Page 43 of Don't Let Me Go (Don't Let Me 2)

“That was before I got to know you. Pretty sure our first game was a fluke, and I don’t wanna lose my undefeated title.” He winks. “Not yet, anyway.”

“I have an idea,” a guy pipes up next to me.

My drink splashes over the rim of my cup and onto my hand as I jump in surprise.

“Dude!” I shift the cup to my other hand and wipe off the excess Coke and Fireball against a napkin on the table as I turn to LAU’s rookie. “Austin, you scared the shit out of me.”

The guy is unapologetic as he tosses his arm around my shoulder and leans in closer, trusting me with the majority of his weight while his whiskey-laced breath tickles my nostrils. The guy is bombed.

“Some of the guys are wanting to play a game,” Austin slurs. “Maybe Strip Pong or something. You should join.”

Austin and Burrows share a look, though I can’t put my finger on what’s exchanged when Burrows replies, “I think we’re good.”

“Come on, man,” Austin argues. “At least play fair.”

“We were just gonna keep things low-key tonight,” Burrows returns, his eyes narrowing with a silent warning as he tugs me away from Austin’s grasp.

What the hell is this about?

Ignoring Burrows, Austin turns to me. “Come on, Blake. I heard you’re a fan of healthy competition. Come hang out with the rest of the team. You’re one of us now, remember?”

My attention shifts back to Burrows as the hair along my nape stands on end. Seriously. Something’s up. Austin has always reminded me of a golden retriever puppy or something, always looking for attention or a chance to show off, never wanting to leave my side unless he has no choice. But tonight’s different. He’s more…desperate almost. And I can’t figure out why.

“Yeah. The team wants to play a game or something,” Austin answers. “Or if not, we could always dance. Do you like to dance?” He hooks his thumb over his shoulder toward the makeshift dance area in the center of the family room.

“I––”

Burrows puts himself between Austin and me. “Sorry, man, but Blake’s my date tonight, so I think we’re gonna do our own thing.”

This is a date?

“Yo, Baby Thorne!” Tukani calls from outside. The French doors leading from the kitchen to the backyard are propped open again, like the first time I visited, giving a clear view of half the team scattered along the patio.

I wave at Tukani who must’ve lost his shirt since the party started. With his tribal tattoos on full display, he waves back at me like a lunatic, his massive biceps bulging as his arm sways in the air.

“Come hang out with us!” he yells. “We’re playing a game!”

The guy looks like he’s about to fall over, but he also has a habit of making me laugh harder than anyone I’ve ever met, so I cup my hands around my mouth and yell back, “What game are you playing?”

“Strip Pong! Now, we’re getting naked and getting drunk!” he slurs with a big, dopey grin.

“Oh, ‘cause that sounds promising,” I mutter under my breath, unable to hide my amusement. The guy’s a handful on a good day, and apparently, tonight isn’t any different.

Burrows snorts and hooks his arm around my shoulder, using his body to block Austin from getting too close to me.

“He’s already bombed,” I point out to Burrows.

Tilting his head toward the backyard while continuing to hold my gaze, Burrows says, “And that’s why I’m the undefeated champion at Beer Pong.”

I glance at Tukani, who’s chugging from a red Solo cup while pumping his opposite fist in the air and bite back my laugh. “Yeah, since you’ve divulged your little secret, it seems pretty obvious about how easy it is to gain the upper hand.”

Burrows chuckles and drops his voice low. “Just don’t tell Tukani my secret.”

“Or Austin,” I return, my attention darting toward the freshman who’s mixing rum with a can of sugar-free Redbull.

He follows my gaze, then grins down at me. “So, what do you think? Do you want to challenge them to a game of Beer Pong, or do you want us to do our own thing tonight?”

“I’m always up for a challenge.”

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