Surviving (Surrender 2)

“What’s going on? For the last four hours, not one of you girls answered your phones or text messages. We eventually got tired of waiting for you to answer and came here.”

“But, honey, it’s NNN. You know you can’t be here.”

“Now it’s NNN with Testosterone.” he says loud enough for everyone in the room to hear.

Not one person moves, so I take it upon myself to try and resolve this situation. I push him into the kitchen.

“You guys have to leave. We’re all fine. Actually, we’re all pretty drunk. This is what we do. We drink, eat, gossip, play games, and act like fools.”

“Babe, we discussed it on the way here. None of us are leaving. Well, you and I could leave but I shouldn’t drive. Gabe drove us here. Now give me a kiss.” He doesn’t wait for me to move before he picks me up. His lip’s crush to mine and the lip ring pokes into my bottom lip almost painfully. But when his tongue touches mine, I melt to him.

“It looks like Raven’s not going to convince them to leave. Should have known that would happen.” Charlie’s voice drags me out of my Declan trance.

“Um, I don’t think we have a choice. Apparently it was decided before we answered the door they weren’t leaving.”

“Good thing I stocked up on beer and whiskey.” She gets a full bottle of Jack Daniels out of the pantry and puts it on the counter. “Help yourselves guys.”

“Sparkle, I need you to go change right now. I will shield you from the kitchen to where your bag is, but this nightie should be made for my eyes only.” he slurs slightly.

“Declan, are you drunk?”

“A little. Go change and I’ll tell you all about our night.”

I don’t argue and actually laugh when he literally shields me from the living room on my way to Abbi’s room. Abbi is in her bathroom, undoubtedly changing, as well. When I get back to the living room, Charlie is setting up the air mattresses. All of the guys are drinking beer with empty shot glasses in front of them. They are talking about the fight and Blake is trying to reenact some sort of leg stunt thing. He looks like an idiot, but I don’t get a chance to tell him because Ella shrieks.

“No Fucking way! Nico Hunter?! As in the Nico ‘The Lady Killer’ Hunter?”

“Yeah, babe, the same one.” Will answers.

Every woman in the room inhales sharply. I may not know anything about fighting, or MMA, but I know about Nico Hunter. He’s fucking gorgeous. There have been promotional commercials on TV for weeks, and each one features Nico shirtless and sweaty. Rumor has it he is engaged, possibly married, but he keeps his relationship private.

“I thought you were going to some sort of boxing event.” I say stupidly.

“Why would you think that? We said it was fight night. Usually that means full contact.” Declan answers, looking at me suspiciously.

“Um.”

“Because Romeo, if any of us knew it was Nico Hunter, we would have asked James for passes, too. Nico Hunter is FINE. The body, the tattoos, those eyes. We may have even canceled NNN for a chance to watch him get sweaty and trample his opponents. He did win didn’t he?” Charlie tells no one in particular.

I???m guessing that Blake isn’t a jealous boyfriend because he laughs and nods his head yes. Declan, on the other hand, is trying but not succeeding in hiding his jealousy. His face is turning red, and his eyes are glaring at me.

“Raven, come here.” He reaches out his arm motioning me to his lap. He pulls me down, so I am laying across his legs and cages me in with his arms. “Tell me dear fiancée, what do you think of the tattooed MMA fighter that your friend is gushing over.”

“Um,” shit I’m too drunk to lie convincingly.

There are giggles and snickers around the room. “I reserve the right to answer that when I haven’t been drinking for five hours and you’re not so jealous.”

He squeezes me tight and kisses my forehead. “Not the right answer, but I’ll take it for now.”

“Declan, I like you a lot but you’re an idiot. RJ’s gonna marry you in six months and probably have babies before you can celebrate your one-year anniversary. Who cares if she thinks a cool-as-shit MMA fighter is hot?” Kendall smiles as she teases him.

I decide to change the subject and ask about every detail of their night. I notice that there are several guys from the group missing. After hearing about the fight and the after party, I realize they probably stayed around for the festivities, which usually includes girls. Even though we each changed into more decent pajamas, Gabe’s scowling at Harper. She’s doing a great job ignoring him. Interesting.

Sometime around two am, we all go to bed. Declan and I take one air mattress, and Kendall and Harper take the other. Gabe sleeps on the sofa and the couple’s pair off into their rooms.

I will never admit it, but I like NNN with Testosterone.

Chapter 30