“I hope he doesn’t ask us about it later.” Adri whines.
I snort and push past Vin and Emmett to meet up with Travis in the center of the field. He looks handsome in his robe and the Valedictorian stole hanging over his shoulders.
“Great speech.” I call out when he sees me.
“Fuck off,” he chuckles as we all gather around him. “You guys didn’t listen to shit.”
“But judging by everyone else’s faces, it was fucking bomb.” Emmett nods like the fucking asshole he is.
“Guys!” Charles runs up and we each pull him in for a hug. “Everyone’s gathering at General Grady’s tonight, you in?”
“Fucking right we are.” Emmett says as he wraps his arm around Travis’ neck. “Husbands! Lock up your wives!” He begins to gyrate his hips.
“Fuck, you two are too similar.” Adri says to me while shaking her head, “sometimes it’s like I’m fucking you.”
“Bet you like that, huh?” I wink at her.
“Tonight is going to be so dope.” Charles fist pumps the air and runs back off to fuck knows where.
“I’m going to go see Katerina and drive her to the airport.” Travis chuckles as he kisses both Emmett and Adri, “I’ll see you at home.”
At first, their relationship was a hot topic but eventually everyone just accepted it and moved on. I may have pushed that consensus on a lot of the people but whatever, it worked.
“My twin little demons have graduated high school.” Carm’s deep tenor cuts through the noise. “Whatever will they do with their lives now, Trent?”
“Oh I don’t know, cause destruction and mayhem?” Trent laughs.
“That’s all Ember,” Emmett retorts. “With my grades, I’m going to the stars!”
“He means give tarot card readings and tell people about their zodiacs.” I deadpan.
Everyone laughs except Emmett and I. He narrows his eyes on me and steps into my space. “Say that again, little sister.”
“You don’t know that you’re older.” I retort.
“Say it again.” He grits out.
“You have shit for brains and barely graduated by the skin of your teeth. The only stars you’ll see are the ones forming constellations when you give star readings.”
He bends down with a growl and throws me over his shoulder. I scream and slap his ass at the same time he slaps mine.
“Emmett! Put me down!” I scream.
“No! Not until you tell me I can be an astronaut!”
“Fine!” I laugh, “you’re a space cadet!”
Everyone starts laughing harder and Emmett begins to twirl us quickly on the spot. My hair flies out and I close my eyes to keep the nausea at bay.
“I’ll just make you puke!” He says with a laugh as he spins.
He finally stops and we both tumble to the ground, “ugh! Now I want to puke, too.” He groans.
“See? Shit for brains.” I laugh and kiss his cheek.
“Alright kids,” Carm chuckles. “We gotta get going, we have somewhere to be tomorrow morning.”
We give both Trent and he hugs and watch their very large retreating backs.
“You think those two…?” I trail off.
“Nah,” Emmett laughs, “they are manwhores.”
“You question every set of dudes you see now.” Adri laughs.
“I’m still forming my gaydar.” I say as I tap my temple.
“We should get going too.” Vin says coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist. “We got to get something done.”
Right, we do. We say our goodbyes and promise to be home in time to hit the bar. Vin takes my hand and interlaces our fingers. His large hand encompassing mine always feels like I’m protected and loved. Adri asked me a few weeks ago how Vin and I manage not to fight, because we both have strong alpha attitudes and clashing personalities. From the outside we don’t even act compatible. He’s quiet, broody, and intense, I’m loud, opinionated, and downright crass. But we never butt heads, we move in sync, and our energies mesh perfectly. I didn’t have an answer for her because I don’t fucking know. What I do know is, I love him, every single thing about him, good, bad, perfect, and imperfect. I love every single thing.
Vin let’s me breathe, he doesn’t mind sitting on the sidelines and letting me run the show, he gets off on the power I exude and he comes back looking for more. I love his quiet strength and knowing it would take next to nothing for him to pop off on anyone who even looked at me wrong. But why don’t we fight? I don’t know, maybe it’s all of these things and maybe it has nothing to do with it.
Adri and Travis bicker, a lot. It’s their thing and Emmett sits back and watches. He’s a creep about it sometimes but whatever works for them.
We get to Hummy and Vin opens my door. Chivalrous motherfucker. I get in and toss my robe and hat to the backseat. I decided to dress in all black today for this very reason. My black skinny jeans-ripped at the knees-paired with a black lace tank and thigh high boots. All black, signature Ember killing clothes.
“So, we’re just talking to him, right?” Vin says as he gets in the vehicle. I watch as his green eyes roam over my body and I feel my skin start to heat.
“Let’s see how it goes.” I shrug.
“Em,” he implores, “these aren’t my blood splatter clothes.” I take in what he has on and my bottom lip sucks into my mouth. He has on a pair of khaki slacks and a black dress top, rolled to his elbows. His top few buttons are undone to showcase his hard upper chest. Then, of course, in Vin style, he has on a pair of tanned Timberland boots.
“Vin,” I widen my eyes at him, “move this vehicle before I make you bleed on your clothes, then fuck you like I hate you.”
“Baby girl,” he chuckles, “was that meant to be a threat?” He grabs at his growing erection and
