Boarded by Love
Page 41

I don’t say anything back because it’s too loud once we’re in the bar. It’s a little college pub called The Gilroy. The owner knows the team and usually lets the underage kids drink when we bring in our fake IDs. He doesn’t question us, which means we come only here to spend all our money. When I see some of the guys from the team, including my brother, I head toward them, pulling Claire with me. When I glance back, she’s looking around, taking it in, and I wonder if she’s ever been here.
Once we reach the group, I lean in and ask her just that. She shakes her head and says, “Nope, first time.”
I smile as I nod, and then thankfully, there’s a break in the music. Pointing the guys, I say, “Claire, this is my brother Jayden, Bryan, Matt, Caleb, and his girlfriend, Hannah. Everyone, this is Claire.”
Claire gives an awkward wave while everyone just grins at her as she says, “Nice to meet you guys.”
I sit in the open chair beside Jayden and then pull Claire into my lap. She leans back into my chest and smiles at me before giving me a kiss on the cheek.
“So you’re the girl to change my brother?”
We both look over at Jayden, and I love the grin that sits on Claire’s face. It’s a playful one. “Yup, he apparently likes me.”
“I know. He talks about you all the time.”
I glare at my brother, but Claire seems to like that. Looking over at me, she runs her thumb along my jaw. “He’s pretty great.”
“Yeah, my mom is excited to meet you,” he says and then takes a swig of his beer with no cares in the world. Acting as if he’s saying it’s a beautiful night. Damn asshole.
Claire glances at me, surprised, and I set Jayden with a look that could kill. “Thanks, asshole.”
“Oh, you hadn’t told her yet that you promised to take her to dinner with our family?”
“Oh wow,” she mutters, and I swear my brother is going to be sleeping in the tub for the next couple weeks.
Meeting Claire’s surprised gaze, I say, “Yeah, is that okay? Sorry, my mom asked, and I said I’d ask you.”
“When?”
“Next week. She’s excited to meet you, but I get it if you don’t want to come.”
“No, it’s not that, it’s just, wow, your mom.”
“And family,” Jayden adds, and I flip him the bird.
He laughs before taking a swig of his beer. Ignoring him, I look back at Claire. She works her lip and then meets my gaze again. “Sure, I’d love to.”
I smile as my heart beats loudly in my chest. I don’t know why I thought she would say no, but I did. I’m usually so confident with girls, but with her, I’m nervous and unsure of myself. It’s a new feeling, one that I’m learning means I actually care for this girl. I hug her tightly in my arms as she leans back into me, and I can feel everyone staring at us. I know it’s new and weird for me to be so into a girl, but people are going to have to get used to it. Claire is someone special.
My game changer.
Kissing her ear, I nibble on her lobe before saying in her ear, “You don’t have to come.”
Why did I say that?
She looks back at me and smiles. “I want to.”
“Promise?”
“Swear it.”
We share a smile before she leans over and gives me a soft, sweet kiss on my lips.
“Who’s ready for some singing?” Matt yells as he throws a twenty on the table. I fish my money out and throw two down for Claire and me.
“What’s that for?”
“The buy-in. We sing three songs from each category. Last week’s winner picks, and you can’t look at the screen once or you’re out. You get extra points if people cheer for you. Hannah is the judge.”
She makes a face. “Extreme karaoke.”
“Yeah, that’s how we roll,” Jayden says. “Extreme karaoke, beer pong, roller hockey, we’re extreme kinda guys.”
“Sounds like my kind of fun,” she says with a grin before looking over at me. “I’m superexcited.”
“Good, so I guess I’ll be a gentlemen and let you go second so I can show you the ropes of how to sing a good karaoke song.”
She laughs, her body vibrating against mine. “How sweet of you. But get ready to be schooled.”
“Uh-oh! I think Jude has been challenged,” Jayden says and I roll my eyes.
“I think you can take him, Claire,” Matt says. “I mean, you did get him to sleep with only one girl.”
Claire laughs as she rolls her eyes. “He isn’t sleeping with anyone, for your information, especially not me.”
That stuns my friends, and to my surprise, doesn’t embarrass me at all. I’m proud that I’ve only slept with one girl in two weeks. That’s a record for me. Knowing that it’s a good time for me to exit, I tap her butt to get up. I stand up behind her and then kiss the back of her head before walking around her. Looking at me, she asks, “Where are you going?”
“Off to pick the categories.”
“Why?”
“’Cause I’m the winner from the last week.”
I flash her a grin before leaning over for a quick kiss and then head off to get my songs. I should feel bad that I’m about to kick her ass in karaoke, but I guess the competitor in me can’t muster up any guilt. Too bad, too, because Claire is going down.
“Okay, categories are as follows,” I say once I come back to the table.
Claire has a water in front of her that Jayden must have gotten her when he went to get a beer. They’re sitting close; probably so they could hear each other over the music because I know my brother would never cross me. We’re too close. And he knows how much she means to me. He’s probably the only person I trust at this table. Caleb probably wouldn’t do anything, but Bryan and Matt are horn dogs out for a little tail, and if I see them give my girl anything but a friendly smile, I might knock out their teeth.
With everyone’s attention, I say, “Pop, love songs, and rap.”
“Love songs!” Matt says with his face twisted.
“What the hell?” Bryan asks.
“He’s got a girlfriend now,” Jayden says with a grin. “He’s all about that mushy shit now.”
“Shut up,” I sneer before flipping him the bird. Looking over at Claire, I see that her cheeks are a little darker in color, and she’s grinning wide. Leaning over to her, I brace my hands on the chair arms, bringing my mouth so close to hers that it wouldn’t take much move moment to feel her lips against mine. “I hope you’re ready because I’m about to dominate here.”