“Three.”
“Shit, okay, okay.”
“Two.”
They scattered like roaches.
Ellie shrugged, unbothered. “What are you doing here?” She laughed—fucking laughed—like I was the ridiculous one. It only made the jealousy twist deeper. “I’m just having fun. I don’t even know who Jake is.”
“Don’t care. He looked at you.”
She raised an eyebrow. “I’m not yours, Sawyer.”
“Could’ve fooled me.”
Rachel choked on a laugh.
Ellie smirked lazily. “Didn’t realize I needed your permission to exist in public.”
I hovered over her, caging her in with my hands on either side of her head. “You didn’t need to text me either, but you did.”
Her smirk flickered, and she slouched back into the chair, swirling the melting ice in her glass. “I was drunk.”
“Still are, by the looks of it, baby girl.”
Rachel held up her hands. “Love this energy. Just go home with him. He looks like he’s one second from throwing a chair.”
Ellie lifted her drink defiantly. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m having fun.”
“You’re infuriating,” I said.
She licked her lips. “Maybe I like making you mad.”
That was it. I didn’t think. I bent down, grabbed her waist, and tossed her over my shoulder.
I nodded over to where I saw Ben on watch nearby. “I got her tonight, sir.”
He nodded in response.
“Sawyer!” she shrieked, kicking heels against my chest. “Put me down!”
“Nope,” I grunted, pushing through the crowd. “You’ve had enough fun.”
Heads turned. Phones were out. I didn’t care. Let them watch.
Rachel howled behind us. “If you don’t bang him tonight, I will!”
“Rach!” Ellie yelled.
“You’re welcome, big man!” Rachel shouted as we made our way out.
Without looking back, I waved at Rachel but kept walking. I didn’t stop until we reached the elevator.
Inside, I set her down, my hands lingering on her waist longer than necessary. She swayed, drunk and flushed and so goddamn gorgeous, I couldn’t breathe.
She rounded on me with her pink cheeks and wild eyes. “What the fuck was that?”
I flexed my hands, trying to breathe through my frustration. “This is fun? Being wrapped up in a crowd of guys who want to fuck you?”
