Chapter 8 #2
As if she senses me in the room, her eyes meet mine across the club, and she smiles softly. Then it spreads into something wicked. Almost like a challenge.
Game fucking on.
Beck walks by me and hands me a beer. It’s not lost on me that I’m standing here, staring at his sister, and he’s the one who hands me a drink.
I shake my head slightly and smile.
“Cheers, man. Hell of a game.” Beck leans in closer so I can hear him over the noise and taps his bottle to mine.
I tip back my beer and nod. I should be here in the moment. Celebrating our national championship with my team. Soaking in the chaos of the club. “Thanks, Beck. Glad you could make it to the game.”
“Wouldn’t have missed it. Come on. Let’s go over to the rest of the guys.” He starts walking.
I follow behind, but my eyes find Brooke again, and I watch shamelessly as she sways her hips to the music.
As we reach our group, the music gets louder, and Casey clamps a hand on my shoulder. “Dude”—he leans in close to my ear—“are you alive? What took you so long to get here? I thought you were coming over right after dinner.”
“I walked my parents back to their hotel so I could say goodbye. They’re taking an early flight out,” I reply.
“That was nice of you, Boy Scout.” He nudges me with his shoulder and laughs. “Come on. Let’s go dance with the girls. I can’t get anyone else to go with me.” He starts to move closer to the edge of the dance floor.
He doesn’t have to tell me twice. Not that I’m much of a dancer—well, okay, I can move a little bit—but I’m dying to get closer to Brooke.
And as we reach them, she’s all I see. Silver dress flashing in the lights; skin shiny, like she’s a little sweaty from dancing; and her mouth parted slightly as she watches me move toward her.
“You’re staring,” she says when I reach her.
“Well, you’re wearing that.” I gesture to her body. “I don’t really have a choice.”
She giggles. “I didn’t know the nation’s MVP cornerback got so easily distracted. Don’t let anyone find out.”
“Only distracted by you, Cupcake.”
Her eyes sparkle, and I’m a half second away from pulling her into me and kissing the hell out of her.
“Don’t worry; I won’t tell anyone.” She smiles softly and then bites her bottom lip.
Okay, yeah. I gotta lay my lips on her tonight. I don’t even fucking care that her brother and everyone else are all standing behind me.
She reaches for my hand in a bold move and starts to pull me in further on the dance floor. “Dance with me.”
Brooke is usually a little quieter and reserved, and I’ve never seen her take control of a situation like she is now. I gotta say, it’s a huge fucking turn-on.
We make it through the crowd as “I Can’t Feel My Face” by The Weeknd blasts through the speakers, and she takes my hands in hers and sets them on her hips, then slides her hands up my chest. My grip on her tightens possessively. Like they know they belong on her body.
“People are watching us.” She glances over my shoulder, and there’s a wicked gleam in her eyes. “And those girls over there”—she nods—“look mighty jealous.”
I tip my head back and belt out a laugh. “I don’t fucking care who’s watching us right now.” I lean in close to her ear. “All I can see is you.”
“Good,” she says in my ear, sending shock waves straight to my dick.
Yep, he’s awake.
“Confidence looks good on you.” I pull her closer into me. “And so does silver.”
Her hands wrap around my shoulders, making her tits brush against my chest. There’s no way she can be wearing a bra in this dress. She absolutely knows she’s torturing me.
We dance until sweat slicks my neck, and our bodies are molded together. Restraint feels like a punishment right now.
As the song changes, she leans in closer to my face, as if she wasn’t close enough already. I can feel her breath on my jaw, on my lips.
“I think I need to get another drink.”
When we walk by Casey and Noelle, Brooke grabs her arm. “We’re going to get a drink. Do you want to come with us?”
Noelle leans in and nods, but I can’t hear what she says over the noise. She and Casey follow us over to our friends, who are now standing around high-top tables, drinks in hand.
“This turn into a different kind of party?” Casey points at Chelsea’s sash when we get close.
Bo tips his head back and laughs. “No, the girls thought it would be fun.”
“So, you’re not off to a chapel to elope tonight?” Casey asks.
“Not tonight, brother. I want to give her the wedding of her dreams. When she’s ready, of course.” Bo tips his bottle toward Chelsea.
“I mean, it’s not a bad idea. I wouldn’t mind running down to one of those places. Save a lot of time and money.” Beck shrugs.
“Beckham Linson!” Charlie gasps. “I’m not missing my moment. I have my dress, and everything has already been ordered. We aren’t eloping. My parents would kill me!”
“She’s not wrong,” Casey chimes in, smiling. “Our parents wouldn’t want to miss their only daughter getting married. They love you, brother, but I think even my dad would want to lay you out.”
“It was just a joke. Sort of.” He pulls Charlie into him and kisses her.
