Page 89 of Breakout
I know I should be asking her to keep me informed, but this isn’t a request. This is something I need to know. Especially with everything else that’s going on.
Peyton runs her hand up and down my chest, trying to calm me down. I don’t even think she realizes that she’s doing it, but it doesn’t go unmissed by our friends.
“I will, promise. Now, can we change the subject, please? You guys know I hate being the center of attention.”
“Oh, there’s Clay.” Grace takes off through the crowd.
“We will give you guys a minute.” Cora winks as she drags Kellan behind her.
Peyton turns into me, and I wrap my arms around her. I should put some distance between us, but fuck it. Our friends can believe what they want. I’m not ready to let her go yet.
“You look beautiful tonight.”
“Really? Straight to flattery?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Did you really have to piss a circle around me, staking your claim?” she quips, her eyes dancing with humor.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I lie.
“Sure you don’t.”
I lean down and whisper, “Trust me, sweetheart. If I staked my claim, everyone in this room would know that you’re my wife and that I’m fucking crazy about you. All I did was make it known that I care about you and that I’m watching. That fucker will think twice before he asks you out again.”
Her breath catches. “Beckett…” she warns half-heartedly.
“Admit it, you like the idea of everyone knowing you’re my girl as much as I do.”
Her chin tips ever so slightly, and I decide to push it just a little bit more.
“Just picture it. I’d get everyone’s attention so all their eyes are on us. Then I’d kiss the ever-living hell out of you, and just when it becomes a little too R-rated, we’d break apart, and I’d announce that we’re together. Our friends would congratulate us, dudes would be green with envy, and the girls would be jealous, but we wouldn’t care because we would finally be out in the open. Then I’d take you upstairs to my room and fuck you so hard there would be no doubt about whose name makes your voice hoarse every night.”
“We can’t,” she says weakly.
“I know, baby, and I’ll keep playing by your rules, but the minute you change your mind, tell me, and I’ll let all these dickheads know what a lucky bastard I am and that I get to call you mine.”
“Beckett, Peyton, you two coming?” Brett yells.
“Our friends are waiting,” she says.
“Then we better go join them before they get suspicious then, huh?” I take her hand in mine and step back.
nineteen
I’m pleasantly buzzed.
I’ve danced with the girls, had shots, shot longing looks at Beckett from across the room, and laughed with our friends. It’s been a successful party.
I’m ready to go now.
Only, I don’t want to go back to my place. I want to head upstairs and pass out in Beckett’s bed. He has such a comfy bed. Especially when he is in it with me.
He’s talking with Wyatt right now, though. Not that his full attention is on him. He keeps shooting looks at me.
We are being so obvious, but thankfully all of our friends are too far into their own worlds to pay attention to us. Clay pulled Grace into his room several hours ago. Kellan and Cora are grinding in the corner. Brett is talking to some girl in the corner.
That leaves Wyatt.
