Chapter 18 #2
Her friend snorts and nods her agreement, making Jude chuckle. “Don’t worry, Baby Girl. I’ll take care of it.”
My eyes widen at the nickname and turn to Ezra to catch his reaction, but he only smirks.
Berlyn’s hand squeezes mine and I tighten my grip on hers in reassurance.
Her uneasiness and confusion hit me in waves, almost as if I can feel the chaotic swirl of thoughts that must be running through her mind.
Jude and Ezra both act like they don’t notice her reaction and she silently freaks out, but never pulls away from either one of us.
“Do we have a specific target?” Jude asks her friend who shakes her head back and forth slowly in thought.
“We have options,” she finally answers.
Jude’s laugh is full of glee and I know he’s not faking it or only interested for self-serving purposes.
Trading looks with Ezra, I decide maybe we need to let Jude out of the house more.
He’s living for the gossip Berlyn’s friend is telling him.
We might be being replaced right in front of our eyes.
Berlyn tugs on my hand and I lean down for her to whisper in my ear. “I think your brother is stealing my best friend.”
I snort, and nod my head. “I’ll be your new best friend,” I promise and grin when she blushes.
“Summer’s never taken me to the pumpkin patch,” she teases.
“Whoa,” her friend calls, leaning around Jude to glare at the two of us. “I heard that, brat.” She wags her finger in my direction. She does that a lot when she wants to make a point. “No one can replace me, big guy. Not even hot tattooed men. Even if there are three of you.”
There’s nothing to say back to that. It may have been a warning, but it felt like a compliment.
She’s making us already seem like a done deal.
The way Berlyn can’t quite meet any of our eyes, but also can’t stop herself from smiling is more than enough for me to bow out of the challenge. I already feel like I’ve won.
I tip my head towards her friend who continues to stare at us with a brow raised.
“He’s conceding,” Ezra explains with wry amusement. Her friend hums her acceptance before Jude pulls her attention back to their plan for the night.
The noise grows louder the closer we get to the house. The ground nearly vibrates with the bass of the music blaring through speakers. My shoulders grow tighter with each step. The lights, smoke, and people are going to be overwhelming as soon we step through the door.
“We’ll go to the backyard,” Berlyn promises, noticing my unease. “I don’t like to be in the middle of the chaos either.”
Each moment with her, my smile comes with more ease. It felt almost unfamiliar when we were together at the pumpkin patch, but it’s starting to feel as natural as breathing. She keeps pulling out new sides to me that I wasn’t even aware of.
The smell of sweat, perfume, beer, and the cloying chemical sweetness of the fog machine hit me like a punch to the gut and my smile is quick to fall. Berlyn giggles at my side.
“We need drinks,” Ezra decides, leading us to the kitchen.
Jude and Berlyn’s friend fall behind us as we push through the crowd.
People are quick to move out of our way, but almost everyone has their eyes glued to our group.
The women are drawn to Ezra in front of me, while the men’s eyes trace over Berlyn, landing where her dress ends.
I release her hand and pull her into my side, glaring at the men who look like they may try and strike up a conversation with her.
Her friend snorts and makes a comment to Jude that I miss most of but sounds a lot like making fun of me. Or making fun of my possessiveness at least.
Ezra pours shots of tequila for each of us once we reach the kitchen and Berlyn stares in disbelief.
“Come on, B,” her friend coaxes, waving the shot in front of her. “Halloween is when we let loose.”
She still seems unsure even as she grabs the shot from Ezra. “Bottoms up,” she cheers, lifting the shot and we all follow suit before swallowing the foul liquid. Berlyn groans, putting the cup down. “That was as disgusting as I knew it was going to be,” she complains.
Looking around, I find a can of soda and hand it to her after popping the top open. She looks at me gratefully before taking a sip.
“Another one,” her friend suggests and Jude cheers. The two of them might just be the same person split into two bodies. It’s a strange thing to witness. Somehow they convince us all to do another shot but this time Berlyn hands me the soda after chasing her shot with it.
I don’t need it, but I’ll never pass up the opportunity to share something with her.
“Oh,” her friend says, slapping Jude’s arm, “there’s parking lot guy.” She points across the room to some guy leaning against the wall and talking to another girl. He’s tall and lean, but that’s really the only notable thing about the guy. Everything else screams average.
Jude’s face scrunches in disgust. “That man?” he questions. “Seriously?”
Berlyn and her friend trade looks, Berlyn looking smug and nodding her agreement. Her friend isn’t even offended though, only laughing. “He’s got really good taste in music,” she defends.
Jude shakes his head. “I refuse to allow it. You are too pretty for that thing.” When he sees she’s about to open her mouth to defend the guy again, he raises his hand to cut her off.
“That’s a man that will fuck you in one position, come, and then dead ass ask you if it was good for you before launching into explaining the podcast he wants to start.
I repeat, you are too pretty for that behavior. ”
I cover my face with my free hand, trying not to laugh.
Between the deadpan way he says it and the equally surprised and amused expressions the girls wear, it’s impossible to not at least smile.
Who knew Jude would take his role as wingman so seriously?
He’s enjoying this way more than I thought he would.
He looks around the room. “Where’s motorcycle man?” he asks. “He sounded like he would know where the clit is.”
Berlyn snorts and buries her face in my chest to hide her reaction. Her body shakes with her laughter and it makes it harder to contain mine.
Some random guy slides into our circle, looking Berlyn’s friend up and down with a predatory grin. “I know where the clit is.”
Before she can even respond, Jude puts his hand in the newcomer’s face, pushing him back out of our circle. “You’re also ugly. Bye.”
Berlyn and I absolutely lose it, but her friend is beaming at Jude. I have never seen him so sassy before. It’s equally hot and entertaining. “B, he’s my favorite,” her friend says. “I feel like I’ve acquired a new gay best friend.”
Jude smiles, but his eyes are locked on Berlyn. “Not gay,” he corrects, “bi.” I watch Berlyn carefully to see if she has a reaction to that, but there’s only a flash of acknowledgment before Jude is turning the conversation back to this mysterious motorcycle man.
Ezra nods his head to the backyard and I’m nodding my agreement before he can even get the question out.
It’s stifling in the kitchen and people keep bumping into me.
Berlyn also looks relieved to be going outside to get some air, but her friend and Jude decide to do a lap around the house and promise to meet us out there.
With that, our plans for the night are set in motion.
Let the games begin.