Cade looks down at Shay before speaking again. “Tonight is going to be perfect.”
She looks at him and smiles. “So perfect.”
My eyes dart between them both. “You guys are acting weird. Cut it out before I walk home.”
Cade presses a quick kiss to my forehead before draping his arm over Shay’s shoulder. “Hey, Shay. Can you help me out with something in the kitchen?” His voice sounds robotic, as if he’s reading off a script, but Shay doesn’t seem to notice and lets him lead her into the house.
I make a beeline for the couch, and as soon as my butt hits the cushion, a body drops heavily into my lap.
“You’re late, Cap.” Adri hiccups, curling around me like a koala. “What’s up with that?”
Jo settles beside me, holding six fingers in the air over Adri’s head before pretending to strangle herself.
“I’m not late, babe. You’ve just been pregaming since practice ended,” I laugh, pulling a piece of curly hair from her pouty, glossed lips.
“Yup. I needed to get ready to kick your ass at the scavenger hunt.”
“Please be serious, Adrienne,” Jo yells over the music. “You’ll be asleep before it even starts.”
Adri doesn’t fight back because she can’t. Her head falls into the crook of my neck, warming the skin with soft, rum-scented breaths.
“She’s something else,” I chuckle, rubbing her back. “I have no idea how she’s sleeping through this.”
My eyes rake over the crowd of bodies dancing to Akon, but the one I’m searching for doesn’t appear. I turn to chat with Jo, but she’s already watching me.
I would say looking at me, but Jo is just as observant as I am, which means I’m being watched.
“Looking for anyone in particular?” she asks.
“Nope,” I lie.
She leans back, keeping her gaze on the butterfly puzzle hanging on the wall. “Okay, Mal. Whatever you say. And just in case youdidwant to know, I also haven’t seen him.”
Note to self: no more updates for the girls because all they do is give me shit.
The volume of the room drops, giving my ears a much-needed moment of relief. The dining table creaks as Cade climbs on top of it with Shay holding onto his leg.
“Hello, party people!” he hollers. The room hoots, and red cups of green beer are held toward the ceiling. “Thanks for coming to K.C.’s St. Patty’s Day Bash! After three years, you guys know the rules, but here’s a reminder. Get in your own bed if you want to get freaky, treat the house with respect, and no peeing in the grass, which means you better find a toilet.”
“Hey!” someone shouts, clearly offended by the last rule.
“The scavenger hunt will start in thirty minutes, and we’re mixing it up this year. First, the gift card for the winner is doubled and was gifted to us by our favorite bar, Roddy’s Place. Last year’s winner had a little too much fun and spent five times more than the amount of the gift card. Isn’t that right, Kent?”
Accented by slaps to his back, a familiar laugh stands out in the crowd. I perk up slightly at the sound. He’s here.
“The second change is… drum roll, please,” Cade sings. Everyone pats their laps obediently, smiling up at the man who controls every room.
“We…”
A wicked grin splits across Cade’s lips.
“Have…”
Shay winks at me, and I know. My fate is sealed.
“Partners! Check the sheets on the walls to find your partner. Discuss a game plan and get ready to have some fun.”
I offer my best friends a one finger salute, but they’re intentionally avoiding me and rapping “Still Fly” by Big Tymers. How dare they ignore me with my own party playlist?
