I'm not sure. Fruit juice,
vodka, I think. The guys made it. You prefer a beer?”
    “No, it's okay.”
    It tastes good. I'm not keen on
beer, but I drink it sometimes. There's alcohol at every party. It makes me
relax and feel part of the crowd. I sip my drink, though not too fast. I don't
want to get drunk.
    We dance for a while. Brad holds me
on the dance floor and shouts in my ear above the music blasting out of their
sound system. I've no idea what I'm dancing to, but it's nice to be close to
Brad and not to be alone at a party, not knowing anyone, to be part of the
throng and not standing on the sidelines.
    He gets me another drink and we
sit on big floor cushions at the edge of the room, watching the others dancers
and trying to keep our legs and feet from getting in the way. It's really
crowded. He kisses me and we make out a little like other couples around the
dance floor. I can feel the punch going to my head, but I'm okay.
    More people arrive and pile in.
It's jam-packed in there.
    “How many people did you invite?”
I ask.
    “I don't know. We just told
everyone we knew. Maybe they invited others.”
    It's too crowded now and I've had
enough to drink. The party is going to go on forever. I look around for Chelsea
to see if she is ready to go home, but she's in the corner kissing some guy I
don't know. I'll just have to go on my own. I don't know if Brad will leave the
party to walk me home, but it's not far.
    “I'm going home,” I yell in his
ear, “before it gets any more crowded.”
    “Don't go. I'll have to stay and
help the guys in case there's any trouble. But I don't want you walking back on
your own.”
    I give in and stay. It's nice
that he cares about me.
    “Why don't we go somewhere
quieter?” he says.
    I know he means his room. I
hesitate. I'm not ready for anything more with Brad. Someone steps on my foot
and I yell. The dancer apologizes, but I know I'll have a bruise there
tomorrow.
    “Come on,” he says. “We can't
stay here.”
    We make our way through the
crowd. Chelsea sees me hand in hand with Brad as she lifts her head from her
new acquaintance and winks.
    Am I really going to Brad's room?
I tell myself we're just going to make out a bit where it's quiet. Kisses and
nothing more. Yes, that's all I want.
    It's dark in Brad's room, though
there's weak light from the street lamp outside filtering in through the
curtains.
    He sits down on the bed and pulls
me to him. “It's much better in here. I've got you all to myself.”
    He kisses me, his mouth seeking
mine in the dark, and I kiss him back. I like him. I'm happy to be out of the
noise and crowd but I'm still not sure I should be here. It worries me the way he’s
pressing his body against mine, and we’re alone in his room. He starts undoing
the buttons on my blouse.
    “Don't. Anyone could come in.”
    “Don't worry. They won't care.”
And his mouth is on me again, stopping me from saying anything.
    He has unclasped my bra somehow
and his hands are on my breasts. I can't help but moan in response.
    “You like that,” he says,
smirking.
    Someone bursts through the door.
I pull my blouse closed, but it's too late. He saw us. I know he did.
    “For fuck's sake, Charlie, get
out of here,” Brad says.
    Charlie is drunk. “Sorry,
Natalie.” He’s slurring his words. “Oops, that's not Natalie is it? Smaller
tits.”
    “Who's Natalie?” I don't like the
way this is