AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It isn’t over?” Parker questions, confused.
Roman snorts. “No way. This is when the party starts! Isn’t that right, Mackey?”
“Oh god.” I groan. “Don’t call me that.”
Colton and Maverick both chuckle, but only Colton speaks. “Shit, I remember that! It was like a good three months you demanded everyone call you Mackey!”
“Okay, I was like twelve. I hardly think you can hold that against me now.”
Ivy laughs from beside me. “Maybe not, but remember the first time we got drunk? You and I started thinking of what our stripper names would be if we didn’t get into college. What was yours? Mc-”
I slap my hand over her mouth as fast as possible, letting out a sigh of relief when the rest comes out muffled and inaudible. The last thing these guys need is something else to pick on me for. Maverick having a lifetime worth of memories is bad enough. He does not need more.
“Oh, come on!” Colton whines. “I wanted to hear that!”
I give him a lighthearted glare, but I know it’s never going to deter him. He’ll get it out of me eventually, but it won’t be in front of everyone else. “Not a chance.”
“You were going to become a dancer if you didn’t get into university?” Parker questions, his voice laced with concern for my moral standards.
I shake my head. “No. It was only a joke.”
He exhales. “Oh good. If my mother found out her future daughter-in-law considered taking her clothes off for money, she’d have a coronary.”
Ivy, Tatum, and I all cringe at the mention of where our relationship is currently heading. Thankfully, Parker doesn’t notice. Just as my eyes meet Colton’s, Maverick interrupts the awkward situation.
“Who’s coming with me to get the cooler?”
Colton jolts up. “I will.”
I swallow down the lump in my throat at the way he’s jumping at the opportunity to get some distance. In my heart, I know it’s not me he’s trying to get away from, but Parker being here with me. I can’t say I blame him. If he was here with another girl, I don’t think I would’ve shown up at all.
After a few drinks, I start to feel the alcohol coursing through my veins – providing the perfect buzz to let loose a bit. I’ve missed nights like this, ones spent around the fire with those most important to me. They were always my favorite.
Colton takes out his guitar and starts strumming random cords. As soon as the sound meets her ears, Ivy stands and grabs my hand. She pulls me away from Parker and into the empty space, a little too close to the fire.
“Colton, play something we can dance to!” She demands.
He starts to play a tune I don’t recognize. Ivy and I sway to the melody and soon, Tatum joins us. We spin around, laughing and letting our bodies move to the beat. It’s probably the furthest thing from attractive, but none of us care.
Suddenly, the song changes to one that sends chills through my entire body, making the hair on my arms stand straight up. From the Ground Up. My eyes find Colton’s and he doesn’t look away from me as he continues to strum the tune with utmost perfection. The look on his face is so intense and full of adoration. It takes everything in me not to throw myself into his lap right now.
“McKenna.” Ivy whisper-shouts, grabbing my hand to snap me from my stupor. Shit, Parker. Maverick!
I look to my brother first only to find him completely immersed in a conversation with Roman. Then, I dance in a way that causes me to spin around so I can catch a glimpse of Parker. To my relief, he’s looking down at his phone. Phew, that was a close call.
I RUSH INTO THE house, peeling the drenched fabric of my sweatshirt from my body. Just as we were about to start playing one of those stupid games you only play when you’re drunk, the skies opened and rain started to pour down on us. It put out the large bonfire entirely on its own, so we all grabbed what we could and booked it for the parking lot. None of us even got the chance to say goodbye.
Walking over to the sink, I ring my hair out. What I need right now is to get out of these wet clothes and into a hot shower. Just as I’m about to head upstairs, Parker comes in the kitchen and tosses his keys onto the counter.
“So, tell me something.” He requests.
I pull my hair into bun as thunder cracks loudly outside. “What’s up?”
“How long has something been going on between you and Colton?”
And just like that, I’m stone cold sober.
22
