The Endgame Is You (Rixon Raiders #4) - L A Cotton Page 0,24
Griffin wrapped her into a bear hug. “Oh no you don’t, new girl.”
“I’ll have one,” I piped up.
“I think you’ve had enough,” Jason ground out.
“Oh, don’t be such a spoilsport.” I tapped his cheek. “We’re having fun.”
“Fun.” Elodie punched the air, almost falling backward but Griffin steadied her. He seemed smitten, a glint in his eye.
“You need to watch Griff,” I whispered to Jason, swaying gently. “He’s looking at El the way you look at me.”
“Oh yeah?” He dipped his head to mine, electricity crackling between us. “And how do I look at you?”
“Like you want to devour me.”
Jason smirked, stealing a chaste kiss. “You’re fun when you’re drunk.”
“Then I should probably drink more.” I shot him a saucy wink before diving for the tray of shooters.
I don’t know what came over me, but for the first time in a long time, I felt like my old self. Fun and free and not tied down by the weight of expectation and responsibility. It was ironic really, but it seemed that the quiet, shy girl from my class had unleashed something inside me.
I downed the murky looking drink and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, enjoying the burn as it slid down my throat.
“Your girl is on form tonight, Ford.” Griffin said, his arm still wrapped around Elodie.
“Fee is the best,” she slurred. “I think I have a girl crush.”
“Okay, drunk girl.” I wrangled her off Griffin. “We are going to dance.”
“Dance?” She shrieked. “But I don’t dance.”
“Well,” I grinned, “you do now.”
The room was spinning. Sweat coated my skin, little beads of moisture trailing down my back and chest as we moved to the beat. I’d lost track of time, dancing and laughing. No one bothered us, not with Jase and Griffin standing watch like two sentries put on the Earth with the sole purpose of protecting us.
“I think Griff likes you,” I said to my new friend. She’d switched to water earlier, protesting when Griffin had insisted she drink it. But I knew she’d thank him tomorrow morning when she woke. Although I had a sneaky suspicion she wouldn’t be waking up in her own bed.
“I don’t feel so good,” I reached out for her, a wave of nausea crashing over me.
“Shit, Felicity—”
Strong arms caught me. “I’m taking you home.”
“But I’m still dancing.” I stared up at my savior.
“Babe, you can barely stand.” Jason pulled me into his side and said something to Elodie and Griffin. Over the music and the blood pounding between my ears, I could barely make out a single word.
Then we were moving. Cool air rushing over my skin and dousing the heat coursing through my veins. “Wait.” I sagged against Jason’s body. “I don’t feel so good.”
“I got you, babe,” he said, sounding far too sober. Come to think of it, I hadn’t seen him with a drink for hours.
“Why aren’t you drunk?” The words came out a garbled mess as he propped me against the wall so I could catch my breath.
“I had two beers then switched to soda.”
“But why? It’s a celebration... everyone came to celebrate you.” All night I’d watched people gravitate to Jason. He was the sun and they wanted to be in his orbit.
Or was it gravity?
Huh.
“I wanted you to enjoy yourself.”
“But you could have relaxed too.”
“I think you underestimate the level I will go to protect you.” He kissed the end of my nose. “How are you feeling now?”
“Okay, I think. Your swoony words sobered me a little.” A smile tugged at my lips.
“One-hundred percent truth, babe.”
“God, I love you. I love you so much I wish this didn’t ever have to end.” A rush of love swelled inside me, like rising waters threatening to pull me under.
“Good thing it doesn’t ever have to end then. Come on.” He started to pull me along with him.
“It will though. One day you’ll be super famous, and I’ll be a college dropout. I’ll still love you then, you know... even when you’re a hotshot in the NFL and I have to get my glimpses of you on ESPN.”
“You’re drunk, babe.”
“That may be so, but I’m also a realist... and this... us... it isn’t endgame. It’s—” My ankle rolled, and the world began to fall away.
“Shit, Felicity.”
“I’m flyiiiiing.” I chuckled, throwing my arms out to the side and bracing myself for impact.
But it never came.
“You caught me,” I said, staring up at intense dark eyes I didn’t think I would ever forget. Because those eyes were my world.