Risk (Gentry Boys #2)(25)

“You can hunt just fine without us.”

“True,” he shrugged. “But packs always snatch the finest game. It’s a documented fact.”

“Get outta here, junior. You riding back with me?”

Chase glanced to the sidelines where the cheerleaders were stretching their shapely legs. “Nah. I’ve got a good chance to ride something a lot more agreeable.”

I watched the minutes tick down on the clock, feeling more wound up with every heartbeat. Yesterday had been a struggle. I’d spend the first half of the day in a foggy hangover and then the dark hours stretched ahead of me with no relief in sight. I played video games to pass the time. When Saylor came home I watched some stupid chick flick with her and Cord. But every second I felt as if I would split into a thousand ugly shards as I fought the urge to grab a bottle. Saylor once accused me of having a drinking problem.

“I don’t have a drinking problem,” I had told her irritably. “I just have a problem when I drink.”

She’d grimaced. “What the hell is the difference, Creed?”

But tonight I didn’t want to touch the shit. I wanted to be fully aware every time Truly Lee cried out with ecstasy and then I would give it to her again.

The clock finally ran out and the crowd began to make for the exit like one massive undulating body. I prayed that girl wasn’t playing head games with herself about why a repeat performance wasn’t a good idea.

Just be there, baby. I swear I’ll make it so f*cking good for you.

It seemed to take six eternities for people to shuffle out of the stadium. I had to resist the urge to push them.

As I made my way down to the office to clock out I passed Chase with his arms around two petite cheerleaders. He raised his eyebrows at me but I shook my head. I already knew what I was getting tonight; nothing ordinary could compare.

I exhaled with relief when I saw her standing there. My relief faded when I saw she was standing there with Cord, Saylor, Millie and Brayden. I mean, what the f*ck? Were they going to tag along and watch?

Cord looked at me a bit sheepishly as Saylor stood there with her arms crossed and a pouty look on her face. Bray and Millie had the grace to stand off to the side, seeming slightly embarrassed.

“I just wanted to make sure Truly wasn’t going to be stranded here,” Saylor said in a haughty way. Suddenly she seemed like the stuck up brat I remembered disliking when we were growing up in Emblem.

“Saylor,” Truly begged in a low voice.

I put my arm around Truly and she glanced up at me with surprise. I also felt the shudder rolling through her body at the feel of my touch.

“She’s not stranded,” I told Saylor through clenched teeth. “She’s with me.”

Cord tried to pull Saylor away. “Come on, honey. Let’s go get something to eat.”

“I vote for IHOP,” Brayden called.

Saylor looked right at me. I looked back. Maybe she’d just picked me up off the floor too many times to believe I could ever keep my head on straight for a few hours. Cord rubbed her shoulders and she relented, giving Truly a small smile of apology before the four of them ambled into the darkness together.

Truly watched them go and I just stood there staring at her for a moment. Her black hair and eyes stood out in stark contrast to her pale skin. Her face had a classic look to it, as if she had stepped out of an old film. I wanted to run my tongue across her full, rosy lips. Jesus, she was beautiful.

“You ready?” I whispered.

She faced me, running her hands down my chest. “Where are we going, Creed?”

“Well,” I said, pulling her against me, “I figured I’d take you home and show you my bed from every angle.” I let my lips just brush against hers as she shivered. “That sound good?”

Before she could answer I slipped my tongue past her lips. Truly kissed me back urgently. I knew I hadn’t been wrong about her. She couldn’t wait to get going tonight.

As we started the long walk back to where the truck was parked, Truly reached for my hand, lacing her fingers firmly through mine. I wasn’t that type. I thought she’d figured that out already. I didn’t pull away though. In fact it seemed okay to walk through the darkness holding hands. It made the silence between us a little less awkward.

When Truly finally spoke up I got the impression she’d been searching for something to talk about. “So you and Saylor don’t get along?”

I didn’t want to talk about my brother’s girlfriend right now.

“Is that what she said?”

“No. I mean, I know she cares about you. It just seems like there’s a little tension there. I hope I’m not the cause of it.”

“Not directly.”

Truly glanced around. “I didn’t see Chase leave.”

“He took off with some chick in a short skirt. He won’t show up again until tomorrow.”

“Oh.”

We walked quietly for a few more minutes before Truly tried again.

“I’ve heard a lot about this town you guys all grew up in.”

Christ, I wanted to talk about Emblem about as much as I wanted to talk about Saylor.

“What’d you hear?”

“That it’s a place people leave as soon as they can. And that the three of you Gentry boys liked to stir up a hell of a lot of trouble.”