Chapter 3

Once we got there, I looked around and pointed to Noah, who was dancing with girls flocking around him.

I continued looking around until my eyes landed on Desmond, and this time, he was alone. His girlfriend was nowhere in sight, and he was heading towards me with that smile that made me fall for him the first time.

"Hey, my dear friend." Desmond placed his hands on my shoulders, and the familiar rush of emotions returned.

It was like an electric shock coursing through my body.

I forced a smile, trying my best to hide the feelings I had for him.

My heart raced like an incessant drum, and to make matters worse, he was laughing and refused to let go of my shoulder.

"Desmond." l muttered, removing his hand from my shoulder.

"Where's your girlfriend?" I asked, hoping my question would divert his attention.

Desmond sighed and folded his arms.

I sighed in relief that he was keeping his hands to himself, sparing me from the overwhelming effect of this sensation.

It was agonizing being so close to him and not being able to ask him to be mine.

"She left to babysit her siblings." He replied, placing his hand on my shoulder again and gently squeezing it.

I couldn't contain it, and a low moan escaped my lips.

"Why the heck are you moaning?" He chuckled and patted my back.

Because you're making it hard for me to think, I wanted to say, but I bit my lips and laughed.

"Eighteen is a great age." I said, trying to engage in a conversation with him, something to distract me from staring at his lips and the sensation of his hand on my shoulder.

"What are you trying to say?" Desmond playfully rolled his eyes at me. "In two months, I'll be turning that age, so don't think that you..."

Sonnia joined the conversation and slapped Desmond's back. "Stop complaining, Desmond. We're older than you."

"With two months." Desmond retorted, scoffing. "Stop acting as if we're years apart!"

Sonnia and I laughed at him.

"What? Is it funny?" He asked, and we both shrugged our shoulders, as if in perfect synchronization.

"Whatever."

"Hey, children!" Noah appeared among us, clapping his hands. "What are you three doing here, chatting like grown-ups? We have a party going on!"

"You mean the party where you're dancing with five girls?" Sonnia retorted.

"Of course. I'm having fun dancing while you three are standing here like idiots."

"You're the idiot. Where's Mel?" Sonnia asked, scanning the area.

There was no sign of Mel anywhere.

"Well.." Noah cleared his throat, looking around. "Where's your, uh, less than intelligent boyfriend? Isn't he supposed to be somewhere around here?"

I nudged him on the shoulder, shaking my head at him, hoping he'd realize it was not an appropriate topic. But he persisted, even laughing. "I guess the less-than-intelligent one didn't show up. And you," he pointed at me. "Have you found who you want yet?"

Just as I was about to reply, Sonnia grabbed his ear and pulled him down to her level.

"Never mention that jackass' name in front of me again!" She warned, her voice carrying a loud annoyance, and then she pushed Noah away.

Noah groaned and rubbed his ear. "I don't know why I have a baby sister who hates me so much."

He scoffed and turned to leave. But then he stopped and faced us with his arms folded. "Since none of us have found anyone, why don't we have fun tonight?"

He suggested, inviting us to a game after the party.

"I..." I started, intending to decline, but Desmond, placing his hand on my shoulder, answered on our behalf.

"We're interested!" He shouted.

This is a dangerous game

I don't think I can hold it in anymore.

But he has a girlfriend, and I can't even seem to have the courage to ask him because he doesn't...

I heaved a deep sigh as all these thoughts ran through my head, and I looked up at Desmond, who was running his hands through his hair and laughing.

This was torture, I thought as I continued to look at him.

When our eyes met, he gave me a bright smile that lit up the whole room, and soon, my stupid heart started beating so fast that it felt like I was about to have a heart attack.

"Desmond." I muttered, lost in a trance, and raised my hand to touch his face. "You look..." I had almost said that he looked beautiful when Noah shouted that the party was over.

"Thank you for coming, old folks, but now it's time for the teenagers' party!" He announced, clapping his hands before leading a group of teenagers out of the garden in the direction of our building.

"We should follow him." Desmond said, pulling me towards them before I could say anything.

When I turned to see where Sonnia was, she was also following behind, engaged in a conversation with a boy I didn't even recognize.

I frowned. I had wanted to go meet her, so not to do anything irrational, but Desmond's hold on me made it impossible.

It was messing with my head.

He had no idea what his touch was doing to me, and no matter how hard I tried to pretend that I was unaffected, it was there, and only I was suffering.

I closed my eyes throughout the walk to the mansion, blocking his scent from my head and the fantasies I pictured myself indulging in with him.

It wasn't until we got to the living room that I fluttered my eyes open.