“Guess it runs in the family, huh?”
“Yeah.” She gulped. “My dad started me young.”
“I know that feeling,” I grumbled. “Are you ready to party with the team?”
“I...” She rolled her lips together, but I could see she was almost ready to burst with excitement.
“She’s a little excited.”
“The team is going to love having Quaker royalty in the house.”
“Oh no, you can’t tell them, please?” Her whole demeanor changed.
“Sure, yeah, okay.” I glanced at Felicity and she gave me an imperceptible shake of her head.
Just what I needed. A party I didn’t want to go to, a girlfriend who was questioning our relationship at every turn, and a fan who looked like she’d never partied in her life.
Tonight, was going to be a fucking disaster.
The party was already in full swing by the time we arrived. Felicity wanted to run by the apartment and change. She’d let Elodie borrow an outfit and the two of them looked dressed to kill. It didn’t worry me where Felicity was concerned—everyone knew she was off limits. But Elodie was fresh meat and so far out of her comfort zone she may as well have worn a neon sign.
“Oh wow, that’s a lot of people,” she breathed, her eyes wide with wonder as she took in the house.
“Don’t worry,” Felicity squeezed her hand, “we’ll get a couple of drinks inside you and you’ll be fine.”
“I’m sure Griffin or one of the guys will be more than happy to help—”
“Jason.”
“What?” I balked. If Felicity thought I was going to spend the night playing babysitter, she was sorely mistaken. I wanted to show my face, have a couple of beers, and then get the hell out of there.
“We can’t just let the guys loose on her.”
“Relax, I’m joking.” Mostly. But Elodie was already gone, walking into the house as if she was entering a magical wonderland or some shit.
I hooked an arm around Felicity and dragged her into my side. She pressed a hand against my chest, gazing up at me. “Are you okay being here?”
“I am.” She nodded. “Who knows, maybe I’ll even have some fun?” Her eyes flicked to Elodie.
My brows knitted together. “Are you saying you don’t have fun with me?”
“You know what I mean.” She leaned up to kiss me, scraping her nails lightly over my jaw. Blood flowed straight to my dick and I groaned under my breath when she grabbed my hand and yanked me into the house.
“Yo, Ford, get over here.”
Music pumped out of a speaker somewhere, bodies already grinding and rubbing on each other. Griffin and Gio made a beeline for me, pulling me into a guy hug. I tried to keep hold of Felicity’s hand, but she let me go, mouthing, “I’m going to find Elodie,” who had already disappeared into the sea of people.
“Behave,” I yelled, because although we were in a house full of teammates, Felicity was still my girl.
And I really didn’t want to spend the night fighting off the vultures.
Felicity
“I think I’m drunk,” Elodie giggled, burying her face in Griffin’s shoulder.
“How many did she have?” he asked me, and I shrugged.
“About four.” As opposed to my eight, but even after double the amount of drinks, I still wasn’t as drunk as my new friend.
“Four? Holy shit, she’s—”
“Happy.” Her head snapped up. “I’m sooo happy. Let’s do more of those funky smelling shots.” She started to reach for the rest beside her six-foot two leaning post, but Griffin wrapped her into a bear hug. “Oh no you don’t, new girl.”
“I’ll have one,” I piped up.
“I think you’ve had enough,” Jason ground out.
“Oh, don’t be such a spoilsport.” I tapped his cheek. “We’re having fun.”
“Fun.” Elodie punched the air, almost falling backward but Griffin steadied her. He seemed smitten, a glint in his eye.
“You need to watch Griff,” I whispered to Jason, swaying gently. “He’s looking at El the way you look at me.”
“Oh yeah?” He dipped his head to mine, electricity crackling between us. “And how do I look at you?”
“Like you want to devour me.”
Jason smirked, stealing a chaste kiss. “You’re fun when you’re drunk.”
“Then I should probably drink more.” I shot him a saucy wink before diving for the tray of shooters.
I don’t know what came over me, but for the first time in a long time, I felt like my old self. Fun and free and not tied down by the weight of expectation and responsibility. It was ironic really, but it seemed that the quiet, shy girl from my class had unleashed something inside me.
I downed the murky looking drink and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, enjoying the burn as it slid down my throat.
“Your girl is on form tonight, Ford.” Griffin said, his arm still wrapped around Elodie.
“Fee is the best,” she slurred. “I think I have a girl crush.”
“Okay, drunk girl.” I wrangled her off Griffin. “We are going to dance.”
“Dance?” She shrieked. “But I don’t dance.”
“Well,” I grinned, “you do now.”
The room was spinning. Sweat coated my skin, little beads of moisture trailing down my back and chest as we moved to the beat. I’d lost track of time, dancing and laughing. No one bothered us, not with Jase and Griffin standing watch like two sentries put on the Earth with the sole purpose of protecting us.
“I think Griff likes you,” I said to my new friend. She’d switched to water earlier, protesting when Griffin had insisted she drink it. But I knew she’d thank him tomorrow morning when she woke. Although I had a sneaky suspicion she wouldn’t be waking up in her own bed.
“I don’t feel so good,” I reached out for her, a wave of nausea crashing over me.
“Shit, Felicity—”
Strong arms caught me. “I’m taking you home.”
“But I’m still dancing.” I stared up at my savior.
“Babe, you can barely stand.” Jason pulled me into his side and said something to Elodie and Griffin. Over the music and the blood pounding between my ears, I could barely make out a single word.
Then we were moving. Cool air rushing over my skin and dousing the heat coursing through my veins. “Wait.” I sagged against Jason’s body. “I don’t feel so good.”
“I got you, babe,” he said, sounding far too sober. Come to think of it, I hadn’t seen him with a drink for hours.
“Why aren’t you drunk?” The words came out a garbled mess as he propped me against the wall so I could catch my breath.
“I had two beers then switched to soda.”
“But why? It’s a celebration... everyone came to celebrate you.” All night I’d watched people gravitate to Jason. He was the sun and they wanted to be in his orbit.
Or was it gravity?