I looked at Jack and smiled as I untangled my hand from his. He smacked me on the backside when I walked away.
“I love that girl,” he said to his teammates before sitting at the table. “Deal me in.”
I entered the kitchen before giving Jamie a quick squeeze as I glanced back at the group of guys. “Their facial hair is killing me. They look freaking horrible.”
“Please don’t remind me. I try to pretend it’s all a bad dream,” Jamie said, rubbing her palm against her cheek.
“Ahem, ladies.” Matt pretended to clear his throat. “We can hear you, ya know!”
“Like we care!” Jamie said with a huff.
“Hey! Don’t curse our winning streak!” Cole answered back before slapping his hand over his mouth.
“Jesus, Cole, who raised you? The first rule about the winning streak is you don’t talk about the winning streak!” Ryan punched him in the shoulder.
“You guys are just lucky we keep kissing you,” Jamie said, attempting to steer the attention from poor Cole.
“I second that,” Jack belted out, his eyes meeting mine briefly before settling back on his cards.
“Pussy,” Brett teased, his eyes focused on the deck of cards in his hand.
“I’ll knock you into the middle of next week if you don’t shut up, BT,” Jack threatened, his jaw rigid.
“He’s just jealous ’cause no girls want to go anywhere near him,” Cole teased as he removed his baseball hat and tossed it on the floor.
“I can’t keep the girls off me. It’s you no one wants,” Brett chipped back.
The card game continued until Jack checked the clock on the wall and rose from the table. He slammed back a shot of tequila before speaking. “Kitten, I gotta go. Get out here and give me some loving.”
I eyeballed Jamie. “Seriously? Do you hear this guy?” I said with a nod in Jack’s direction.
Jamie laughed and gave me a hearty shove. “Get out there.”
“You come to me,” I insisted, staring him down.
All eyes were on us, entertained by our stubborn battle.
“Gladly,” Jack responded and walked hastily toward me. He lifted me up in the air and I wrapped my legs around his waist.
“Keep it in your pants, pal,” I whispered into his ear before nibbling on his neck.
“You better stop or I’ll throw you on the floor and have my way with you.” He yanked my hair back, forcing my head away from his before ravaging my mouth.
“Get a room,” Brett shouted.
“We’ll just take yours,” Jack mumbled between kisses.
“Go or you’ll be late.” I unwrapped my legs and hopped down.
Jack looked at me one last time before turning to his teammates. “Make sure she doesn’t walk alone to the game.”
“I don’t need a babysitter.” I frowned at him, rolling my eyes.
“Dean?” he said sternly.
“I got her, J. I promise we’ll all go together. She won’t be alone.” Dean smiled at me and then looked reassuringly at his brother.
“See you guys at the game.” Jack closed the door and all eyes fell on me.
“What? Don’t look at me, I’m not the crazy one!” I yelled, shaking my head.
“Just so you know, I’ve never seen him act this way about anyone other than Gran,” Dean said, without looking up from his cards.
I tried not to smile, but failed miserably.
Forty minutes later, the group of us headed toward the far end of campus. The guys were playful as they walked, bumping into one another and knocking each other’s hats off. I stopped walking to fall slightly behind when Dean turned around, noticing my absence. I waved him ahead, pulling out my camera and removing the lens cap. When he saw my intention, he rejoined the group with a big smile.
I knelt on the sidewalk, framing the group of guys in the viewfinder, smiling to myself at how happy they all looked. Click. Another shot of Dean’s hand smacking Brett’s hat off. Click. Jamie and Matt holding hands from the back was too much for me to resist. Click.
“That’s a nice camera.” A harsh voice startled me and the camera fell from my eye.
I looked up to see a large, beefy silhouette towering above me, his face shadowed by the setting sun. “Give it to me,” he insisted, before taking a swig of something hidden inside a brown paper bag.
I stood up instantly, glancing past the man’s shoulder for Dean. I was too shocked to shout. Too nervous to run. You know how you think that if you’re ever in a bad situation, you’ll be all tough, like in the movies? That’s bullshit. You’ll freeze, just like I did. All I could do was silently will Dean to look back at me. I prayed he’d notice I still hadn’t caught up.