Babysitting the Player

Chapter 16

"What the hell?" Bryce looks at his house in shock.

"How do you even know enough people here to throw a party?"

"I don't. They must have the wrong house."

"All of them?"

"This is insane."

I park in my driveway, my car narrowly fitting between two others parked on the road to make it into the driveway.

"Can I stay at your place tonight?" Bryce looks at two girls walking through the road towards his house as we get out of the car.

"Sure."

"Wait a minute. I know them."

"Who?" I ask, looking at the girls.

I don't recognize them from school.

"They're from Maryland."

"You invited a bunch of your old friends up here?"

"No."

"Then who did?"

"I don't know."

"Well, what now?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know them so are you going over and joining your party or are we hiding at my place until tomorrow morning?"

"I guess we're going over there."

"We?"

"Yeah, we. I'm not gonna go hang out with a bunch of people from home without you."

"Why not?"

"You can meet some of my old friends."

"Bryce-"

"Alex, come on."

I let out a sigh and press the lock button on my keys. "Fine."

"Thank you. You're the best." He grabs my hand and pulls me towards his house.

Everyone attending seems to be going around to the back of the house so I'm surprised when he leads me to the front door.

"What are you doing? Don't you want to go back there?"

"In a minute." He lets us into his empty house and takes us to his room. "You can leave your keys on my desk."

"Thanks," I say as I drop them down on it. "So you have no idea who's actually here?"

"None."

"This is so weird."

"Agreed."

"So about the two girls you recognized."

"Yeah?"

"Did you ever, um, hook up with them?"

"No," he says and pulls me in for a hug.

"Good."

"I guess we should go out there."

"I guess so."

He flicks off his bedroom light and I follow him up the stairs.

"Wait."

"What?"

"What if your friends don't like me?"

"They'll like you."

"But what if they don't?"

"They will."

"But-"

"Alex. They're gonna love you."