“Are you ready!” Madison screams toward somewhere to the left of me. Somewhere I don’t look because I know Nate is there, probably under Tate.
I lick my lips and my eyes start wandering.
Do not look.
I look. My eyes go to Nate, who already has his on me. He’s wearing a cap flipped backward and has no shirt on, displaying his lean muscles and muscles and muscles…and. His black jeans have tears by the knees and his white Chucks are loosely tied on his feet.
Goddammit.
My eyes go back to his, bored. Then he licks his lip and the corner of his mouth kicks up in a sly grin. Fucker. Of course, they don’t disappoint because Tate is on his lap. My eyes fall to his hand that’s on her thigh and I watch as he clenches it tightly.
Madison breaks my attention when she leans into me. “She’s not ready yet so we will wait a few.”
I nod. “Sure thing.” Turning around, I set off to find a drink when I bump into Brantley who is walking down the stairs in the foyer.
“Whattup.” He nudges his head. “Damn, girl.”
I can’t help the small giggle that leaves my mouth. Brantley is quiet, reserved and before that little drama in the forest, never spoke a word to me. Rather, acted as though I was invisible, like he does with everyone.
“I need a drink, and like, something stronger than cocaine to get through this night.”
He doesn’t laugh, because his eyes are still going up and down my body. He hands me his drink and I take it. “You’ve always been hot, don’t get me wrong, but I straight up want to eat you right now.”
Before I can laugh, he yanks me into his chest and starts walking us toward the room Nate and everyone else are in.
Brantley leans into my ear. “Play along.”
As soon as we’re back in the room, Brantley’s arm hooks over my shoulder and he pulls me under. Bishop’s eyes go between both of us and Madison leans back up from taking a line of coke. Great. Now she’s going to be extra wild tonight. I’m not a hater, but I was raised in a neighborhood where drugs actually ruined families, and I don’t mean it in a way that the kids get left with millions of dollars in a trust fund, I mean it as in the kids are left homeless because of the parent’s addiction. It’s just never been my thing.
Madison clears her nose, handing me the rolled-up bill. I shake my head.
Nate shoves Tate off his lap when he sees us, his eyes dropping to icy levels. He brings his drink up to his mouth, his eyes on me.
“What do you say we cockblock the girl’s night out?” Brantley says it to everyone, but I know he’s looking at Nate.
Wait.
“No!” I shake my head, stepping out from under Brantley.
“Good idea.” Nate stands from the couch, grabbing a joint off the table and putting it behind his ear. He snatches his shirt that’s swung behind the sofa, taking his cap off to put it on.
“No!” Madison’s hand comes to Brantley’s chest, but it’s too late, Bishop is yanking her down onto his lap, laying small kisses onto the back of her neck. Jesus, I swear this lot are crazy. Then Bishop stands and takes Madison’s hand. “Let’s go.”
I don’t know what the fuck Brantley is playing it, but I go along with it.
Tillie
I shouldn’t have gone along with it. We all pile into the back of the limo, me sitting opposite Nate, and Brantley sitting on one side of me with Ridge on the other. Tate is on the floor between Nate’s legs and Bishop and Madison are beside him.
Jase leans in through the door, glaring at Madison. “Sort your shit out, Madz. We’ll follow you.” Then he slams it closed.
Great. They’re all coming because of course they are.
I turn to face Brantley, ignoring everyone else. “What about your house?”
He shrugs, lifting the bottle to his lips. I watch as he wraps them around the rim and takes a pull. Liquid leaks from the side of his mouth and drips down his neck. Is it possible for a neck to be sexy? I’m going to go with yes because that’s exactly what Brantley’s is. Then again, he just is that, but he’s dangerous. It’s a lethal combination what he has. Whoever he settles with would have to be just as fucked up as he is because there’s no way any sane and normal—somewhat normal—girl could ever be okay with him. He would scare the shit out of them.
Brantley’s staring down at me, his lips glistening from his drink. “You should probably stop staring at me like that if you don’t wanna get fucked, Princess.”
I shrug, looking away from him when my eyes connect with Nate. He’s glaring at me, like always. “Or Nah” by Ty Dolla $ign starts playing through the loudspeakers, but it’s a different version. It has an electric guitar in the background and sounds live. Better than the real version.
Nate keeps his eyes on me as his hand goes to Tate’s head, then he licks his lip and grins at me as his hand wraps around the front of her throat.
I don’t know what Tate does because I
