“Promise me, Hunt. The place is crammed, and Dad will pack me off to boarding school if fighting breaks out and the house is damaged.”
“I’ll take it outside.” It’s the best I can offer when I’m blind right now.
Thor curses under his breath. “Don’t make me regret this, bro,” he says, releasing me.
I take off like a bullet from a gun, shoving people away as I make my way into the living room. The girls must’ve been over here earlier decorating the house because it looks fucking amazing. Pumpkin lanterns hang from the ceiling in between swathes of black fabric. Fake cobwebs and plastic bats cover the walls and furniture. Skulls and snakes plastered in fake blood litter the surfaces of tables along with black and orange balloons.A table has been set up against the far wall in the living room, covered in an orange cloth with impressions of ghosts and witches patterned over it. An array of booze, sweets, and cake are spread out on top, and several students help themselves using paper plates stacked off to one side.
I can’t see Astrid anywhere, and my fear is escalating. “Where the hell is she?” I ask my mate.
“She was right there a few minutes ago.” Thor points at a chair beside the fire. “Skit.” Any other time, I’d laugh at his Swedish cursing.
“Who is she with?” I snap, my gaze frantically jumping around the space.
Air whistles from his mouth as he stares at me. “You need to keep it together. We’ll find her.”
“Who is it, Goodrich?” I ask in a clipped tone. “Spit it out.”
“Hemsworth.”
“She’s back with her ex?” Shock whittles through me, quickly replaced with anger.
“Doubt it, but she was angry when she arrived and half-lit already. Joe saw an opportunity and went for it.”
“I’m going to kill him,” I seethe, taking off when I spot Gwen and Scott pawing at one another in a corner. I charge toward them, pushing myself all up in their space. “Where is Astrid?”
Gwen spins around to face me, wearing a flowy pink dress with a silver crown on her head, like she’s a Disney princess or something. For some reason, it looks all wrong on her. She rakes her gaze momentarily over my shredded black jeans and hoodie combo. “Not surprised you didn’t make any effort. Too busy screwing your new fuck buddy to bother with a costume, huh?”
I’m not even dignifying that with a reply. Besides, the only person who deserves the truth is Astrid, and I need to find her ASAP. “Quit the bullshit, Gwen. Where is Astrid?” I ask again, watching Scott wrap a protective arm around his girlfriend.
Gwen levels me with a smug look that concerns me. “You broke things off, and it’s none of your business where she is.”
“Just fucking tell me where she went with him!” I yell.
“Don’t shout at her.” Scott pulls Gwen back against his chest, shooting me a warning look.
“Screw this.” This is a waste of my time. I spin around, deciding to search the house from top to bottom until I find her.
“She’s upstairs with Joe,” Gwen calls after me, and I stop walking and breathing. No! “You’re too late, Cal.” Pity bleeds into her tone and her expression as she comes around in front of me. “She offered you everything, and you threw it back in her face, so she’s giving Joe what could’ve been yours.”
Pain, unlike anything I’ve ever felt before, barrels into me, threatening to take my legs out from under me. No, she wouldn’t do that. That is not who Astrid is. Unless I’ve driven her to act out of character. Considering what she saw earlier tonight, it’s quite possible that’s exactly what I’ve done, but I’ve got to stop her before she makes a mistake I know she’ll regret.
Pushing past Gwen, I race out of the living room and back down the hallway, conscious of pounding feet following me. I practically throw people aside in my haste to clear the hallway, taking the stairs two at a time. Adrenaline is coursing through my veins, and blood is thumping in my ears as I fling open guest bedroom doors, one at a time, not giving a shite that I interrupt couples fucking inside.
When I reach the last door, I don’t hesitate, storming inside and growling at the scene I find. Astrid is spread-eagled on the bed, with her eyes closed, wearing the tiniest angel costume I’ve ever seen. The thin-strapped scraps of silver barely cover her breasts, and apart from the feathered wings on her back, the only other item she’s wearing is a white layered tutu skirt Hemsworth currently has his hands under. He’s bare-chested, and his jeans are undone as he turns and smirks at me.
My blood boils, and I lose it, lunging at him and ripping him away from my girl. Joe falls on his back on the floor. Astrid whimpers, and her eyes flutter open and closed. The room reeks of booze, and I’m going to kill that prick. Before I can slam my fist in his face, multiple arms wind around me, pulling me back. “He’s not worth it,” Thor says in my ear before adding, “And Astrid needs you.”
“Don’t worry,” Riley says, watching a few of my teammates grab Hemsworth under the arms. “We’ll make him pay for this.” Joe is shouting and thrashing, trying to buck them off, but he’s outnumbered. At least until the rest of the football team downstairs figures out what’s going on and arrives to back him up.
Thor must have the same thought because he steps beside me and says, “Take him outside. Use the back stairs so no one sees.” A muscle pops in his jaw as his gaze bounces from a clearly drunk Astrid to Joe.
“What did you do to her?” I demand, glaring at Joe.
“Nothing she didn’t want.”
“She’s in no fit state to know what she wants!” I roar, trying to evade the arms securing me in place, wanting to inflict damage on this asshole.
“I’m calling the cops,” Thor says, removing his phone.
