Fighting Fate (Fighting #7)(35)

“Oh hey.” Brynn pushes up next to me, her smile aimed at Axelle. “I didn’t know you’d be here. Axelle, right?”

“Hi, yeah.” Axelle shifts on her feet and takes a sip of her warm beer. “I like your dress.”

“Thanks.” Brynn turns toward me, her eyes questioning. “Did you grab our drinks?”

“No, the line was too long. I’ll try again in a bit.”

Her hand slips into mine, and my muscles tense when I see Axelle’s eyes following Brynn’s every move. “Dance with me?” She starts to pull me into the thick of the crowd where people are jumping and swaying to music.

“I don’t dance.” I catch a quick glimpse of Ax, and my chest crushes at the sad defeat I see reflected in her expression.

Brynn stops and presses the front of her body to mine, her arms reaching up high to grab my shoulders. She grinds her body against me and bites her lip when she comes in contact with my dick. I check on Axelle, hoping she’s not watching, but she’s gone. Fuck.

I scan the area, grateful I’m a head taller than the majority of the people here, and see a quick flash of dark hair weaving through the room.

I take a step back from Brynn and look her dead in the eyes. “I’m so sorry, but there’s someone really important to me, and she needs me tonight. I know this is an * move and I wouldn’t blame you if you hated me, but—”

“It’s Axelle, isn’t it.”

And here I thought I was keeping my feelings for Ax well hidden. “Yes.”

“Do I need to find a ride home?”

“No, of course not. I’ll take you home, just…” Shit, Axelle’s gone. “Let me track her down, and then I’ll take you home.”

“You guys, you and her, you’re just friends, right?”

“Yes.” For now.

She exhales in what seems like relief and then nods. “I’ll meet you by the door.”

I pull her in for a hug and drop a quick kiss to the top of her head. “Thank you.”

I release her and move like my feet are on fire to search for Axelle. Ryder’s in a corner with his date, his hand sliding up her skirt. “Hey, have you seen Ax?”

His expression sobers and he stands up straighter. “No, why? Is she okay?”

“I don’t think so. She was here, but now I can’t find her.”

“I’ll check to see if her car is still here.” His date scowls at me, and Ryder ignores her whines for him to stay. He moves through the house while I check the kitchen and backyard.

We meet back up in the dining room where a heated game of beer pong is being played.

“Wherever she is, she’s on foot. Her car is blocked in by four others.” Ryder glances around. “I’ll check the bedrooms.”

“I’ll check the bathrooms.”

We split up, and I head straight to the bathroom in the hallway where a line of people are waiting. “Excuse me.” I push through them.

“Hey, there’s a line!”

“I swear I will piss in this hallway!”

I ignore the protests and bang on the door. There’s no answer, and when I twist the handle it’s locked. I bang again. “Axelle, you in there?”

Nothing.

Shit.

Ryder comes stomping down the hallway, and when we make eye contact, he shakes his head.

I bang on the door again. “Axelle, are you in there? Open up.”

I press my ear to the door and hear a toilet flush then a mumbled, “Go away, Killian.”

Thank f*ck!

“Open the door, Ax, or I swear to God I’ll bust this shit down.”

“I said go away!”

“Stand back. I’m coming in!”

The handle wiggles frantically before the door swings open to reveal a stunned-faced Axelle. “You can’t just kick a door down!”

“The f*ck I can’t!”

“Are you insane?”

For you, always. “Come on.” I grab for her, but she backs up into the bathroom.

“No.”

I step inside with her and slam the door behind me. “What the hell is going on with you?”

“Me?”

Anger rips through me, making my muscles tense. “Don’t play dumb. You felt it too. I know you did. Then you take off and lock yourself in the bathroom? I burst in here, and you look like you’ve seen a ghost.” I step closer, and in the light, I notice she really doesn’t look well. Her eyes are bloodshot, her soft skin is coated with a sheen of sweat, and her lips are dry. “Hey”—I cup her jaw and swipe my thumb along her cheek—“you’re sick.”

She nods into my hold. “I think it’s just the day. I don’t know.”

“I’m taking you home.”

“I already told you I can’t go home. I promised Min—”

“With me. I’m taking you home with me.”

She blinks up at me, relief flooding her eyes with tears. “What about your date?”

“I’m going to drop her off now.”

“Killian—”

I press my thumb to her lips. “Don’t argue with me. I’m going to leave you here with Ryder until I get back. Promise me you won’t leave his side.”