The Girl Next Door
The Boy Next Door Chapter 20

"Welcome home, b***h," Mia shouts, attempting to be heard over the pulsing beat of techno as we clink our shots of Fireball and toss them back. The smooth liquor slides down my throat, warming me from the inside out. "Holy s**t, that's terrible!" my bestie sputters, coughing as tears gather in her dark eyes. "No more shots. I'm tapping out."

Undeterred by the pronouncement, I laugh and order another round. I'm nowhere near done. Everywhere I look, there are friends who have shown up to help celebrate my return to Wesley. I'll admit that while packing up my bags and preparing to leave London, part of me considered extending my student visa for another year, but in the end, I decided the best thing I could do was come home, finish out my degree, and graduate on time. Maybe, if I still feel the same way in the spring, I'll return.

And then there's Jack. Even though I'd taken everything at a glacial pace where he was concerned, it had just started to heat up between us. I'm not sure what will happen with that situation. Probably nothing. We're an ocean apart. It's difficult enough to maintain a relationship when I'm on the same continent with a guy, let alone a six-hour international flight away.

I glance at my best friend, the girl who planned out this amazing night, and realize that coming home was the right decision. Even though I made some amazing friends-ones who will be in my life forever-I'd missed my bestie something fierce. We've been friends for as long as I can remember. There's a history between us that can't be denied or erased. I was there when her sister died and the hard times her family went through. She's been the shoulder I leaned on when I broke my ankle freshman year of high school and wondered if dancing would ever be the same. She was there when I struggled through math courses in high school and college.

We have one last year together before our lives truly begin and we end up heading in different directions. I'm both excited and scared by the prospect. Above all, I'm glad Mia is by my side.

I have no idea what I would do without her.

Luckily, I'll never have to replace out.

My gaze runs over the length of her. She looks smoking hot in a black dress that hugs every single curve. Unlike me, the girl has an hourglass figure. Tonight is all about showcasing it. Maybe I had to twist her arm, but it was well worth it. The drinks have already gone to my head and I'm in my element. When the music changes and the bass starts thumping, reverberating off the walls, I squeal and grab Mia's hand, dragging her to the dance floor. "I freaking love this song!"

This night is all about fun. I want to let go and enjoy the drinks, music, and good friends who have come out to celebrate my return. I shove my way through the press of writhing bodies before carving out a tiny space for us. My hands go in the air as I lose myself in the beat. It's not difficult. The DJ has some serious skills. Each song bleeds into the next as we shake our asses, singing along with the lyrics. Mia grabs my hand and twirls me around. A smile stretches across my face as I laugh, enjoying myself like I haven't in a long time. Friends come and go as the music plays on.

I have no idea how long we stay out on the dance floor. The only way I realize that time has passed is when I become parched. I close the distance between us and shout, "I need to use the bathroom."

Her cheeks are pinkened from all our exertion, but I can tell she's having a blast. Sometimes Mia has a hard time cutting loose. She wants to be the perfect kid and student, forever walking the straight and narrow. It's good for her to let go and just have fun. She needs it. "Want me to come with you?"

"Nah." With a shake of my head, I wave her off. "I'll be back in a sec, stay here so I can replace you again."

A strobe light of color bounces off the walls as I push my way through the thick crowd. I catch flashes of people I know and wave as I continue on my way. It turns out to be a five-minute wait for the restroom. I chat with a few friends in line and catch up on their lives. Once inside, I do my business and touch up my lip gloss before fluffing my hair. It's long and loose, floating around my shoulders. I probably should have put it up with all the a*s shaking I'm doing, but I'm having way too much fun to give a damn. On the way back to the dance floor, I detour to the long stretch of bar for another drink. I'm dying of thirst. If I were smart, I'd get an icy cold bottle of water and hydrate. But tonight, I'm not going to be smart. I'm going to suck down as many drinks as I want and keep the party going to the wee hours of the morning.

As I shoulder my way through the throng, I prop my elbows on the smooth surface and catch the eye of a smoking hot bartender mixing cocktails with the precision of a professional. His hair is inky black in the dim lighting and his eyes are dark, almost onyx in color. He must feel my perusal because he glances in my direction and flashes me an easy smile before handing over two green glass bottles of beer and making his way toward me.

The closer he gets, the sexier I realize he is. Physically, he ticks all the boxes.

Tall-check.

Easy on the eyes-check.

Large hands-check.

Knows how to make a cocktail-check.

This guy is perfect one-night stand material. And with his dark hair and eyes, he doesn't remind me of-

Nope. Not even going to go there.

I refuse to let him ruin my night.

The sexy bartender lays his palms on the counter before leaning toward me. "What can I get for you, birthday girl?"

His voice is deep and smooth. A little shiver careens down my spine. It's another check.

I can't resist dropping my gaze to the hands spread wide a few inches from where I stand.

If I'm going to bag him and tag him, I need to play this right. I know how it works in a place like this. Girls are probably throwing themselves at him all night long. I need to stand out. Make it worth his wild. "Birthday girl?" I raise a brow, wondering if he's confused me with another chick. There are certainly a ton of them here. If that's the case, it doesn't bode well for me.

"Sure. People have been buying you shots all night long." A beguiling set of dimples flash as he grins. "Props to you. I'm surprised you're still standing. You must have one hell of a tolerance."

"Oh." I laugh and shake my head, realizing that he's been eyeing me for a while. That definitely makes things easier. "It's not my birthday. Just a little celebration for my return. I was away last year." "Huh." His dark eyes sparkle. "Well then, welcome home."

"Thank you." I twist a curl around my finger and angle my body to give him a good look at what I have to offer.

"Sounds like it's my turn to buy you a shot."

"No more shots," a deep voice grumbles, interrupting our conversation. All my flirty vibes evaporate in the blink of an eye. "Although, she'll take a bottle of water."

I stiffen and swing around. Even though I know exactly who'll I'll replace standing beside me, it's still a surprise when my gaze collides with bright blue ones. A shiver of awareness scuttles down my spine at his proximity.

The last time I saw him outside our apartment building, I was too furious to take him in and notice all the little changes a year of separation has wrought. As much as I'm loath to admit it, Colton looks better than ever. The maroon T-shirt he's wearing hugs his

biceps before stretching tautly across his chest. Somehow, his shoulders are even broader than they were a year ago. My mouth dries as an avalanche of memories crash over me. I remember what it felt like to slide my fingers across all that steely strength. I tighten my hands so that I don't reach out and touch him.

What the hell am I doing?