“So, are we going to stay here or move on to somewhere else?” Ace pops over to us, and it’s pretty clear he’s hammered.
“I’m not going anywhere else. If I leave, it’s going back to my room. With my girl.” Casey swings his arm around Noelle.
“Hey, Ace. Where did Archie and Emma go? I thought they were going to come out with us tonight,” Charlie asks.
Ace shakes his head. “Had to take off. Something with Lainey. I’m sure she’s fine since she’s staying in my parents’ room.
They probably just wanted to take advantage of a kid-free night.
I swear they still can’t keep their hands off each other.
Kinda surprised she’s not pregnant again. ” He chuckles.
“Can’t say I blame him. I’m ready to head back to our room as soon as the boss here says the word.” Beck wraps his arms around Charlie from behind.
She leans her head on his shoulder and twists her head to look at him. “We can go whenever you’re ready.”
“Wait! Y’all are leaving? You can’t leave yet.” Brooke walks over to Charlie. “You told me we were going to live it up tonight. And you,” she says, pointing to her brother, “told me to let loose this weekend while I was in Vegas. And now y’all are bailing on me?”
Charlie wraps her arms around Brooke. “Sorry, B. You should totally stay out all night if you want. I fully support that. And honestly, you shouldn’t waste a dress like that. You’re a total baddie.”
Now, wait a second. Over my dead body will Brooke be going out without me at this point. In my mind, she absolutely wore that dress for me.
“Urgh, you suck.” Brooke wiggles out of Charlie’s hold and turns to Noelle. “I guess you guys are leaving too?”
Noelle starts to shake her head, but Casey covers her mouth with his hand.
“Sorry, babe.” He looks at Noelle, then back to Brooke. “But, yes, we’ll be heading back too. I’m ready to fuck my beautiful girlfriend into next week. We’ve been apart now for a few days, and I can’t wait another minute.”
“Casey, ewww!” Charlie screeches while Beck belts out a laugh.
Noelle pulls his hand away from her mouth. “Oh my God, Casey King! I cannot believe you just said that.” She hits him in the stomach with the back of her hand.
He leans in and takes her mouth with his.
When he pulls back, Noelle looks at us, glassy-eyed. “See you all tomorrow!”
“Sucker,” Brooke grumbles.
“All right, well, I’m out. If y’all are leaving, I’m gonna go find Aston and see if he’s up for sticking around or maybe hopping to a few other places. We need to spread the Griffith love all around. Equal opportunity and shit.” He taps fists with us guys and then quickly hugs the girls.
When he gets to Brooke, he holds on to her a little longer than I’d like. “If you want to hang out with us, let me know. You don’t have to leave because they are.”
Oh, fuck no.
“I got her.” I step in behind her, glaring at him.
He gives me a shit-eating grin and runs his hand down her bare back. It’s like he wants to be punched. “Let me know if you change your mind, darlin’.”
She laughs and pushes him away. “I’m not sure I’m ready for the kind of fun you guys get into.”
Bo picks Chelsea up in his arms. “We’re gonna head out too. We’ll see you guys in the morning. Maybe.”
As he walks away, Chelsea leans her head back. “Bye, everyone!” She waves, laughing.
“I have an idea. Why don’t you and Silas go hang out for a while? Or stay here and dance some more.” Charlie grabs Brooke’s hand and lays, I assume, Brooke’s phone in her palm.
Brooke looks over her shoulder at me, the confident girl I danced with fading just a little. “Do you feel like staying?”
I nod. “Yeah, I’ll stay here with you.”
I wouldn’t dream of leaving yet. And if I have my way, she’ll be coming back to my room with me tonight. I won’t say that in front of everyone though.
“That’s a great idea. Arbuckle can keep an eye on you and make sure no one tries to spike your drink or something,” Beck says, handing her a credit card and her ID, wrapping her in a hug.
He looks at me over her shoulder. “Make sure she has a good time?”
When he pulls away from her, I wrap an arm around her waist and pull her into me. “Absolutely. I got her.”
I reach my hand out for him to shake, and he takes it and pulls me in for a bro hug. “Keep her safe.”
“I got her.”
“Boss, let’s go.” He holds out his hand for Charlie to take. “Night, fuckers.”
“Bye, everyone. And, hey, congrats, guys. You all were amazing today,” Charlie says before they walk away.
“Hey, wait for us. We’ll walk out with you.” Casey clamps a hand on my shoulder. “See ya, man. B, have fun.” He winks at her.
Noelle hugs Brooke and says goodbye to us quickly as Casey ushers her away to join Beck and Charlie.
“And then there were two.” She looks up at me and smiles. “Do you want to stay here or move on?”
“It really doesn’t matter to me, as long as I’m with you.” I kiss the top of her head.