Surrendering (Surrender 1)

“Raven, I’m not gonna promise you anything until you tell me what it is.”

“Some of this dancing can get a little touchy and I’m not sure your jealous side will react well. This is supposed to be really fun and we have a blast, but I don’t want you to start a fight with the other dancers. Can you please stay calm?”

He looks really unhappy. “Yeah, babe, I’ll control myself.”

“We have a lot to talk about, starting with how you knew I was here, but we’ll talk later.”

I brush a light kiss over his lips before I leave.

The backroom is filled with people and I see Finn looking over the registry in the corner. He doesn’t like surprises when it comes to protection.

Harper and Kendall are talking to Adam in a corner taking notes. “We like Black Eyed Peas, Usher, Flo Rida, MJ, Eminem, any type of hip hop…”

He cuts her off and heads to the stage.

*****

The crowd is electrifying. Jason sees Kendall as soon as we join in on the second song. The three of us do a short routine we made up years ago to Salt-N-Pepa’s “Push It”. A large body steps up behind me and I use his chest as leverage to do a high leg kick that Kendall slides under. The big guy behind me lifts me so I’m facing him. After spinning me several times, he lowers me to the ground where I twirl back into the crowd.

Adam does a mix of “Rump Shaker” with modern day “Low” by Flo Rida and we jump back in. This routine is much longer than the one before. A few people recognize it and jump in and out. I know I need someone strong to brace my weight. I see a guy watching me from the side and I raise my eyebrows to see if he’s interested in helping me. He nods back so I get ready. As soon as I get the sign from Harper, I spin toward him and land against his chest. He braces his legs and I jump up. He pushes me back so I can get height and then I fly through the air successfully, landing my back flip. I hear my friends cheering over the large crowd.

I have little participation after that unless someone pulls me in. I see Kendall dismiss Jason twice before he quits trying. By the time Adam takes a break, my legs feel like jelly. I meet up with all our friends back at the table. All of Finn’s roommates had shown up while I was dancing. Tripp picks me up and swings me around. Gabe and Jimi do the same with Kendall and Harper respectively.

Declan’s quiet, but when I sit down next to him, he smiles over at me. “Not a day goes by that I’m not amazed by you. You looked hot out there. I have some new images to keep me company at night.”

I shake my head at him laughing.

“You don’t think I’m serious, but I am. You are so beautiful.”

Chapter 21

Meet My Mom

After all the excitement at the club, we decided to take the party back to our house. Everyone piled into the cars with Finn, Declan, and Tripp (driving Kendall’s car).Gabe and Jimi left earlier to meet some friends at another

bar. Kendall was still jazzed about Jason’s reaction to her dismissal and insisted all the girls do shots. After the fourth round, I was pretty buzzed and became flirty with Declan. I could tell he was enjoying the drunken Ravenel Hayes.

I’m thankful that I stocked the house with liquor and beer because when we got home, everyone let loose. Even Finn got drunk.

I knew we were having a coed slumber party so I grabbed the air mattress and all the extra sheets and pillows I could find. Once everyone found a place to lie down, I noticed Kendall had teamed up with Tripp on the couch. I motioned for her to join me in my room.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m sleeping on the couch.”

“Why?”

“Because I want Declan to sleep in your room with you.”

“Don’t you think that’s a little too forward? Just yesterday we were broken up. I still need to talk to him. I don’t think it’s a good idea to have him in here tonight, especially with me this drunk.”

“Raven, I love you, but you’re an idiot. That guy is crazy for you. I know you need to know what happened, but stop pushing him away. I like him for you. I’m not saying you should mess around with him, but the way you two looked tonight proves you’re good together. He’s too drunk to drive and he doesn’t look like he wants to share the air mattress with Finn.”

“He does cuddle well…”

“There you go. It’s settled. You get your hunk of love and I get the guys that will probably snore through the night.”

When we get back to the living room, Finn’s passed out on the mattress, and Tripp and Declan are on the couch watching TV.