Tracey mouthed for me to hang up. She was right, if this phone call got any mushier, I was going to ruin my makeup. I always knew my parents were proud of me, but hearing it changed everything.
Chapter 52
Jade Rivers
Tracey informed me in the car that the boys would be going with us. I didn’t worry about asking which boys because I knew we would be tailed by the Guardians and I was too worried that the list would include Rafe. I didn’t really look forward to seeing him again after leaving the pack lands.
Surprisingly, we arrived at the little bar before the boys did. It gave me the chance to take a deep breath and focus on our surroundings. The bar was owned by someone in the pack and most everyone that frequented it was of supernatural origins. I didn’t know how I felt about possibly coming face to face with a vampire, but we would cross that bridge when we got there.
Tracey chose a corner booth before she went to order a drink at the bar. I asked for a water before she disappeared. I checked my phone for a call from my parents before I tucked it into the pocket of my dress, right beside my ID. Even though Tracey had informed me I didn’t need it, I felt more comfortable having it with me.
Knox was the first one to walk through the entrance and when I caught sight of what he was wearing I about fell over. His red hair was slicked back and he wore a Hawaiian button-down shirt. But those things weren’t what had me falling over. It was the jorts. The jean shorts that were cut off more than six inches above his knees. There was something sexy but also hilarious about them. The shorts showed off his muscular thighs and my mouth went dry. Was there a dress code that we missed?
Mav came in next with a swagger in his step. He leaned to the side and swung his body around as he walked right through the door. He was also wearing the ridiculous getup that Knox had on. Knox met Tracey at the bar and I watched as his eyes looked her up and down before he smirked. I raised my eyebrows and watched their flirty banter unfold. Tracey smacked him on the arm before she marched back to our spot.
Tonight her tight curls were pulled back into a bun on the top of her head and massive gold hoops swung from her ears. She wore a bodysuit that hugged all of her curves wonderfully. The army green color of it made her skin tone glow. Knox’s tongue ran across his top lip as he watched her go.
“I think he baited you on purpose,” I smirked as she slid into the booth beside me. “He wanted to see you walk away.”
She rolled her light eyes. “He’s just a flirt. He loves a good chase. If I chased back he would get scared.”
“Don’t let him hear you say that,” Mav leaned against the top of the booth and threw us both a show-stopping smile.
Tracey pouted. “I hope he heard it. He wouldn’t be able to handle a strong woman even if he wanted to.”
My eyes stayed glued to the door as the other Guardians filed into the bar. Archer, Duncan, and Gabriel all wore the same thing as the other Guardians. They each had on a different colored shirt though. It looked like a cult gone wrong. Was Rafe going to be matching with them? I doubted it. He didn’t seem like the type. Archer stopped at the door and pushed it back open before he peered out. His hair was the color of midnight and was cropped close to his scalp. It was a stark contrast to his pale skin. He reached out the door and grabbed a hold of something.
It took me a second to realize it was Rafe. I snorted and about fell right out of the booth. Hewasmatching the other guys. What had they done to get him into his jorts?
My eyes followed the line of muscle up his thick, bronzed thighs and I wasn’t mad at all about it. His green shirt with pink flowers was tucked into the worn cut-offs and every worry I had about seeing him went flying out the window. His jaw was clenched as he looked over the dimly lit room. He looked everywhere but our table.
A hand seized my wrist and yanked me over. Mav whistled low. “Damn girl, I need to see the whole outfit.”
My teeth worried my bottom lip as I let the Guardian pull me from the booth and spin me around. He whistled again and I couldn’t stop the giggle that escaped my lips. He knew how to flatter a girl, that was for sure. My eyes left the hulking man in front of me and searched out the Alpha. He was at the bar, gulping down the contents of his drink, all the while his eyes followed the curves of my body. My eyes strayed to the column of his throat and I felt hot desire pool low in my belly.
Mav took a step closer to me and wrapped one of my curls around his finger. His breath tickled the outside of my ear as he whispered. “Eventually, you’re going to have to give in.”
My eyes flicked up to his in confusion. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He licked his bottom lip. “Keep telling yourself that. Are you going to be disappointed when he doesn’t come over here?”
A frown pulled at my lips. “Why wouldn’t he?”
Knox’s breath washed over the back of my neck. “Because he would rather not be seen with us when we getrowdy.”
I snorted. “Too bad that he’s matching all of you. He can’t get out of this that easy.”
Knox’s hands found my waist and in a panic I looked over at Tracey. She leaned back in the booth and held her glass up in salute.Play along.She mouthed.
I didn’t know what I was doing but I let my head fall back and rest on Knox’s shoulder while Mav pulled us both to the dance floor. I didn’t know what they had planned but I wasn’t going to complain. Being sandwiched between two hot men wasn’t a bad thing. But judging by the hairs standing up on the back of my neck, it wasn’t a good thing either. I wanted to look over my shoulder and see if he was watching like I knew he was, but I couldn’t. I wouldn’t.
The game I was playing turned sour really quick. I was pressed between two hotties but before I knew it I was on the karaoke stage with a microphone in my hand. I shook my head as I tried to give the damned thing back to Mav but all he did was grab one for himself and pick a song on the laptop perched on a barstool. This was very bad. Tracey held her glass up again from across the room and I hoped my look was enough to scare her. Judging by her laugh, it wasn’t.
Chapter 53
Jade Rivers
“I don’t even do this when I’m drunk. I haven’t even had a taste of alcohol yet.” My protesting bounced off of them.
