One Night (Friends #0.5) by Monica Murphy Read Free Book Online

moments away.
    Almost.
    “You don’t?” I croak, clearing my throat.
    “I mean, she’s nice, don’t get me wrong.” She is so not nice, but whatever. “But I don’t want her to be my girlfriend or anything like that.”
    “How do you know? You’ve never had a girlfriend before,” I remind him, which is totally weird because Dustin is a catch. He’s smart, he’s cute, he’s a star basketball player and everyone likes him.
    “I have a pretty good idea who I’d want my girlfriend to be like.”
    My heart sinks into my stomach and does a weird loop thing. I want to hear what he has to say, but then again…I don’t. Officially taking it to the next level with Dustin freaks me out.
    And excites me too. Just a little.
    “Come on.” He tugs on my hand and starts walking, dragging me along with him. “Let’s go find somewhere more private.”
    “More private?” My heart is full on racing now. His fingers are tight around mine and he’s walking so fast, I practically have to run to keep up with him. His legs are extra long and mine are super short.
    “Yeah.” He glances over his shoulder, his gaze smoldering. “I want to be alone with you.”
    Oh. Crap.
    Okaaaaay.
    I don’t protest and wonder if it’s all the beer I’ve consumed. Though I don’t feel that drunk. In fact, I’m fairly sober and yet I’m doing this. Going off with Dustin to somewhere “more private”. And we know what we’ll end up doing once we find that private spot.
    No need to spell it out, right?
    We run up the stairs, passing Jordan Tuttle himself who’s talking with a girl I’ve known forever, though we’ve never been that close. Amanda Winters is disentangling herself from his grip and then she’s running down the stairs, her sobs loud enough that I can hear them.
    My heart immediately aches for her. She sounds so sad.
    “What’s up, bro?” Dustin asks, noticing the scowl on Tuttle’s face, no doubt. “Everything okay?”
    “I think she just caught her boyfriend screwing her best friend.” Tuttle’s gaze is locked on the stairwell. “I should go after her. Make sure she’s okay.”
    Before we can answer, he’s gone, calling Amanda’s name.
    Ah, another night of drama at a Tuttle party.
    “Come on.” Dustin’s fingers tighten around mine as he drags me down the extra long hall and into an empty bedroom. He shuts and locks the door behind us and before I can say anything, he has me pressed against the door, his hands at my waist, his mouth locked with mine.
    Dustin is an excellent kisser. It’s like our lips fit perfectly and he knows exactly what I like. His mouth is warm and soft and damp and when his tongue tangles with mine, I almost want to pass out, it feels so good. Like who needs drugs when you have a boy who can kiss you senseless?
    Not me. I’ll stick with Dustin’s lips, thanks.
    Minutes pass and we’re still kissing, my back pressed against the door and Dustin’s body smashed against mine. “Livvy.” He whispers my name close to my ear, his fingers slipping beneath the hem of my shirt and touching bare skin. I want it. I don’t. I want it so much, yet I don’t. Not with Dustin. Maybe with Dustin? Oh God, I don’t know what to do…
    Using all of my strength, I push him until he’s stumbling backwards, his expression one of pure shock. I step away from the door, putting much needed distance between us as I try to catch my breath. Calm my racing heart. Make my head stop spinning.
    “Why’d you stop me?” He sounds hurt. Great.
    “We, um, shouldn’t really do this. Should we?” I sound confused but guess what? I am confused. Is it smart to mess around with him tonight only to turn around and leave tomorrow? I’ll be gone for almost six weeks. Alone at my dad’s house in Oregon, while Dustin is here with our friends, having fun and maybe…eventually…he’ll find someone new.
    And that would break my heart.
    I frown, hating how knotted my stomach becomes at the thought of Dustin