Page 106 of Game On
Ella pulls away from me, squaring her shoulders as she starts toward them. I know better than to stop her when she’s like this—determined and protective. I follow a step behind, ready to step in if needed.
“Claire!” Ella’s voice cuts through the laughter like a knife. The boys turn, their faces falling from amusement to confusion and then annoyance.
“We’re just having some fun,” one of them says, his tone defensive.
“She doesn’t look like she’s having fun,” Ella retorts, stepping closer to her captain. “Claire, are you okay?”
Claire’s head lolls to the side, her eyes struggling to focus before recognition fills them. “Oh … it’s you,” she slurs, attempting to free herself from the boy’s grasp but only managing a weak stumble.
Ella’s hands are quick to steady her, slipping under Claire’s arms to support her weight. “Let’s get you out of here,” she says softly.
“Hey! We were just keeping her company,” one of them protests. His eyes dart between us, clearly irritated at the interruption.
“Yeah? Well, she’s had enough company for one night,” I say, stepping in beside Ella. There’s a purposeful edge to my voice, one that carries a heavy note of warning. “It’s time for her to go home.”
The boys exchange glances, and one of them, the tallest with a mop of dark hair, steps forward. “Hudson Fox,” he spits out. “Who knew you were such a fucking white knight?”
I take a step closer to him. “You don’t want to find out what happens if you fuck with my people. Now back off.”
“Ooh, Fox is getting all worked up.”
“You’re damn right I am. It’s not easy to stay calm when a group of fucking creeps are trying to take advantage of someone,” I growl before I return my focus to Claire, whose head has now dropped onto Ella’s shoulder. “Come on,” I encourage gently. “Let’s get you inside.”
Ella manages to hoist Claire upright and, between the two of us, we begin to maneuver her away from the group. The leader mumbles something under his breath but doesn’t follow. Maybe he realizes we’re not worth the trouble, or maybe he just doesn’t care all that much.
Either way, I’m more focused on getting the girls to safety right now. I’ll deal with those guys later if I need to.
Together, we guide Claire back inside the house.
“Should we take her upstairs to one of the bedrooms?” Ella asks. “Stay with her until she’s sobered up a bit?”
“Yeah, that’s probably best,” I reply, glancing up the staircase. “If she gets sick, she should have someone there.”
We move carefully, navigating the crowded hallwayfilled with murmurs and laughter. Once upstairs, we push open the first door we find. I rear back when I spot Levi and Sammy sitting on the edge of the bed, foreheads pressed together. They’re not kissing. In fact, they’re not doing much of anything.
They seem to have frozen at the sound of the door opening, light flooding into the room. Eventually, Levi clears his throat and turns to find the three of us awkwardly standing in the doorway. I glance over to Claire, a look of utter devastation on her face.
“Levi …” Claire whispers, her voice cracking. She tries to step forward but stumbles back into Ella’s arms.
Levi’s eyes widen, and he quickly stands up, a look of confusion shading into concern. “Jesus, Claire, what happened?” His gaze flicks to me and then to Ella. “Is she okay?”
“Too much to drink,” I explain quickly, not wanting to delve into the details in front of Sammy.
Sammy looks at Levi with a question in her eyes, and he nods slightly, as if silently communicating something. She stands and gathers her things.
“I’ll give you guys some space,” she says softly, brushing past us without another word. I watch her briefly, wondering what silent exchange occurred between her and Levi, but that’s a mystery for another time.
Levi steps forward and gently takes Claire from Ella, cradling her as if she were made of porcelain. “It’s okay. I’ve got you,” he murmurs, his voice tender and soothing.
“I’m fine,” she mumbles. “I don’t want … to … play the victim.”
“Why not?” he teases, stroking her hair. “That’s my favorite game.”
Her eyes fill with unshed tears. “Sorry about your Sammy.”
Levi’s brows furrow. “It’s okay,” he starts gently. “I’m not with Sammy. Not like that.”
Ella and I exchange a concerned look as Claire begins to cry. “Are you all good?” I ask Levi.
