Page 51 of Off Pitch

“Ah,” Josh says. “Just Fort’s girlfriend dancing on our favorite trainer.”

“I could have gone my entire life without seeing Lo dance like that,” Cole gripes.

“Oh, but I bet Knox loved it,” Lane smirks.

Bastard.

“Can we not go there?” I ask, trying miserably to forget the video. What I wouldn’t give to see Harlow move like that on me…

The awkward silence that comes as Cole eyes me suspiciously is broken by a knock at the door. Curious as to who would be here at nearly ten, I go to answer only to find fourverydrunk women standing in my doorway: Lucia, Rory, Ella, and Harlow… intight as hellblack minidress.

God help me…

“I told you guys he would answer!” she shouts as the other girls dissolve into laughter.

“He’s your boyfriend!” Ella slurs. “Of course, he answered!”

I stand there awkwardly, not quite sure what to do. “Uh, hi? What are you doing here? Didn’t we just get a video of you all still out?”

“That’s no way to greet your girlfriend, Fort!” Rory says, poking me in the chest. “And I forgot to send the video until we got here.” The rest of the guys come to the door now to see what the commotion is.

“Joshy!” Ella says excitedly, running inside and wrapping Garro up in a hug. He’s stunned for a moment before he hugs his fiancée back.

“Rory? Lucia? Harlow?” Cole says. “What are you guys doing here?”

“Cole!” Rory replies loudly. “Lucia said we should visit you guys, so Harlow brought us here! Isn’t that fun?”

“Is that okay, Knox?” Harlow asks, worry in her voice.

“Oh, uh… yeah. That’s fine, Lo. Lane just finished kicking our asses in Monopoly, so you have good timing.”

“Thank God we didn’t get here earlier then.” She comes closer, placing her palm on my chest. How drunk is she? “I don’t want to see my boyfriend lose.”

“Not in front of everybody else, Lo!” Lucia teases from the kitchen where the rest of the group has gathered. “Save something for the bedroom.”

“Fuck off, Luc,” Harlow fires back.

Rory laughs from her place around my kitchen island before she settles on a look of panic. “Lane!” she shouts. “Where’s Sage?!”

Lane chuckles before replying. “She’s hanging with Grandpa Fisher tonight, Rory. We didn’t abandon her.”

Rory sighs a deep breath of relief. What a night this is turning into…

The group that gathered only stayed around an hour before everyone dispersed back to their own places, with the exception of Harlow. Because as much as I wanted time away to think today, I didn’t want her to leave once I saw her here. I’m also sure as hell not letting her take the subway when it’s getting close to midnight and she’s too drunk to walk in a straight line.

After I close my front door, I walk back into my living room to find Harlow sprawled across my couch, head resting on the arm and legs splayed out in front of her. Her dress is riding up dangerously high, making itreallydifficult to focus.

“There he is,” she slurs as I sit down beside her. “There’s my fake boyfriend.”

I can’t stop the laugh that escapes me. “Just how much did you have to drink tonight, Freckles?”

“Mmm… not sure,” she replies. “A lot.”

“Yeah, I kinda figured.” I smile at her as she decides to sit herself up, almost tumbling off the couch in the process.

“What does that mean, Mr. Slick?” she asks, poking me right in the chest. Hard.

“That means that you’re clearly shitfaced right now, Lo. You almost fell off the couch as you sat up.”

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