The Trouble with You (Rixon Raiders 1)

“You’re not serious?” I almost choked on the words.

His shoulders lifted. “Sure I am.” He sounded nonchalant. “I like dancing.”

“Are you drunk?”

“Not as drunk as you.”

I poked my tongue out at him and his eyes flashed like lightning in a storm. “So, it’s Homecoming soon.”

Homecoming.

Just the very word made me nauseous.

“I’d rather stick hot pokers in my eyes.”

“So, you’re not going?” he asked.

“No, I’m not going to Homecoming.” Was I?

“Sure, you are, Sunshine. It’s a senior rite of passage, you’ve got to be there.”

“Flick wants to go.” I folded my hands together, dropping them in my lap.

“Flick talks a lot of sense.”

Peeking over at him, I asked, “Are you going to Homecoming?”

His expression darkened. “Kind of comes with the territory.”

“Ahh, Homecoming Court, gotcha.”

His face wrinkled with displeasure. “It’s not really my scene, but Coach likes us to give back and everyone—”

“Hey.” I threw up my hands. “Say no more Mr. Homecoming King.”

“No, that’ll be your brother.”

“Step-brother,” I groaned, and Cameron laughed. The soft sound drifting over me, wrapping me up like a warm blanket. “You have a nice laugh,” I said, my eyes fluttering closed.

“And you’re drunker than I realized. How are you getting home tonight?”

“I think I’m going to sleep riiiight here.” I stretched my arms above my head, nestling further into the chair but then my world tilted as strong hands yanked me up.

“Oh no you don’t,” Cameron said. “You can stay here. Asher won’t mind.”

“Flick... I need to tell Flick.” The words came out jumbled as he kept his arm around me and guided me back toward the house.

People called his name, called mine too, as he wound us through the sea of bodies still drinking and laughing. But it was strange. I didn’t feel like they were laughing at me. Not this time. But then, maybe all the vodka in my bloodstream was giving me a false sense of confidence. Maybe I’d already fallen asleep and this was all a dream.

Either way, wrapped in Cameron’s arms, it wasn’t the worst place to be.

Even if I did hate him.

“Almost there,” he said as we hit the top stair.

“Asher has a nice house,” I mumbled as he paused at a door. I watched through glassy eyes as Cameron dug out a key from his wallet and unlocked the door. “That isn’t creepy at all.”

“You think I let just anyone stay in my room?” His eyes darkened, pinning me to the spot, stealing the snarky reply right off the tip of my tongue.