Page 71 of The Pact

He holds me tight to his chest as his tongue tangles with mine, leaving me breathless when he finally releases me. There’s a playful light in his green eyes and his smile is contagious.

“Aww I’m sorry, Sheppie. I messed up your party look,” I say, noticing that he is wearing a t-shirt over his swimming trunks and I made it all wet.

“Nah.” He chuckles, taking his t-shirt off and dumping it on an empty lounger. “I like you when you’re wet, Ausra.”

His smirk makes me laugh. Being with Shep is always so much fun.

“Come on, I’ve just been challenged to a game of beer pong and I need a partner,” he says grabbing my hand and walking toward a huge table laden with red solo cups.

“I warn you that I’ve never played beer pong. So if you want to win, you might wanna ask one of the guys.”

He stands behind me, putting a ping pong ball in my hand and surrounding my shoulders with his strong arms. “I think playing with you is a lot more fun,” he whispers into my ear. “Plus, I can teach you.”

I really appreciate Shep’s faith in me but unfortunately, I’m not a natural at beer pong. And obviously, the more I miss the beer cups, the more I have to drink and the worse my eye-hand coordination becomes.

After two losing rounds, I’m swaying from side to side and everything sounds funny and causes me to break into fits of giggles.

“I really suck at this!” I laugh, stumbling backward and stopping against Shep’s solid chest.

He closes his arms around my waist, keeping me steady. “No, my bad. It takes some practice, like with everything. We’ll get you to try with cups of water next time and by the next party, you’ll be a champion.”

That causes another bout of hilarity that’s increased by Shep peppering the back of my neck with ticklish kisses.

“Yo, Shep! Are you and your girl up for another game or are you already too wasted?”

A deep voice I recognize says from behind us. It belongs to a tall, dark haired man with piercing blue eyes and dark ink covering his perfectly sculpted chest.

When I gasp, I’m thankful that Shep thinks I was about to fall over as I took another step back. “Nah, Holden. I think my partner needs a little break and something to eat. Maybe later?”

I’ve never seen the older, handsome stranger before and I realize he’s the guys’ coach when Shep calls him Holden.

But that isn’t the reason for my reaction.

“Oh come on, H! When you said you had to show your face at a party, I didn’t think you meant a kids’ party!” my sister complains, wrapping a possessive arm around Holden’s trim waist.

“You’d be surprised, Mc. These kids sure know a thing or two about partying. Plus, I couldn’t forget to wish a happy birthday to my best sailor.”

Kelley appears on the other side of the table. “Holden, dude! Glad you decided to show your sorry ass at my party.” There’s a broad smile on his face that tells me that the seemingly harsh words he greeted his coach with are just the same kind of ribbing he has going on with the guys.

Holden responds with another snarky remark but I don’t even catch it. My eyes are fixed onto my sister and I’m sort of relieved that Kelley and Shep don’t seem to acknowledge her anymore than with distracted nods of their heads.

What the fuck is McKayla doing here? I’m dying to ask her but at the same time, I’m worried about her acknowledging me in any way and outing me in front of the guys. I know Bode won’t say anything but once Mc has had a few drinks, all bets are off.

“Hey Ash,” Holden says wrapping one arm around Mc’s waist and dragging her closer. “Mc and I will be in the pool house.”

Shep shakes his blond head, his gaze is following his coach walking away with my sister.

“Do you think they’re sleeping together?” I ask him, imagining that Holden must be the guy Mc met on that new dating app she’s downloaded.

Shep’s answer surprises me for more than one reason. “Smokey, those two have been fucking and getting high together for years. Since McKayla was a senior in high school. That’s what got her father, that weird preacher to start fucking with our team.”

What the actual fuck?

I school my features into a neutral expression but on the inside, I’m reeling.

I don’t even think that I should come clean at least with Shep, I’m beyond pissed at my sister.

“I need to go to the bathroom,” I say.

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