Page 135 of The Baller

It was unsurprising when several guys followed her, including one I recognized as the new Jets quarterback. He’d been traded from the Eagles last season; Ben and Henry sulked for aweek about it.

My eyeline of Millie was disrupted by a lone figure walking toward us.

“Ugh, God, I hate New Year’s Eve.” Holiday dropped down into the seat Millie had vacated and pulled the blanket around her. “You either end up getting ridiculously drunk and embarrassing yourself, or you end up in bed with someone you shouldn’t and embarrass yourself anyway. The only plus side is the Holiday jokes stop tomorrow.”

I threw the corner of my blanket over her legs. “Stay with us. You can be as drunk and embarrassing as you want, we won’t tell.”

“Thank you.” A glimmer of laughter appeared in her eyes, and she looked around. “Where is everyone? I thought we were all sticking together for midnight, it was why I came out here.”

“Radley and I have been here the whole time,” replied Lux. “Millie’s inside somewhere, Ace and Payton disappeared an hour ago, and the boys are here.”

She twisted around to find her brother and Parker walking toward us, one holding a tray of shot glasses, the other a tray of filled champagne glasses, plus two extra bottles. Both were placed on the table.

“This is what I call service,” Holiday said as she picked up a glass and sipped.

The boys took a seat, just as Ace and Payton reappeared, looking slightly less put together than they had an hour ago.

“Hey, the gang’s all here!” cried Ace, sinking into one of the squashy chairs and pulling Payton into his lap.

But Tanner sat forward, his brows creased. “Wait, where’s Millie gone?”

Lux pointed in the general direction of the crowded room. It didn’ttake long for Tanner to spot her in the far corner next to an exposed brick wall, or the guy she was talking to. It took even less for his eyes to narrow and darken as his jaw clenched. His drink was slammed on the table.

“Oh, hell no!” he hollered as he leaped up. “If she’s not kissing me, she sure as hell isn’t kissing him either.”

Parker picked up a shot and knocked it back. “I think the New Year fireworks are about to start early.”

I shook my head, and a grin twisted my mouth. “Someone needs to explain to him that a) Millie will always do whatever she wants, and b) thathetoldherthey weren’t kissing.”

“Before any of that happens, someone should remind my brother that they’re not even dating,” Holiday drawled.

Lux turned to me, his mouth forced into a hard line. “Okay, Goldilocks, I’m offering you a one-time, easy-out, break-up pass, no questions asked, because unfortunately, he…” his head jerked in the direction Tanner had run, “is one of my best friends, and while I can’t ditch him, there’s no reason why we both should suffer.”

I stroked a finger against his warm cheek, and a smile tugged the corner of my lips. “I hate to say it, but friends or not, you’re stuck with me. Plus, I kind of like having Tanner around. He keeps things interesting.”

“Yeah?”

I nodded. “Yeah.”

He smacked a kiss to my lips. “Then he stays.”

“SIXTY SECONDS!” cried a voice from somewhere inside the room, causing a bustle of movement as everyone shuffled around searching for someone to make out with.

Parker tossed a package of poppers at Holiday; Payton picked up one of the glitter hats from the table and slipped it on. Ace tested out the blower with a glitter streamer attached, and blew itin Parker’s face.

Lux reached up and adjusted my headband, straightening the little gold bobbles bouncing on springs. “Are you ready?”

“THIRTY SECONDS.”

I nodded. “I’ve been ready since you stopped me from falling off the stool in Brown’s.”

“FIVE, FOUR, THREE…”

“I love you so much,” Lux whispered, an inch away from my lips, his hot breath warming my face.

“ONE.”

“Get ready for forever,” I whispered back.

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