Then, she pulls back and fires.
The balls clash together, scattering around the table. A few drop in the pockets too. When I return my gaze to her, I find her heading my way. She doesn’t reach for her drink. Oh no, this little vixen bends down to the drink in my hand, swirls the tip of her tongue around the straw, and finally draws it into her mouth. She looks up in a battle of wills and foreplay.
She sucks.
Hard.
All while her eyes are locked on mine.
Game on, Charli.
Game on.
CHAPTER
TWELVE
Charli
I’m belting out the lyrics to my favorite Bon Jovi song as we head toward Sommer’s house. I can practically feel my oldest brother’s brain exploding, which is why I’m extra annoying on the short car ride tonight.
My bestie sits beside me, understanding my need to be extra, so she starts singing backup and playing the drums on the back of Collin’s seat. “Dammit, Sommer, I’m trying to drive,” Collin grumbles just loud enough to be heard over the music.
“I’ve already got the drums covered, oh grumpy one. I’d say play the air guitar, but technically, you should keep your hands on the wheel, so we’ll leave that to Q. You can be the keyboardist.”
I want to laugh, watching as the proverbial steam bellows from his ears. “Good thinking,” I tell my best friend as the song starts to wind down. “We want Collin to get us there safely, so air guitar is out. Sorry, C. You’ll have to settle for the keyboard.”
He grumbles something I can’t make out, which does make me grin. I look straight ahead and catch Quinn’s smile. He’s looking out the window, his dark eyes unreadable in thereflection in the glass, but the grin tells me a lot. He’s enjoying the way we all pick on each other as only siblings can do, and for a moment, I feel bad for him. He’d never experienced this kind of relationship until he found it with Camden. It’s not a blood bond, but it’s just as deep as if it were.
“Get out,” Collin states, turning down the music as he pulls into Sommer’s driveway.
“Thank you, Uber driver. You’ve been most kind. I’ll add a tip online.”
Collin rolls his eyes.
“Bye, bestie!” I proclaim, moving over as much as I can to give her a hug, considering I’m belted in.
“Love you,” she replies, squeezing me equally as tight. Then, she adds with a whisper, “He’s giving off that Big D Energy again. You better take that stallion for a ride around the pen.”
“Let’s go, let’s go. We don’t have all night. I gotta get back to Lizzie,” Collin harps, though there’s no bite to his bark.
“Oh, he’s giving off that Big D Energy too, compounded with that broody vibe. I bet Lizzie gets railed against the bedroom wall tonight,” Sommer states, loud enough for Jesus and the neighbors to hear too.
“What the hell, Sommer,” Collin grumbles.
“Don’t be shy, Collin. If you got it, flaunt it like Quinn. He’s oozing Big Dick Energy,” my friend proclaims before sliding out of the truck and offering a quick, “Toodles!”
Once the door closes, Collin lets out a deep exhale. “That girl’s not right.”
“She’s amazing,” I insist, ignoring her comment about Quinn and his big D.
“I can see why you’re friends,” Collin mutters, waiting until Sommer’s inside her house before backing out of the driveway and pulling away.
“Because we’re equally amazing,” I declare.
“If you say so,” he says, turning at the corner and driving toward my condo.
I keep quiet for the remainder of the drive, keeping my eyes ahead out the windshield, yet watching Quinn in my peripheral vision. We reach my block when Collin’s phone rings. I spot Lizzie’s name on the dashboard and smile when I spot the red heart after her name.
