South beach by Aimee Friedman Page A

with her arms so Aaron took them and draped them around his neck, then pulled her in closer. Their faces were only inches apart. She could feel his breath on her ear.
    What is going on? Holly thought frantically. Did Aaron like her? He was probably just drunk. But did he want to kiss her? Did she want to kiss him? Holly
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    imagined his mouth on hers, and her heartbeat sped up. It would probably feel nice. But then she thought back to her first kiss. That had been such a wonderful, dreamlike moment. Holly didn't want her second-ever kiss to be in a skanky club, with some boy she barely knew. Especially not if Diego was in this same city. She'd much rather save up her kisses for him. Holly started to back away, shaking her head.
    "What's the matter?" Aaron whispered, stroking her bare arms. Suddenly, he didn't seem so shy.
    It was too much. Holly loosened his hold on her arms, mumbled, "Sorry," and walked backward, letting the crowd swallow her. Her face burning, she pushed past the hordes of dancers and went back to the bar. Now, she was regretting that Cuba Libre. She asked the bartender for a glass of water and gulped it down while watching the dance floor. Maybe the bouncer had been right in the first place. She didn't belong in here. She should go back to Grandma Ida, and play canasta with her and Miles in peace.
    Holly's eyes fell on Alexa. She was sandwiched between Thomas and Aaron, dancing sexily. Holly felt a pang of jealousy. Naturally, Alexa was making sure that all the boys flocked to her. Suddenly, Holly was feeling strangely possessive of Aaron. She set down her water and considered going back to the dance floor, but there were so many people crowded around
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    that she couldn't move. So Holly stayed where she was, and kept watching.
    Out on the dance floor, Alexa was eating up the twins' attention. Thomas was facing her, their foreheads touching as he moved his hips against hers, and Aaron held her waist from behind, dancing just as close. She dipped her head all the way back, her hair spilling everywhere, and smiled up at Aaron. When he leaned toward her, his lips parted, she straightened up again. It was Thomas she really had her eye on.
    Aaron drifted into the crowd and started dancing with another girl, so Thomas and Alexa wrapped their arms around each other. Alexa shivered at his nearness. She could smell the alcohol on his breath. He lifted her chin and lowered his lips to hers. She responded to his kiss, fiercely. Soon, they gave up dancing and stood pressed together, kissing. Alexa smoothed her hands up and down his chest. Thomas ran his hands along her waist and cupped her behind. Alexa was thrilled. Tyler and his hesitant kisses were out of her life. She'd moved onto bigger and better things.
    "Get a room, you two!" Jonathan called, dancing over to them with Daisy.
    Thomas and Alexa pulled apart. Alexa licked her lips and stared at Thomas, wanting more. Thomas
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    looked flustered. His sweaty shirt was sticking to his chest and his eyes were glazed over.
    Alexa stood on her tiptoes and nibbled Thomas's ear. "Why are you stopping?" she whispered.
    "I need to take a break," Thomas said. "I think I drank too much."
    "Are you going to be sick?" Alexa asked, stepping away from him and cringing.
    Thomas shook his head, but he lurched away from her unevenly. "I'm just going to the bathroom. I'll be back." He squeezed her arm. "Wait for me."
    The too-drunk thing was a bit of a turnoff, Alexa thought, but who cared? It wasn't like she was sober herself. She started dancing again, alone. Oh God, she was drunk. Her head was suddenly spinning so badly she felt like the room was tilting. But it was fine. She knew what she was doing. Kind of.
    Then she felt a guy's arms go around her, and a pair of lips against her throat.
    "That was quick," she said, turning and expecting to see Thomas. But instead there was Colby, along with three other drunken frat-boy types. One of them was eyeing Kaitlin and the other two