I shimmy a little. “Thanks. It’s not as cool as a toga, though. I’d kill for a blanket down here.” Maybe-Alexis tips her head to the side, causing her wig to slip, and I reach out to straighten it. She slurps her drink. “I’m going to get a refill.”

“See ya,” I say, even though I probably won’t. Was-it-Annie? is the fourth girl I’ve talked to tonight, and as soon as each one guzzles down her drink, I never see them again. Making friends at a party is far trickier than I realized. One, I keep forgetting everyone’s names, and/or I can’t hear them over the music. And two, basically zero people have boundaries. Except my boyfriend, who is not drinking.

“They feel safe with you.” His warm breath sends shivers along the back of my neck as he presses in close to be heard over the music.

I spin to look at his face. “You think?”

He shrugs, stepping back a little. “Sure. You’re approachable and don’t have an ulterior motive.”

“Not the boys, I’ve noticed. They’re steering clear.”

He rubs his chin, subtly covering what I am certain is a smile.

I step closer, tracing a fingertip along the back of his hand. “You seem very pleased with yourself, Micah Allen.”

He wraps my fingers in his giant, warm ones. “I haven’t said a word.”

I nod, smirking. “Of course. Just letting those biceps do the talking for you?”

He seems to fight with himself a moment and settles on insecure. “Would you rather I take a lap? Give you some space?”

I’m shaking my head before he even finishes the thought. “Please don’t. You make me feel safe.”

He presses a relieved kiss to my forehead. “Good.”

Suddenly, my arm is yanked. “They’re playing our song, Hennessey!”

I grin at Duke’s antics and take a little sip of my drink before handing my cup to Micah. “Be right back.”

Last week, while I was couch-bound and waiting for my shoulders to heal, I convinced Duke to hang out with me one afternoon and binge-watch movies. Turns out, he has a bit of a thing for the Killers, so when Cameron Diaz lost her mind to “Mr. Brightside” in The Holiday, he pulled me off the couch and insisted we dance like maniacs right there in the living room.

I can’t say I minded one bit, even if my shoulders felt sunburned the rest of the night.