AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She gives me a wink and turns back to the girls. I watch her wrap her arms around Maddie… a sight I haven’t seen in quite a while, but she’s done it several times tonight. I think Lo wants to make sure Maddie knows how thankful she is to have her here and by the smile on Maddie’s face, she’s genuinely happy for us. Sloan is excited to be getting their relationship back after all these years. Not just because of me, but life in our twenties has had us all over the world and it finally feels like our crew is back together.Now if Eli and Quinn can just get on the same page again.
“Let’s all take a shot.” That comes from Ava right as she looks over to Eli and notices Parker for the first time. “Ugh, who invited him?”
I chuckle because I’m still a firm believer that those two will end up hate fucking each other at some point.
Ava starts to pour shots from the bottle of Tequila Eli had the bottle service girls bring up. I motion to the guys to join us as she starts passing out the Patron.
Quinn comes in clutch with the lime and salt. “Turn your wrist over. You remember when we used to do this?”
How could I forget?It was the one way I could put my tongue on Sloan that summer without Eli killing me.
I flip my wrist over as Q squeezes lime juice on it before she sprinkles some salt on me. “Okay Lo, Mr. Fiancé, here is your lime… everyone else suck up.” She says, slamming the cup of salty limes down on the cocktail table.
Typically, she and Eli would play along with the fun, but understandably, she wants nothing to do with him right now.
Lifting their shots in the air, Maddie says, “To the Future Mr. and Mrs. King!”
Everyone cheers and Quinn says, “To two of the best people on this planet. I’m so glad you guys finally got your shit together because you two were made for each other.”
I love her for putting on a happy face for us, but it's hard to see the pained look she shoots Eli. I know he is equally hurting and confused.Why the hell does love have to be so damn complicated sometimes?
Parker nudges Eli to snap him out of his trance. He recovers quickly. “A decade ago, I wasn’t so sure about this thing between you two, but it became perfectly clear to me over the years… there is no one better for my baby sister or for my best friend. I’m sorry it hasn’t always been easy, but look at you now… You guys give me hope for my future and I really need it… especially lately.”
Luckily, Parker steps in. “Here, here. Now drink up.”
Sloan holds nothing back when she sloooowly licks the salt from my wrist. Just knowing what that tongue can do has my cock twitching against my pants.
I down my shot and pull Lo back to me, “Hey, give me some of that salt back,” I say, kissing her. “I’m so ready to get you home and taste what I really want.”
“Wes…” she groans. “You’re killing me.”
The desire in her eyes quickly turns to concern as she looks past me at Quinn, walking away from a pissed-off looking Eli while she chugs the bottle of tequila. “She is fucking spiraling. I know she’s trying to be a good friend right now, but this situation is so fucked up.” Lo says with worry laced in her voice.
“If it makes you feel better, see if she wants us to drop her off on our way home later? I know you’ll be worried otherwise.”
She smiles softly at me and nods her head before heading in Q’s direction.
Taking my seat back beside the boys who are talking spring training, I don’t take my eyes off Sloan. I notice the guy who has been watching Quinn all night has made his way over to the ladies.
Tuning back into the conversation, I hear Eli’s friend Hunter say, “Our new center fielder, Zack, was asking if Quinn was anyone’s girl. I told him she was your best friend, but as far as I knew, she was single.” At that moment, Quinn walks back over, grabbing the salt shaker. She says, “Zack wants to do body shots. Anyone else down?” I know she is purposefully being spiteful, but this is not her and I hate seeing this side of both of them.
Eli stands. “No, the fuck you aren’t,” he says, snatching the salt from her. Then he turns to Hunter. “You’re right. She is my best friend. But she’s also my girl,” Eli says, pointing his finger into his chest repeatedly while Quinn looks like she’s on the verge of tears.
“So, tell your boy to back the fuck up,” he growls, looking towards Zack, who has no idea what he’s getting in the middle of.
“Don’t call me that,” Quinn whispers, pain laced in her voice. “Not after all these years. You don’t get to do that now, not now.” Her voice starts to grow louder again, “Shouldn’t you be at home… checking on a particular someone? Hmmm maybe… Oh, I know…. the mother of your unborn child!” Eli noticeably flinches at her words.
Then she turns to grab the bottle of tequila again, but before she can even put her hand on it, Eli is throwing her over his shoulder.
Lo moves to go after them, but I stop her. Hugging her to my body, “Baby, no, they need to talk. The confirmation he received this week has been hard on them both and this was bound to happen. You know, if you go after them, they will just feel like they ruined our night.”
Maddie quickly steps in. “Lo, Wes is right. This needed to happen… They have to talk through this and figure their shit out. I know she’s your best friend, but she’s Eli'sperson. Things may have been complicated over the years, but one thing you know is that she is safe with him.” Maddie rubs Sloan’s arm, reassuring her, “Plus, Quinnie has always been able to handle herself.”
Lo relaxes in my arms. She huffs out a laugh, knowing what her sister says is true. Quinn Turner is tough as nails,always has been.
Maddie gives us both a quick hug bye, saying she is going to call it a night. When we look around, our section is empty. No, Ava or Parker in sight… I smirk to myself as Sloan sends out a text in their group message to check in on both her best friends.
That’s my girl, always worried about everyone else.
