But that was too much to hope for.

When Bree and I walked into Jerrid’s sprawling backyard (fashionably late, as per Bree’s plan), the party was in full swing, and Riley was impossible to miss on the far side of the patio, looking like an Abercrombie and Fitch billboard idol in deep green swim trunks and absolutely nothing else.

I heard Bree release a low whistle next to me. “I didn’t think it was humanly possible for real people to look like that.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m still not convinced he’s not some kind of cyborg.”

Bree gave me a look but then shook her head. “Well, they sure don’t seem to mind.”

She was referring to the veritable harem of string bikini-clad girls that surrounded him, laughing like jackals at everything he said. I couldn’t imagine what they could be talking about. He certainly didn’t look like he was saying anything funny. He had the same cold, hard expression as always. But he was talking to them, and I wasn’t sure what to make of the oddly bitter taste that realization left in my mouth. He was actually engaging in conversation, and not looking at me. For once. I should have been thrilled. But instead I only felt simple and invisible in my comparatively conservative bathing suit and sheer sarong. I almost gagged as one of the tanned blondes at Riley’s side handed him a bottle of coconut oil and gestured to her back.

“Jerrid’s got the grill going!” Bree chirped. “I’m going to say hi and get a hotdog. Want one?”

I shook my head and she bounded off.

I ignored Riley completely and wandered through the throng of partiers toward the arrangement of comfortable lounge chairs that took up most of the expansive raised wooden deck. They were a good enough distance from the pool where I didn’t have to worry about falling victim to any wayward splashing.

“Hey Andi!” Vik called, intercepting me as I passed by one of the artfully-displayed snack tables. A fluffy purple towel was slung over his broad brown shoulders. “I was wondering when you’d get here. I just about to jump in, but—”

“Yowza,” he was cut off by Travis, Jerrid’s best friend from the football team. He had clearly just come from the pool. “Lookin’ scrumptious, Andicakes.”

I blinked, then shrugged. “Um, thanks?”

Vik’s expression darkened and he stepped over to Travis. “Hey dude, don’t talk to my friend that way.”

Travis lifted his hands and flashed Vik a bleached smile. “Chill, man! No disrespect.” He turned to me and ran his tanned fingers back through his wet blonde hair. “Heading poolwards?”

“Andi doesn’t swim,” Vik snapped.

I groaned internally. There he went again. The protective brother thing could really get beyond awkward sometimes. Outwardly, I just shook my head and managed an inept half-smile. “You boys have fun though.”