“Well, I just kicked Jesse’s ass at pool,” Kason said, ignoring Thayer’s comment. “And we’re ready to head back to the house.”
I jumped off my stool, and a wave of dizziness washed over me. I quickly grasped the table for balance.
“You good?” Thayer asked.
“Fine,” I said as I steadied myself.
Kason eyed me. “Are you?”
“Well,” I began, “you guys haven’t stopped serving me drinks all night. And, as you know, I’m a bit of a lightweight.”
“Fuck. I’m sorry. I wasn’t even paying attention.” Without another word, Kason lifted me off my feet and threw me over his shoulder as if I weighed nothing at all.
“Put me down,” I demanded.
“Nope.”
“Kason. I’m warning you. Put me down right now.”
“Or what?” he asked as he walked us to the exit. “You’re gonna tell Mom and Dad?”
“I’ll never forgive you.”
“Right,” he said, dismissing my threat as he stepped outside into the cold night.
Our security guard came out of nowhere, leading us to our SUV.
“I’ll tell Shay all of your embarrassing secrets,” I threatened.
“I’m an open book. Shay knows all the bad stuff. And she still loves me.”
I didn’t have a comeback for that, but it didn’t matter. Kason tugged open the SUV door and placed me in the backseat.
The other doors opened, and everyone piled in. Thayer and Jesse sandwiched me in the middle row. It was a quiet ride back to the house. But I’d be lying if I said that the feel of Thayer’s arm and leg pressed to my side didn’t have my mind wandering to other places. But, just like in the bar, as much as I willed him to touch me, he didn’t. I was such a fool to think that he’d even want to. We’d spent the last year ignoring each other. Why now, when I was at my most vulnerable, would I think he’d want to do anything else? Despite his kindness toward me last night, me rejecting his kiss had ruined everything between us.
Once we pulled into the driveway back at the house, we waited per usual until security entered and did their thing. When they came back outside, I worried my brother planned to carry me again, so I shuffled out of the SUV behind Thayer, who surprised me by linking his arm through mine.
“I got her,” he told Kason.
“I’m fine,” I said to them, trying to pull my arm away from Thayer.
He held on tighter. “Just hold on to me in case there’s any ice.”
We followed Shay, Kason, and Jesse up the front steps. Once inside, they shed their jackets and dropped onto the sofas. I withdrew my arm from Thayer’s and promptly headed for the stairs.
“Good night,” I called to them.
“’Night,” Shay and Kason said.
“You good, Giselle?” Thayer asked.
I stopped and glanced over my shoulder, locking eyes with him. “Of course.”
He nodded, and then I continued upstairs.
Once I got to my room, I checked my phone, realizing I hadn’t looked at it all night. A slew of texts from Gino filled the screen.
Gino