Just One Glance (Oh Tequila Series Book 5)

I mean who willingly signs up to live in a zoo? Knowing that I was going to be surrounded by the grossest, vulgarest guys and was still accepted with a smile.
Lifting my bottle to my lips, I emptied the last small amount of water. Yeah, a beer would be better, maybe a shot, but I’d made a promise to myself. So instead I turned around to head back to the kitchen for another bottle from the fridge when I froze, staring ahead.
Long brown hair falling over her shoulders in waves. Timidity rolling off of her as she looked around the room. I immediately sensed her discomfort as she stood so close to her friend that she was almost hidden behind her. Biting her lip, worrying it while she tugged on the end of her shorts. They weren’t even that short, not compared to most of the girls that were running around here, but it was obvious she felt they should be longer.
I remained off to the side of the large open archway that led to the kitchen, leaning against the frame, watching her, though she’d yet to notice. Something about her stood out, maybe it was the fact that she wasn’t trying to gain the attention of every guy in the room but the complete opposite. I caught myself smiling when her friend said something to her and her eyes grew even wider.
“What are ya staring at?” Clay’s southern drawl from my right did nothing to pull my attention away from the girl. I continued to watch her, wanting, and maybe hoping a little that she’d look my way. “It’s not the ape, is it?” Ignoring his chuckle, I squeezed the bottle in my hand and heard the plastic crinkle in my fist. “Or is it the devil in red? Did she come back to find another target?”
“Shut up.” Shoving him away, he stumbled before laughing as he wandered away.
Looking back toward the brunette, or where she once was, I found the space empty. Disappointment filled my chest as I quickly scanned the entire room and into the next. My heart raced the more time that passed. Fear that I might have missed a chance to meet her hits me.
Loud chants rung out behind me as a group of guys and girls started jumping around to some song that came on the radio. The room erupted and Isaac took off running just before jumping into the crowd and being lifted in the air as they moved him across the group.
The noise became too much, so I stepped out onto the front porch where it was quieter. The house next to us showed no signs of movement inside, most of them being here for the party. Walking around the covered porch, I sat on the bench tucked back into the darkest part of the area and lounged back, stretching my long legs out before me. Allowing my head to rest back against the tall back, I closed my eyes and listened to the muffled laughter and music from inside.
“Too loud for you too?”
I was stalled by the soft voice of a female and jerked up in surprise. Looking around, I saw the girl from before. She was sitting on the front step leading down to the driveway, hidden in the shadows perfectly. I could barely see her face, but I remembered the shirt she was wearing and the light blue practically glowed in the darkness.
“Sorry.” She shifted her body and that’s when her timid eyes came into view. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“I didn’t see you there.” Leaning forward, I rested my elbows on my knees. This gave me the opportunity to bring myself in a little closer. She didn’t attempt to back away, only leaned her body against the railing of the stairs. “Being out here in the dark alone probably isn’t the safest place to be.”
“Why, are you frightened of the dark?”
Laughing, I saw her fight her own smile and felt myself relaxing a little more. Sliding off the bench, I sat on the stairs beside her, but not too close. I didn’t want her running off.
“I was referring to you.”
“I know.” She shrugged and looked out over the driveway, giving me the perfect view of her side profile. “I was in there though, and out here seems much less destructive.” I found myself watching her lips as she talked. The way they moved as she formed each word. “I’m not one for parties.”
“They’re trouble.” She shifted her gaze back to meet my own. “I live here and I can assure you that shit always goes sour.”
“Meaning?”
“Let’s just say that when you get a bunch of frat guys in one house and you add alcohol, they tend to find ways to torture the others.” She arched her brow, causing me to chuckle. “Nothing too horrible, just shaving heads, drawing on each other with permanent markers, piercings, those kinds of things.”
“That sounds kind of horrible, if you ask me.”
Her innocence was refreshing.
“Have you had those things happen to you?”
I clammed up instantly. The last thing I wanted to tell this perfect girl was that just a week ago I was drugged and dragged off so a she-devil and an ape could have their way with me.

Chapter Sixteen
Ruby
I couldn’t look away, and honestly I didn’t want to. I had no idea what his name was but I knew that being here talking to him, it didn’t make me want to run and hide. That was a new feeling for me.
But the sour look that had now formed on his face made me wonder if I’d been wrong.
“I’ve had my share of pranks pulled on me.” He finally broke the silence that had settled between us. “But I’ve pulled plenty of my own too.”
“Should I be nervous?”
“Nah,