Shadow Mate - Jen L. Grey Page 0,61

give her a hard time.

"Nope, but now you know where to go." She forced a smile and took a step closer to Nate, which didn't seem possible. “Or do you remember how to get there?”

"No, not really. Max had been driving that night. We'll see you there." As I took a step toward Kai's car, he grabbed my hand, intertwining our fingers.

"It's okay now, right?" He lifted our joined hands.

"Yup, we are out of the danger zone." They'd left my brother alone for the most part, which left me relieved. I wasn't sure if they would have even if I’d behaved.

"Oh, God." Tripp groaned. "Please tell me you aren't going to start porno kissing like those two did. It could get awkward with me in the backseat."

"Just, please, stop." There were some images I didn't want in my head and there was no telling where he was taking the conversation if I didn't shut it down and fast. "We will behave as long as you do."

"Thanks a lot, man." Kai laughed but pretended to give him the stink eye. "I'll remember this for when you go on a date."

"If he does." I couldn't help but tease him. "I have yet to see his skills work on a female."

"So are you implying that it works on males?" Kai's eyes shone with humor.

"Okay, I'll stop." Tripp lifted both hands in the air.

Kai unlocked the car, and the three of us climbed in.

As I typed the address in the GPS, Kai started the car.

"This is going to be fun." Kai glanced around at all the traffic. "We should've left the game early."

"It wouldn't have mattered." Tripp popped up between our seats. "People were already leaving early, so it wouldn't be much better than this."

"Luckily, his place isn't too far away." As I pressed start on the map, we buckled in for a slow ride.

It was surprising that we were the first to reach Nate's. Everyone else must have gotten stuck in the same mess we had. We were able to pull up directly in front of Nate's house.

As we climbed out, Bree and Nate stepped out of the house.

Bree held two cups in her hands. "Let's get some drinks before everyone else gets here and they get picked over."

"Sounds good to me." Tripp ran into the house without a second glance.

"I already got yours. Nate will take care of Tripp and Kai." Bree handed me her second cup and slid her arm through mine, tugging me toward the fire pit.

It looked like she had something on her mind, but I wasn't quite sure what it was.

"So, that game was intense, right?" Bree sat on one of the four logs that were strategically placed around the fire.

"Yup, it sure was." It felt like she was fishing and I had a feeling it was about her brother.

"My brother couldn't keep his eyes off you." Bree took a sip of her drink and pulled a lighter out of her pants. "He's never been like that before."

Wow, she wasn't very subtle at all. "I didn't notice." I was going to make her work for it, maybe even spell it out.

She picked up a twig off the ground and lit it before tossing it into the fire pit. "Maybe I was imagining things. Sometimes, I wish he’d find his mate. He is always so miserable and ornery now. He wasn’t like that until he got older and Dad began putting so much pressure on him." She shrugged as the fire began to spread.

It surprised me that she wanted us to be mates. “You know that would never work out even if it were true.”

The front door opened, and the guys emerged, saving me from the conversation. Nate had two beers in his hand.

"Hey, you." Kai headed straight to me and took my hand. "What did she get you to drink?"

"Some type of rosé wine." I hadn't even tasted it, so I took a sip. "Damn, that's good.'’

"I figured you'd love it." She grinned. "Don't worry, I have it hidden just for you and me."

A large group of people appeared in the driveway with Max at the center. They were mainly guys with a couple of females, but it was obvious all the guys were football players.

Nate lifted his beer to them. "There's plenty in the kitchen. Make yourselves at home."

Without any hesitation, the group went inside, and my brother headed straight to us.

"How am I not surprised we lost?" A small grin spread across Max's face as he