“A charmer, as always.”
"Well, you’re pretty, as always. Like a southern belle, but take that and shove it as far south as it can go. Past the Equator. Into the land down under, kangaroos, and Vegemite territory. That kind of southern belle."
She laughs just as a girl edges closer, her arm brushing against mine and nudging Shelby in the process. Shelby tightens her grip on my hand, shifts her stance, and positions herself firmly between us, throwing a sharp, unmistakable look over her shoulder. The girl reads the message loud and clear, hands raised in surrender before she spins away into the crowd. “Feisty Shelby has entered the chat.”
Shelby is gorgeous and sweet, so seeing her throw some sass around makes me drunkenly laugh.
“Rude,” she says back. “I don’t care if everyone knows I’m with Christian and everyone thinks you’re single, we are dancing here…no cutsies.” She frowns trying to seek out the girl once more.
“I think you frightened her off.”
She sighs. “After the year I’ve had, I’m done with people controlling me, even her. This is my dance, and she can bugger off. Which, honestly, is why I asked you to dance.”
I let the words settle for half a beat before flashing a lazy, knowing grin. “Ooh, alternate motives, you say? Because I was under the impression it was my devastatingly good looks and undeniable charm that had you begging me to dance.”
She laughs at that. “Well, there was that! But I just wanted to check in after…everything?” She smiles, but a shimmer of unshed tears begins to appear in her blue eyes.
“Don’t do that,” I warn, brushing my thumb over her cheek and wiping a tear that just escaped. “I’m fine, you’re fine. Christian, Seth, and Walsh are all perfectly fine.”
“But…”
“But nothing, Shelby. None of this is—or was—your fault, and no matter how many times I replay that night in my head, I still wouldn’t have done anything differently.”
She sucks in a deep breath and nods her head, letting my words sink in, but I see the doubt still lingering. I grasp her face with both hands, firm but careful, forcing her gaze to meet mine. “Okay?”
“Okay,” she answers with a nod.
“I mean, next time, if you want me to tackle you to the ground, something less dramatic would be good. And grass…grass would be favorable; hell, even that stupid air mattress would have been softer.”
“The one with Letti and Dani’s drool on it?”
“That’s the one. Which also after deflating on me is now safely in the trash.”
She laughs and I let go of her face and wrap her in a hug, then pull her back into a spin, catching her, and pulling her back into our dance pose.
“I’m glad you stood your ground with that chick just now. You’re doing me a massive favor. The last thing I need is a drunk girl grinding up against my junk when I haven’t had sex in a month.”
“That’s kinda gross, but I’m also very proud of you.” She slaps me on the chest. “And on that note, we need another drink,” she says, looking around for an escape route.
“Damn straight,” I yell over the music.
I follow her through the crowd, making our way to the bar, where we order more shots, cocktails, and beer.
A few hours later, when I shoulder the door and stumble out into the cool night, I’m floating on air. My friends trail behind me as we wait for our Uber to take us home.
Tonight was fun. Good times and amazing company, and there is only one thing that could have made it better…Rachel…with me…and in my bed.
33
Randy
“Hey, Mullins!” I yell up ahead as I make my way from one class to the next.
“Ohhh shiiiittt!” Mitch breathes out beside me.
I hold Rachel’s coffee in my hand and resist the urge to squeeze the cup in anger.
“Just remember what Cap said,” Reilly says from beside Mitch.
