Page 117 of The Naughty List

He nods and swings his stare over to Felicity. “And you?”

“Oh, well, I just graduated early. So I’m working on finding a job, and then I’ll go wherever.”

“So, you’ll be hanging around a while then?”

She nods. “Yeah, probably.”

This makes him smile but he covers it with his beer as he takes a drink.

I pass Felicity over her shot and beer and I pick up mine, holding it in the air. “To a magical Christmas,” I say.

She smiles and clanks her shot glass off mine before we throw them back. She quickly chases hers down with a drink of beer and I look up at Chad, wondering why he’s still hovering.

“There something you need, buddy?”

He seems surprised, but then he shakes his head and walks away without another word.

“Carson,” Felicity chastises.

“What? Dude was being a weirdo, just hovering there like that.”

She laughs and shakes her head. “You never did like him.”

“Still don’t,” I remind her, picking up my beer and taking a drink.

“Why? What problem could you possibly have with the guy now? You haven’t seen him in years.”

“He likes you,” I point out.

“He does not.” She rolls her eyes, thinking I’m just being overprotective again.

I lean forward, resting my arms on the table. “He does. Why else did he ask if you were sticking around town?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know. To make conversation?”

This time, I’m the one to roll my eyes. “No, dude wants another turn with you.”

She shakes her head. “Well, he’s not getting it.”

“Is that so?” I ask as she leans in.

She nods.

I’m about to ask her why that is, see if it has anything to do with me, but I get cut off when Greg plops down at our table.

“Look at you two getting all nice and cozy,” he says, placing a hand on each of our shoulders and giving us a little shake. “Chad said you chased him off, Carson. You never did like that punk.” He laughs.

I move my eyes in his direction. “He wasn’t the only one I didn’t like,” I say, hoping he gets the hint.

“Oh, no! You didn’t like anyone who tried sniffing around Felicity, here. Hey, you remember that time. Oh…when was it. It must have been your freshmen year away. You were so worried that all the guys would start asking Felicity out, you made the football team follow her around everywhere she went?” He starts laughing and Felicity’s eyes cut to me.

“That’s why they were following me around?” Her voice is loud and squeaky. “I couldn’t figure it out. It was creepy as hell! They legit tried hiding behind trees and stuff so I wouldn’t see them. But do you know how hard it is to hide a six-four linebacker behind a tree?”

Her description makes me laugh. “I’m sorry.” I laugh. “I wasn’t trying to freak you out. I just wanted to make sure you had someone watching over you while I was gone.”

She shakes her head, her eyes rolling in response. “You were always very overprotective.”

Greg nods his head in agreement. “Oh, you have no idea. Once, a bunch of guys tried sneaking into a slumber party you were at, fuckface here decided to call the parents and let them know. They came out and busted us.”

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