Lost to You by A. L. Jackson Page B

why you’ve been hiding from us the last couple of months...or where you’ve been hiding. That shit is hot.”
    A swell of protectiveness broke over me. My fists curled, but I forced the reaction down. “It’s not like that.”
    “So you wouldn’t mind if I went for her?”
    “Yeah, I’d fucking mind. She’s my best friend. Do you think I’m going to let some asshole like you touch her?”
    Tom laughed, not for a second offended.
    “Your best friend, huh? Thought that was my title.” His eyes gleamed as he razzed me, a clear insinuation he’d been hinting at for months, one I’d continually denied.
    “Quit being a dick.” I shrugged it off. “We’re just friends.”
    As I said it, I lifted up on my toes, straining to see over the heads littering the room. Anxiety knocked at my ribs. Where the hell was she? If one of these losers even thought about messing with her, I was going to lose it. I rushed an uneasy hand through my hair, hoping for calm. Stupid. Reckless to bring her here.
    I looked back at Tom who was staring at me with straight-out disbelief. Then he cracked up, loud and raucous. “You, my friend, are completely fucked. You might as well give it up because I don’t believe a word you’re saying. Pretty sure you don’t, either.”
    He was still laughing when he walked away.
    I made the conscious decision to ignore him and the implications of his words. I moved into the main room and leaned against the wall so I could watch for Elizabeth. As always, the room was dimmed, Sam’s apartment primed for the perfect party. Loud music pounded in my ears, the feel chaotic as bodies moved. Fuzziness eddied around my vision, and with both palms, I scrubbed my face to clear it, wishing I’d thought better than to have drunk so much with Elizabeth being here tonight.
    Disquiet gripped me tight. I couldn’t help it. She was here with me. My responsibility. It was more than that, though. The thought of anyone looking at her, let alone touching her, sent a swirl of nausea thrashing through my already raw stomach. But how could I claim her when I didn’t even trust myself with her? I mean, I cared about her. A lot. The problem was, I knew myself too well, the fleeting interest that passed just as quickly as it came. I refused to lose my best friend to my own stupidity and selfishness.
    But God, this was getting unbearable.
    A hand wrapped around my wrist before a hot body flattened against my side. “There you are.” Locks of dark brown hair obstructed my view, pushed into my space. Every weekend, it was the same.
    I shook my head, irritated. “What do you want, Rachel?”
    She pouted before she stretched up on her toes to whisper in my ear. “You.”
    Jerking my head back, I glared at her, unable to fathom how one girl could be so clueless. “Haven’t I turned you down enough?”
    She ran a single fingertip down the length of my face.
    I recoiled.
    “One of these days, you’ll be begging me.”
    That wasn’t going to happen. She had to be the most disgusting slut I knew. A few months ago, I might not have minded. Maybe. Even then, I had some discretion. But now... Not a chance. Just the thought of her touching me had my skin crawling.
    “The only thing I’m begging you for is to leave me alone.”
    “Whatever...your loss.”
    Rachel walked away, still looking at me over her shoulder, like somehow the exaggerated sway of her hips would send me chasing after her. She blended in with the mob, lost in the jumble.
    With her out of the way, my attention jumped from one person to the next, searching for the only face I wanted to see. A tremor of agitation rolled through my muscles. I flexed my fists and shook it off.
    Shouldn’t she be out by now?
    I couldn’t tell how much time had passed, and again, I wished I’d been wiser and not drunk so much. Really, I wished I wouldn’t have brought her with me at all.
    Elizabeth didn’t belong here.
    She was too good...too pure.
    Unable to wait any longer, I