“Kris, are you high?” Andi asks bluntly.
Kristy freezes mid-pushup. “What? Why would you even ask that?”
“Because you’re acting weird,” I say gently.
She rolls her eyes. “I am not. You’re dramatic. I just like staying fit.” She pops upright. “Anyway, gotta check Instagram.”
And just like that, she jogs off toward the balcony.
I exchange a look with Andi. “Right…”
Casey skates up to us and screeches to a stop. “What was that about?”
“No clue,” I reply.
Casey follows my gaze toward Raoul and Cooper at the VIP entrance, and she sighs. “Do you think they know how to have fun?”
I wrinkle my nose. “The security team? Why?”
“They look so serious. Raoul loosened up around Kiera in Ligonier, but now he’s all broody again. Cooper’s better, but still…” She grins mischievously. “I could make them smile.”
Mercs chuckles. “They have a job to do, Casey.”
“So do I,” she shoots back. “To make people smile. Challenge accepted.” She rolls toward them. “Hey, Cooper! What do you think of my new skates?”
Tank shakes his head. “We need to tattoo ‘crazy’ on her forehead.”
Andi smacks him upside the head. “That’s my cousin, jerk.”
“Runs in the family?” he teases, widening his eyes in mock fear before Andi punches his bicep.
“You’ll keep,” she tells him, smiling.
I turn back to Mercs and catch him staring at me with that look, that calculating look. He’s plotting something.
“What’s going on in that brain of yours, Mr. Mercury?” I ask.
He smirks. “Come with me.”
Before I can question him, he grabs my hand and pulls me toward Raoul and Cooper.
Raoul takes one look at Mercs’ expression and groans. “I don’t know what you’re planning, but I already hate it.”
I giggle.
“Raoul,” Mercs says smoothly. “I need you to escort Effa and me somewhere.”
Raoul exhales sharply. “And you’re going whether I come or not?”
“Yes.”
Cooper chuckles. “I’ll survive, grumpy ass.Go. Casey will keep me entertained.”
Raoul clenches his jaw. “That’s what I’m worried about.” He sighs. “Fine. I’ll escort you.”
Within moments, security closes in around us. This club has a back exit, thankfully, so we avoid the chaos of the main floor. Raoul leads, guards flanking us, another at our backs, and we move quickly down the stairs and out into the alley where a car waits.
Raoul opens the door, and Mercs and I slide in. The others peel away once Raoul climbs into the driver’s seat and starts the engine.
