Brady Remington Landed Me in Jail(19)

Clarissa poked her head around the door. "My dad's book collection is down there. I bet she was reading."

"My girl wouldn't choose books over me…would she?"

As I passed by him, I replied under my breath, "You tell me."

Brady stopped chuckling and shot me a dark look.

Clarissa laughed. "You should be asking who'd choose books over drinking? That's what you should be asking." The rest of the party agreed as a chorus sounded out with raised cups.

Brady tucked an arm around my waist and pulled me snug against him. Lowering his head, he breathed into my ear, "We're playing a game. Come play with us. It'll be fun."

The tension between us was thick and it had started before the party. I wasn't really sure where it came from, but Brady didn't seem inclined to address it. I knew why I was hurt by him, but I wasn't sure why he seemed angry with me.

Clarissa fell into step beside me. "Yeah, Rayan. We're playing P and A. We've got room for one more."

"It's Rayna," Brady corrected, a bit too fierce for the party cheer.

Clarissa stopped and blinked. She studied him for a second before she shrugged. "I know. I just thought the name was cool."

Without a response, he led the way through the crowd.

"Sorry." Clarissa turned to me.

"For what?"

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and bit her lip. "I just—it's like a nickname, you know. It wasn't meant…I wasn't trying to be mean or anything."

"Can I call you Clary?"

She looked horrified. "Hell no!"

It might've been the two lemonades, but I never thought that I'd see Clarissa Cumberly, Princess of Northshire Folk, look sheepish. "I really like the lemonade stuff."

"Huh?"

"Your things in that cooler. I like those."

"Oh." Clarissa looked confused for a moment. "I'll get you some more." As Clarissa darted towards the cooler, I squared my shoulders and headed towards Brady's corner. I'd play P and A with the best of them. I just had to get through a ton of immovable drunks first. When I got there, I wasn't sure who was the most unsure about our situation, me or them. Brady sat to my right and throughout the game, he'd rest his hand on my leg at moments. I jumped every time, which earned me crazy points with the others. He stifled his laughter every time and Clarissa watched with narrowed eyes.

When a seven was laid, I quickly threw my seven on top. "I'm out! I win…right?" I turned to Brady. I hardly won anything.

He choked back his laughter, but patted my head. "You won, Rayray. You did good."

I giggled and reached for my drink.

"Dude, she didn't—" one of the guys started to say, but Brady growled. The guy shut up and I finished my drink.

And then he stood up, ignored the protests, and hauled me with him. "I think it's time we got some fresh air. Don't you think, Rayna?"

I held my empty bottle up. "Empty. Another one, please?"

"Ah no. I don't think so. You've had enough. How many have you had?"

I frowned, tried to count with my fingers and gave up. A dark look flashed in his eyes, but he took my hand and turned towards the back patio door. A path opened for us through the crowd, and just as we stepped through the door, Clarissa called out. She sauntered up with two of my lemonades in her hand and a beer in her other. "Where are you going?"

Brady tucked me behind him. "Going for a walk. Why?"

Her eyes danced between the two of us, but she held her hand out and offered the drinks. "These are for your girl. She likes 'em."

"What? No. I don't think so…" Brady started until I snatched them away. His eyebrows went high.

Clarissa patted him on the chest. "She's a grown girl, Brady. Let her be a grown up."

"Yeah. I'm a grown-up. In fact, you know how grown up I am—"

"We're going to go." Brady rushed out and pulled me down the path. We went past some trees that blocked us from her view before we heard the door shut again.

"Her place is huge!" I exclaimed as I tripped. He caught me and righted me, but let go with a hand on the small of my back. I'd never admit it, but I loved when he touched me there. I felt safe and protected.

"You weren't kidding, huh?"

"Huh?"

"You said you were going to get drunk. You did."

It took a moment, but I realized that Brady was tense. His jaw was clenched and his shoulders tight. "Are you mad at me?" How could he be? This was his element. He always got drunk.

"No, you just said that…never mind. I didn't think you'd get drunk, Rayna. It's not something you do."

I drew up short. "Are you disappointed in me?" He had no place to be disappointed. He always went out partying. I got drunk once and he was disappointed?

"No. I'm not saying that…" But he was. I saw it in his eyes. His hand fell away.

"Oh no, buddy boy. You do not pull this. I didn't even want to come here, but I did—for you!"

"Well…"

"You're mad at me because I did something that I don't normally do. I don't understand you, Brady. I thought you wanted me to be friends with your friends. That was happening in there, kind of. Even Clarissa's being friendly. How can you—what is wrong with that? You can't have me come to a party and not enjoy myself. I can't be there just for you."