“Hey, baby.” Liv places a hand on Brooks’ shoulder, and he leans down to hear her. “Can we go get that booze now? I have a sorority meeting early in the morning.”
“Yeah.” He kisses her head. “We’ll be back.”
A small group of people brushes past them on their way out the door, and even though I see Brinley first, my eyes quickly find Ember following right behind her.
I don’t know what butterflies feel like; I’ve never had them before, but I’m pretty sure that’s what the sensation is taking over my body. And not the kind of sensation that only hits me in one place, but the kind that makes my whole body feel like it’s overheating.
If I ever told the guys how she makes me feel, they’d never let me live it down. You don’t typically tell your friends that a girl makes you feel safe.
“Who’s the guy?” Jaxon’s eyes burn as he stares at the guy behind Brinley and Ember.
“I think that’s Brin’s friend.” I look up at him with a shrug. “She said she was bringing someone, but I’ve never met him.”
“Huh,” he replies, taking a sip of his drink.
“Hey,” Brinley says, wrapping her arms around me, but my eyes stay on Ember.
“Hey, Brin.” I squeeze her back.
“This is Alex.” She smiles, motioning to the guy behind her. “Alex, this is my brother Declan.”
“Nice to meet you, man.” Alex shakes my hand.
“You too,” I respond before noticing his jersey. “Hockey fan?”
“Oh, uh, not really.” He laughs. “I wasn’t wearing a costume when B arrived, and she said I couldn’t go to a Halloween party without one.”
“B?” Jaxon whispers behind me, and I almost choke.
“I guess we didn’t come up with a very unique costume,” he adds after noticing the sea of jerseys.
“Nah, bro.” I shake my head. “Every year on Halloween, the team wears jerseys. We either become one of our teammates or pick a pro player.”
“That’s a cool tradition.”
“Yeah, last year Zeke was Declan, and he couldn’t make out with anyone the whole party,” Jaxon jumps in.
“You guys take the costumes that seriously, huh?” Ember asks, and I see the smallest of smiles on her lips.
“Halloween is a very important holiday,” I begin. “When something is important to me, I take itveryseriously.”
“Good to know,” she whispers, and I’m surprised by the flirtatious tone in her voice. By her reaction, I think she’s surprised by it too.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Brinley trying to avoid looking at Jaxon, and it’s then I realize she didn’t introduce him to Alex.
“Oh shit, sorry, man.” I throw my arm around Jaxon. “Alex, this is my best bud, Jaxon.”
“Oh, you’re Jaxon,” he says, sticking his hand out. Jaxon’s eyes dart to Brin, who tries to remain calm. “I’ve heard about all of you guys; Brin is a huge hockey fan.”
“That she is.” Jaxon sips his beer, eyes pinned on Brinley, avoiding Alex’s outstretched hand.
“Speaking of hockey,” she yanks Alex’s hand away from Jaxon. “we have more hockey players to meet. If you’ll excuse us.”
She wastes no time pulling him away from us. Instead of following Brinley, though, Ember sticks around.
“You look thirsty,” I break the silence, “let’s get you a drink.”
“I thought you’d never ask.” She follows me into the kitchen. “I’ll take whatever beer you got.”
