Page 63 of Talk Nerdy To Me
Chapter 21
BASE
A lot of cars are here, and since there’s a little music in the backyard, I assume that’s where to go. I’m half surprised there isn’t a valet service, even if it is just one of their casual outdoor gatherings.
The Sterlings have more money than they know what to do with.
It’s one of the many reasons I’ve never gone to any of their private parties when Tag has invited me. I don’t even know how to act around that much money.
Bristling, I walk through the back gate, and Maverick Sterling almost collides with me. There’s a small girl on his shoulders who grabs his hair like a horse’s reins and yanks him back.
With a yelp, he promptly lifts the kid and deposits her to the ground, telling her to go play, as he gives me an incredulous expression.
“I was beginning to think you were too cool to hang with us,” he states flatly, smirking. “How many times has Tag invited you now?”
I don’t correct him about who invited me this time. “A few.”
“Look who the hell just showed up,” he says, and my eyes land on the very laidback party that has most of their inner circle in attendance. Fortunately, I don’t spot Bella.
Tag stumbles, his eyes widening when he sees me. Well, I guess that means he knows why I’m really here.
A few of the guys wave me over, since the party seems to have mostly split into three groups—guys, girls, and kids.
My gaze flicks over the girls’ faces until I land on one stunned redhead, who is staring at me as though she’s shocked to see me. Clearly Ash didn’t tell her she sent me a text.
Why am I here?
Taking a seat with the guys, I idly listen as they carry on with a conversation about some dude who managed to bust a window on Dane’s new Jag today.
My attention only turns to them when I realize they’re talking about Tommy, telling Rye Clanton this information.
“He legit ran out of here,” Maverick says, laughing under his breath as he joins in on the conversation.
“As soon as Dane said, ‘You can write me a check or just go now and never speak to my sister again. Either way, we’ll call it even,’” Corbin drawls, his own sinister grin in place.
“Who won the pool?” one of them asks, confusing me.
“Salem. Of course,” Maverick snorts, causing all of them to laugh like there’s an inside joke.
All this insider chatter is annoying as hell. Is this how Britt felt on the ride out to the club?
At least I know how they got rid of Tommy.
Definitely more creative than I was expecting.
My eyes move back to Britt, noticing how all the girls are looking from me to her. When my lips twitch, Britt jerks her gaze away, and Rain grins at her as she says something.
“So how’d Tag convince you to come out here?” Corbin asks me as Rain weirdly puts money on the table they’re sitting around.
Tria says something to Britt that I can’t hear before she also puts down money. It’s an annoying thing that I’m unable to read lips right now.
Britt shakes her head, putting her money down as though she’s stating something important. I think I make out, ‘he’s not a date,’ but I can’t be sure.
“He didn’t. Ash did,” I tell Corbin, even as my eyes stay on Britt as she continues to animatedly argue something, while the money continues to collect on the table.
Before I have to answer more, Wren walks in with his daughter and…girlfriend? Wife? Fiancée? It’s hard to keep up with these things. But Allie’s eyes widen when she sees me, and she darts away from Wren to join the girls, digging money out of her purse as she goes as though she’s in a hurry to join in on before all bets are closed.
“What the hell is going on over there?” I ask Tag as the guys start filling Wren in on what he’s missed—mostly the garage story again.
