Page 51 of Fight Or Flight

Barely, but he doesn’t need to know that. In fact, I think we should forget everything that’s happened until this moment. All that matters is that we made it.

He stops directly in front of me and Brooklyn and I watch as his eyes slowly rake over her. The bastard clearly likes what he sees.

“You didn’t tell me you were bringing a plus one.”

“Quit looking at her like that, you jerk,” I growl. “Brook, this is Danny, Uncle Jack’s son. Danny, Brooklyn.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” she says, releasing my hand. She offers it up to Danny, and he stares at it for a moment. A sense of panic immediately washes over me because I didn’t have a chance to give him or anyone else a heads-up that I was bringing Brooklyn with me. Thanks to Robert’s big mouth, most of the kids in our circle know Brooklyn’s situation and the reasons she’s here. If they start acting weird or talk about her mom dying, the night will be ruined, and my smiling girl will turn into a pumpkin.

I hold my breath as I wait for Danny to respond, silently willing him to use his fucking brain for once in his life. I don’t know if it’s the universe that obliges or an act of God, but he slides his hand into hers and tosses me a wink.

“Oh, the pleasure is all mine, gorgeous. Come, let me introduce you to the crew,” he says, and just like that, I’m a forgotten thought. He leads her to the bonfire where he introduces her to Tabitha, Connor, Ryder, Lexi, and Michael. Out of everyone here, Michael is the only one whose father isn’t a member of the Satan’s Knights, but we don’t hold it against him because he’s got a sweet pad with easy access to the beach. That, plus he and Lexi have been dating on and off for about a year now. Seeing as how she’s currently sitting on his lap, I’m going to say they’re on—at least for tonight, anyway. A few beers and that could change.

“What are you guys drinking?” Danny questions, lifting the top of a cooler that’s packed with booze. “I’ve got Johnny, Jimmy, and Jose.”

“Where did you get all of this shit?” I ask him.

“Where do you think? Kate’s, of course.”

“Man, when they find out—”

“No one’s going to find out,” he interrupts, shooting me a glare. “I took care of it, okay? Now are you drinking or what?”

I shake my head, and he looks to Brooklyn.

“What about you, babe? Pick your poison. I got beer and some of those Twisted Iced Tea things.”

She eyes the cooler full of booze then diverts her gaze to me. I lean close so no one hears me.

“I’m not drinking. If you want to have one, go ahead.”

“But you don’t have your license.”

“I’ve got my permit and my cousin Luca on standby.”

She hesitates for a second, then grabs a beer from the cooler. One beer somehow turns into three—not that I’m counting or anything. I mean, the whole point in bringing Brooklyn tonight was for her to let loose and unwind. So, we have to figure out a way home—big deal. Dealing with my dad once we got home, though—that’s going to be rough. I doubt he’ll have much to say to Brooklyn, but he’s going to give me hell.

The thing is, I’m not sure I care.

I am willing to take the punishment if the crime is seeing Brooklyn like this. The girl hasn’t stopped smiling and laughing. When Michael hooked up his portable speaker, she stood from her place beside me in the sand and went to dance with the rest of the girls. Her laughter is contagious and her smile…damn, her smile is everything. If I had any talent whatsoever, I’d paint a picture of her. I’d do it a hundred times and a million different ways. I’d plaster that art on every surface for all the world to enjoy.

“Man, you’re hopeless,” Danny says from across the fire. “You haven’t stopped staring at her.”

He’s right, and still, I don’t make any move to stop. She walks to the cooler and grabs another beer. Using the hem of her shirt, she twists the cap off and brings the neck to her lips. She doesn’t flinch like she did with the first three beers and when she brings it away from her mouth, her eyes find mine.

“This stuff isn’t so bad after all,” she comments as she saunters through the sand, making her way back to me. Touching a hand to my shoulder with her free hand, she balances herself. Unsure what she’s trying to do, I cover her hand with mine.

“Easy, now.”

A giggle flies past her lips as I hold her steady and she kicks off her shoes. She sends one flying, and it misses the firepit by a hair. It might be time to cut the little rebel off before we have to call the fire department.

“There’s so much sand in my shoes,” she explains as she sits beside me. Pulling her hand away from my shoulder, she replaces it with her head. As she leans against me, she brings the beer to her lips again.

“I didn’t take you for much of a beer drinker,” I say. Especially after she nearly spit out her first sip. Unable to keep my hands to myself, I twirl her hair around my finger and wait for her to respond.

“I’m not. This is my first time really drinking,” she reveals. “Do you think the water is cold?”

I glance at the ocean and the black waves rolling onto the shore.

---