I’ll choke him if he eventhinksabout going after her.
I turn back to my team, brushing any thoughts of him from my mind as I stare at Claire’s smile.
You are a mystery waiting to be solved pretty girl, but I like the clues I’m getting along the way.
fifteen
CLAIRE
Holy shit, it actually worked, they actually won because of something I had to say. I almost didn’t say anything at all because I was too scared of speaking up.
It felt good to know that Lucas actually listened to me. It was weird when he picked me up though, I don’t like the feeling I got in the pit of my stomach.
We pull into the driveway, and Blair instantly throws me over his shoulder. I let out a loud laugh, looking up at the others while he bolts into the house. They’re all laughing with me —or at me— but I really don’t care because I’m having the best day ever.
“Claire is a badass, Claire is a badass” Blair sings over and over again while running around the living room. He stands me up onto the coffee table and then gets down onto one knee, “bow down to the all knowing, queen Claire bear.” The others all join him on the ground, bowing before me as I let out a loud, deep laugh. These boys are crazier than anyone I’ve ever met.
“Stand before me as I give a speech, my royal subject.” They all stand as I clear my throat, saluting to me as if I’m some general in the army. “I cannot take all the credit, I must thank you all for the absolutely horrid playing you did today. Without you, I would have never had this opportunity, so I say… lets throw a fucking party!”
Taunting these boys will never get old.
“You little shit” August laughs some more, lunging towards me.
I screech and jump off the table. Running towards the kitchen, I hear the boys laughing while they chase after me. I climb onto the counter top and swat away their hands.
Davis accidentally hits me behind my knee, and I lose my balance, falling off the counter and towards the floor. Before I can fully register what’s about to happen, I feel a pair of hands catch me. I look up to see Lucas’s brown eyes looking down with concern as he sets me down.
Is he being…gentle?
His soft touch leaves my body and I’m stunned for a moment while I process. His arms felt so warm, so safe.
“Careful Claire, almost hurt that pretty little head of yours” he whispers. Goosebumps erupt all along my neck, and my spine begins to tingle. What the fuck is happening to me right now?
* * *
“Mister Miller… truth or dare?” Davis asks.
“Dare,obviously” Miller responds, rolling his eyes.
Davis thinks about it for a second before smiling devilishly, “I dare you to run the naked mile down the street.”
Without hesitation, Miller starts stripping off his clothes while Steph and I whistle and cheer him on. He sends us a wink and we fake fangirl. He sprints towards the door, running out onto the street while the rest of us chase after him to watch. He runs to the end of our block and just as he’s coming back… security turns the corner.
“Miller!” I yell, pointing towards the campus security car.
Usually I wouldn’t care about campus security, but some of us are underage, and the hockey team being drunk on a Wednesday night isn’t thebestlook for the university.
Everyone rushes into the house, and I wait for Miller to get inside before I follow. I want to make sure the guy doesn’t get charged with public nudity, or intoxication for that matter. Once the door is closed, we burst into laughter. A round of applause is directed towards Miller while he takes a bow.
We go back to the living room and continue our game. I take a seat on the floor and tell August that the spot on the couch –next to Steph– is all his.
Steph’s eyes widen and August blushes before finally sitting next to her. They both sit a little stiff before finally relaxing, and to my surprise, August puts his arm around her. It’s not wrapped around her shoulder or anything, just resting behind her, but it’s a start.
“Alright, I choose Steph” Miller says, putting his clothes back on. “Truth or dare?”
“Truth” she says.
“What’s your most embarrassing story?”
