Worth the Risk (Carolina Rebels 5)

My rules help me win, too. After I win two in a row, I raise my arms in the air and then take a few bows.

“I’ve had fun. Can you take me home now?” I’m starting for feel guilty about being here.

Collin doesn’t argue me with this time. My mind wanders to Elias and if he built that fort with Jackson while I was gone as Collin drives me home.

“Are you going to tell EJ you had a good time?” Collin asks as we approach Elias’s house.

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I?”

He shrugs. “Are you going to tell him about that guy? Henry?”

I sigh. “Are you?” I don’t know that Elias really needs to know.

“Should I?”

“That’s the question, isn’t it? What is he doing?” I ask when he pulls into Elias’s driveway and we see him standing outside his front door with his arms folded over his chest.

“I don’t know.”

We get out and the moment we’re close enough, Elias goes off on Collin. “Where the hell have you been? You were supposed to take her out for like two hours tops. I already put Jackson in bed without her, and it nearly gave the kid a heart attack.”

I’m so confused. “Elias, why are you upset?” Granted, I feel horrible for not being here to tuck Jackson in and that he had to deal with that, but this whole thing was Elias’s idea.

Elias opens and closes his mouth a few times. “He wasn’t supposed to keep you out all night,” he finally sputters.

“It’s not that late,” I defend. He’s overreacting. I look at Collin, who seems amused by all of this. “Thanks, Collin. We’ll see you later.” He nods and waves goodbye as he retreats to his vehicle. I grab Elias’s hand. “Let’s go inside and unruffle those feathers.”

“You had fun?” he asks almost as if he’s hoping I’ll say no.

I smile when I see a blanket fort in the living room. I toe out of my shoes, drop my purse, and leave Elias to crawl under the blankets, held up by the couch and chairs. There are more blankets and pillows lying on the floor. Jackson taught him how to built a fort after all.

“Raelynn?” Elias calls as he crawls in after me and then lies next to me. “You had fun?”

I shrug. “We ran into Henry. I decided to drink alcohol for the first time. And Collin took me to this arcade place afterward so the night wasn’t completely ruined. We would’ve been back sooner if not for that.”

Elias frowns. “Are you going out with him again? What happened with Henry?”

I laugh. “This wasn’t even a real date, so no, there probably won’t be another one.” I close my eyes and lean my forehead against his shoulder. ?

?Henry’s a jackass. That’s what happened. I don’t want to talk about it. I want to lay here in the fort.” Once I’ve had a moment of peace, I lean back a little to look at him. “Don’t send me on any more dates, especially if you’re going to get mad at them for doing what you asked.”

“Trust me, I won’t.”

“Good.” My gaze drops to his lips, which rise into a smile, and I realize how close we are. I should probably move back some.

“You ever think about kissing me, Raelynn?”

My eyes snap up to Elias’s. “What?” My heart hammers in my chest, ready to break out and run far, far away.

Elias’s hand rests on my hip and he repeats, “Do you ever think about kissing me, Raelynn?” I can’t answer that! “Would you be upset if I kissed you?” Nope. Not at all. But that doesn’t mean we should. I don’t think it’s a good idea. All I can do is stare at him. His head inches closer to mine.

“I...we...” Where are the rest of my words to protest this fantastically bad idea?

“Should totally kiss?” Elias says with a grin. He’s so close now his nose touches mine. “Close your eyes.”

If I do it, he’ll kiss me.

If my eyelids close, I’m giving him permission and saying I want him to do this.