chin, so I open the door and we all shuffle out on to the deck.
I lean over the edge and stare down at the ground then look out and over the creek that runs the back of the property, noticing a small bridge that leads to the other side.
“What’s out there?”
“Bears.”
When my eyes widen the boys laugh.
Whatever.
I go to lift my shot, but Maddoc stops me.
“Together.” His eyes lock on mine before moving along each of us and my chest grows warm.
I’m really sick of that happening.
“Watch out for each other and don’t act alone.”
They nod then all eyes are on me.
I’m not part of this team, so I don’t understand the sentiment or the seriousness that shines back at me in three separate sets of eyes, but I nod anyway and all at once we let the cinnamon flavored liquor run down our throats.
Right then, several sounds hit.
Music, laughter, slams of car doors.
Royce yelps and runs down the deck stairs, Captain heads inside for another drink and Maddoc’s eyes lock on mine.
I go to follow, but Maddoc blocks my move.
“A lot happens out here, don’t go disappearing.”
“You mean don’t follow a big bad wolf home?” I tease, using the Brayshaw mascot for fun.
But the way he grinds his jaw tells me he doesn’t think it’s funny.
He steps against me, until I’m forced to lean back over the railing to meet his eyes. “You want a wolf?” he murmurs and that pulls in my abdomen. “I can make that happen.”
I dig deep to force a steady breath. “I bet you can, big man...” I trail off and he steps back, disappearing the way Royce ran.
I need a drink.
The party isn’t really a party tonight, apparently most of the others will be here in the morning. Tonight, it’s just the ones who ditched last period or prepacked and loaded their vehicles. Still, there are a solid thirty or forty people around.
Honestly, it’s pretty chill. It’s dark out except for the glow of the fire pits, and some string lights trailing down the pathways. I’m assuming they lead to more cabins. I’m kind of looking forward to seeing what this place looks like in the daylight.
“So, Raven.”
I look to my right at the girl who spoke.
“Are you having fun?” she asks, her voice peppy as she looks.
She couldn’t care less – it’s gossip she’s after.
I lift my drink and wave it her way with a tight smile before turning my attention back to the boys who’ve got a little game of horse going with a trashcan. They’ve got a pile of pinecones someone rounded up they’re using as the basketball so they don’t have to dig out of the garbage every throw.
Course, Royce had to make it more fun and instead of earning a letter to spell out the word horse with each basket made, they have to spell pussy. He made sure to let them know he wasn’t referring to ‘pussy’ as afraid or an actual cat, but ‘the place his dick was spending the night’ kind of pussy – as if they didn’t know what he meant.
They had a childish laugh over it.
“So, Raven, what cabin are you staying in?”
“Depends,” I answer and all the females who have placed themselves near me, look my way.
The girl clears her throat and leans forward. “On what?”
When I smirk, the fluffy attitude falters and her claws show despite her best effort.
“You think you get top pick over all of us?” She sits back slowly and her friends glare along with her. “Nobody even knew you’d be here. You don’t get to ruin the plans the rest of us made because someone felt the need to drag you along.”
“Janessa,” a golden-haired girl warns quietly, her eyes wide in apology – she’s clearly worried about the Bray’s little “touch her not” rule.
But good ole Janessa, as she was called, is not deterred, she’s got some liquid courage coursing through her and purses her perfect lips and fuck this bitch.
I was fucking around, but now she’s insulting me.
No.
I see who she keeps eyeing when she thinks nobody’s watching. She’s not a sly as she assumes, but I do give her props for not going all out obvious.
Little miss blonde hair, blue eyes, prettier than me on my best day but more makeup on than my mom on cougar night at the bar, has her sights set on Captain.
“How ‘bout a bet?”
Her eyes narrow. “Bet for what?”
“The commander, the skipper...” I goad her, but the confused look