Page 30 of Coastal Runaway

“Touché.”

Nolan filled us in on the latest with the football team and we listened intently, sneaking in occasional jokes and generally just having a good time. I felt relaxed, a feeling that was rare for me over the past few years. Suddenly, a familiar laugh rose above the sound of the crowd, causing me to turn my head.

“Oh it looks like girls night ended at the bar.” Aiden nudged my shoulder and gestured towards the middle of the dance floor.

Keegan and Maeve were grinding on Maggie as a bunch of guys surrounded them, clearly hoping for a chance. Keegan looked so free as she got lost in the music and didn’t pay attention to any of the guys who ogled her. It was really amazing how she drew people in but remained completely oblivious to her power.

“I don’t think they see us over here.” Nolan remarked, sipping his beer. He was right. With the way the Trojan was shaped, it was hard to see the whole bar from the dance floor, but my vantage point had an unobstructed view.

“Let them have their girls night in peace.” Aiden grabbed Nolan’s hand and yanked it down when he tried to wave over to the girls.

“You’re no fun.” Nolan humphed.

“I don’t know if anyone fits your description of fun.” Aiden shook his head.

The brothers returned to their conversation, but my eyes stayed on the pretty blonde who shined like a light in the dark grimy bar. The girls never saw us there so I got a free view of Keegan being wild and free with no walls up. Thankfully, nobody got handsy, and I didn’t need to knock any teeth in. She only danced with Maeve and Maggie for the rest of the night. We watched them leave as we closed our tab and left shortly after.

My fingers itched to pull out my phone and text her but I didn’t know if that was too much too fast. We didn’t chat on the regular and it might just seem creepy that I stared at her the entire night.

I had to figure out a way to show Keegan Kelly that our chemistry was undeniable while also keeping her far enough from my heart that she didn’t sink her claws in any further.

fourteen

Luke

“You cheated and we all know it.”

Nolan stood with his arms crossed in front of the table scowling at Maggie. She looked down at her nails, acting like she was completely unmoved by his outburst.

“Anyone ever told you that you’re a sore loser, Nolan?”

“I am not and I also don’t stand for injustice.” He folded his arms tighter and stared across the table at her.

“Guys it is literally a game about colors. Maggie, stop antagonizing him, and Nolan, you literally can’t cheat at this game get over it,” Keegan argued, trying to break up the sparring match.

We were gathered around the dining room table at the Malibu house. Nolan rounded everyone up to play Hues and Cues, the party game where you have to describe a color using a word that relates to it. Maggie won with her uncanny ability to relate any color to a popular mixed drink.

“I’m just not over how she managed to pick the perfect color for a cosmo,” Maeve gasped, she was doubled over in laughter at this entire interaction.

“Let’s just play something else so the kids stop fighting,” Aiden chimed in, a smirk on his face.

“Chameleon!” Maeve shouted as she stood with her hand up, “I never get to pick and I wanna see who can lie their ass off.”

We all murmured in agreement and she skipped off to get the game.

“Keegan always wins this game. The girl has the best poker face in the family.”

“Damn straight.” Keegan winked at Nolan who was still throwing a fit.

I was mostly silent during this entire interaction, just taking in the chaos. Keegan has the best poker face? Yeah, we’ll see. I bet no one else noticed the way her eyes track left when she’s lying or the way she nibbles on her bottom lip when she’s deep in thought. I saw right through her.

“Okay,” Maeve plopped down at the table when she returned with the green and yellow box and started passing out cards, “the game is simple. Everyone but one person knows the place, object, or category that we are describing. You can only use one word to describe it and the object of the game is for the chameleon to blend in. We vote for who we think the chameleon is at the end of the round.”

We all nodded our heads and I glanced down at my card. Not the chameleon. I looked around to see if anyone gave any obvious signs that they’re the traitor, but everyone looked pretty calm.

I looked at the answer key after the dice were rolled. The card category was sports with balls, and the word in question was Soccer.

“I’ll go first.” Maeve said, “Green.”