Free Reason and Romance (River Valley Book 1) by Jenn Young Page B

Adrian could dispute, so she turned away and left with Travis. As exits went, it was a fairly good one, what with everyone watching them.
    “Well, that was interesting,” she said to Travis. “We should do it more often.”
    He chortled. “Man, that was some spiffy shit! No one will talk to us on Monday.” His wide grin belied his worried words. “We’ll be, like, the most hated people in school.”
    “Maybe,” she said coolly, “but we’ll hate them right back.”
    They got some more beer from the awestruck kids manning the kegs. Since she hadn’t touched her first drink, she drained this one.
    “You’re now the talk of the party. Impressive.”
    The new voice at her elbow made Adrian turn. She wasn’t short, but even with the strappy sandals she had on, the blonde towered above her by a few inches.
    A bright pink blossom poked from behind the girl’s ear, but it was no less bright than the avid curiosity shining in the teakwood brown eyes. Her hair was a wavy cascade of blond curls that spilled down her almost naked back. She’d worn a turquoise halter and a floral miniskirt that showed off her long legs. The colors should have clashed, but she pulled them off with a fashionable aplomb.
    Dozens of bracelets tinkled around her wrists as she thrust one hand at Adrian. “Vaughn Mackintosh at your service,” she said.
    Her face was vaguely familiar. “You’re that girl who pulled her cell phone out when I did my little essay,” Adrian said.
    Vaughn dropped her hand. “Guilty as charged.” Instead of being intimidated by Adrian’s lack of enthusiasm, she only grinned. Even her eyes were twinkling. “Fair warning, I’m one of the school gossips.” A demure expression set in. “Some call me the school grapevine.”
    “And you call me the bitch queen.”
    “No, honey, I just call you a good piece of gossip.”
    “Oh, I’m not done yet. I’m going to misbehave.”
    Vaughn chuckled. “Then, by all means, don’t let me stop you.”
    She stepped back from Adrian with a grand, sweeping flourish. Her grin was wide and appreciative, and Adrian passed her without a second glance. She’d known too many people like Vaughn who pretended to be friendly, but once they got the wind of juicy gossip, you were out in the cold. Even now, there were still too many people who remembered Marissa Blake and who recounted her misdeeds with relish.
    Just a part of the legacy you left us, Mother …

    “I want a drink,” she told one of the guys at the kegs. “Better yet, make it two.”
    “You okay?” Travis said when she tossed the drinks back. He’d kept quiet when Vaughn had approached her, but now he was at her side. “You look weird.”
    She linked arms with him. “I’m fine. Come on, introduce me to more people.”
    The next hour seemed to blur as he took her over to his friends. They greeted her with a chorus of “Dude, that was awesome!” Only earlier that day, they’d avoided her in school.
    One of them handed her a drink. Not beer, as she’d initially thought, but the vodka felt good as it burned her throat.
    A guy approached her shyly. He had another beer in hand that she took from him. “Hey, you said you wanted me to give you drinks,” he said, and Adrian recognized him as the guy who’d blushed when she’d flirted with him over the kegs. “Um … you want to dance?”
    “Why not?” she said.
    She slithered over him. Her hands were everywhere as she practically ravaged him on the grass, and every time he tried to pull her close, she twisted out of his grip. He couldn’t have her—she was untouchable tonight. Nothing could hurt her, not even the onlookers’ increasing scrutiny and the whispers. Only Jason could hurt her, and he was gone.
    You want to know where I am, Jason? I’m at a party right now. I’m going to screw someone’s brains out, and I’ll enjoy every fucking minute of it.
    Another guy cut in, and she went with him. The music worked its magic on her, and she writhed