“You’re so childish.”
“Sorry?”
“You’re not even a little bit sorry.”
She winks, holding open the car door for me as I climb in. “Do you want me to get on my knees and beg for forgiveness?”
“I hate you.”
“Sure you do. Just like you hated Hawkins when you came all over his face.”
Steve the Uber driver begins to choke on air, but he doesn’t say anything, which is enough for me to give him five stars when he drops us off.
The Honeypot is as busy as you’d expect on a Saturday night. We chat with Briar for a couple of minutes before someone tells her in her headset about an issue, and she runs off to deal with it.
The guys have reserved one of the booths in the VIP area, ready to celebrate their first win of the season. I’m most excited to see Henry; at this point, I don’t feel like that statement requires explanation.
It seems we aren’t the only ones who get perks from Briar. When Sabrina told me about the booth earlier, she also said Nate had pulled a favor so Henry wouldn’t get carded. He didn’t want Henry home alone, knowing he wouldn’t want to go to a campus party without them.
I’m trying not to obsess about how sweet it is.
I buy Brin her drink, thanking her for the millionth time for the six weeks that she did cardio. Making our way over to the booth, my stomach is full of nervous energy.
Bobby spots us first, crushing us both with an oxygen stealing hug. “I’m so glad you came,” he shouts over the music.
Mattie’s next, proudly showing me his swollen eye, which appears to be going dark purple. He shouts the details of his fight, looking to Brin for confirmation it was cool like he says it was.
Most of them are sitting in the booth; the rest are talking to people, obviously trying not to go home alone tonight. One person is missing though, not that I care. The only person I’m going home with tonight is Sabrina—I told her as much in the Uber. She gave me a sarcastic “Okay” and went back to texting Robbie.
I’m in a quieter part of the club with Joe and Kris, watching Henry talk to two women. The only way to describe how I’m feeling right now is astonished. They’re both hot as hell, flicking their hair around, throwing their heads back to laugh at everything he says.What’s he saying to them? Where is the quiet and shy Henry I know and love?
Joe laughs at my bewildered expression. “It’s like this everywhere we take him. Women freaking love him.”
No shit.
Kris huffs, gulping down his Jack and Coke. “I just wanna know how he does it so I can do it too.”
I’m busy listening to them discuss theories when hands land on my waist from behind, and I feel breath on my neck. “You shouldn’t be drinking. You have a head injury.”
Spinning around to face him as he straightens up, I immediately spot the angry-looking cut on his cheek. Moving closer, I reach up, rubbing my thumb beneath it gently. “Did you try to do a quad Lutz too?”
Nate chuckles, his body vibrating against mine. “Yeah, you made it look super easy. Thought I’d try.”
My body is buzzing from the proximity. No, it’s the alcohol. Definitely the alcohol. I’m unbothered by the proximity. The same way I’m unbothered by how he’s smiling down at me.
Anastasia Unbothered Allen.
“What happened?” I ask, keeping the conversation moving so I don’t have time to spiral.
He brings his glass to his lips, smirking as he sips. “It turns out people from Washington aren’t very friendly.”
“A vicious lie, Hawkins. We’re famously very friendly.”
He shrugs, still smirking. “I will need you to show me because I’m struggling to believe you.”
“Prepare to be amazed.”
“I’m already amazed by you, Anastasia,” he says, winking. With that, he steps around me and heads over to the booth.