Page 27 of Knight

“Bourbon, right?” he asks and someone hands him a bottle.

“Perez!” A boy in an ERA jersey comes between us. “You played awesome in the last game, my dude! Give me your pointers.”

When Christian hands me the cup he lowers his lids at whoever this is. “Do you mind?” he asks. “We’re having a conversation.” Christian tilts his head towards me before the boys’ eyes widen.

“Shit. Y-yeah. I’m sorry, man,” the boy says, grumbling to himself before he takes off. I can’t help but shake my head as I take a long sip of whiskey. Christian might try to be the good guy but he’s still a natural King.

He places his hands on my shoulders, the kitchen starting to empty around us. They’re strong and firm and when he starts kneading at my muscles a moan surprises me when it escapes my mouth. “Wow.” Closing my eyes, I relax in his massage. “That’s good.”

Christian chuckles, “My dad used to make me do this for him when he got back from a rough game. I thought we were spending quality time, but he just wanted a backrub. Wasn’t long before he shooed me away.”

“Relatable,” I nod, taking another sip. Each one doing its job to dull my senses bit by bit. “My old foster dad? He used to time us on who could clean the house the fastest. That kid would get dinner. The rest of us? Dog food.” There’s a crack in my shoulder when his thumb moves just right and a release shoots through to my spine. Rolling my neck from side to side it looks like I’ve been missing out. Christian knows what he’s doing.

“Really?” he asks.

I take another sip, craning my neck to look back at him and he looks cute with that wide-eyed look. “Nah, I’m kidding.” Christian’s easy to talk to. He doesn’t analyze what I’m saying, he isn’t a puzzle with his words. Makes it easy to crack a joke. Let my hair down. “He gave us a Twinkie.”

His hands stop on my shoulders, leaning forward so he can get a better look at me. “You’re joking, right?” Those eyes sparkle under the kitchen’s dimmed pot lights before a cute smirk comes across his face. “Alright, you got me.”

“Woah!”

When I turn my head to the entrance, Isaac’s walking in with a leopard print sweater, tight black jeans. His coils are as shiny as his face and I haven’t seen him without a stagger in weeks. Tonight is no different.

Christian’s hands drop from my shoulders and I feel him take a step back, cold air coming between us.

“Am I interrupting?” Isaac looks between us.

Christian comes beside me. “Nope. Just grabbing drinks. What’s up?” They give each other that stupid bro-hug before Isaac takes a bottle from the table.

He uncorks it, pulling it to his mouth before he says, “Does King know you guys are here? Together?”

BOOM!

The front doors swing open, Aunt Marion appearing in a long brown trench coat, red gloves to match her heels. “What has happened?” Students don’t seem to care as her hair whips around the foyer, eyes looking like they’re about to fall out of her head. “Damien? Where is Damien?”

“Shit.” Isaac takes a swig of the bottle before putting it back, wiping at his sweater. “See you guys later. I’m off to do damage control. He leaves us, approaching Marion and like a smooth salesman, leads her back out the door in a matter of seconds.

“I wonder what damage control entails?” Christian asks what I’m wondering but before anybody else gets the wrong idea, I put my glass down. “Thanks, but, about that bathroom break …”

“Right, Right.” Christian smooths a hand through the hair on the top of his head, cheeks red when he moves out of the way. “Don’t get into trouble.”

When I’m in the foyer, I take a glance in the living room to check on Willow. It’s only a matter of time before she’s going to be livid with me for taking her home. With my hand on the railing, I ignore the comments of partygoers while I scan the room for my sister and her friends. But I don’t see her.

Walking over to the living room, she isn’t there either. Neither are her friends.

My head whips around, trying to spot her but I don’t.

Okay. Don’t panic.

Bella’s laugh comes from the doors leading to the outside patio. I only recognize it because I’ve been listening to it all evening. Moving towards the doors, the stone patio has heat lamps throughout, students in the pool like it’s the middle of June. Bella included. She’s sandwiched between two stocky guys from the team, giggling and chatting, but the possessive arm around her shoulder makes my jaw clench. I’m imagining one of those assholes with their arm around Willow and it only fuels my anger … and worry.

Bella spots me, eyes widening before she smiles, playing it off. Without waiting for Christian, I march over. This might be her world, but all this? It’s new to Willow. It’s new to me, and if I’m drowning I won’t pull my sister with me.

“Where is she?” I demand, all eyes on me as I try not to slip on the wet stone.

“Hey, Medusa,” the guy next to her greets. He has a smirk on his olive face, brown eyes following the outline of my frame. “I’d invite you to join in, but I’m worried you might drown us all.”

This. Cocky. Asshole. “Excuse m—”

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