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I look between them, feeling jittery. I rub my arms, waiting for Banner to reach me before speaking.
I also can’t help but admire him. He looks hot today, wearing his faded jeans, white crisp T-shirt and grey zip-up hoody with a leather jacket over the top.
Holy crap, he looks fine today.
“Hey,” I greet breathlessly.
He winks, taking my bag from the floor. “Is this everything?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
“Mate, I can see why you’ve been hiding her from us. She’s hot as fuck.” I glance at his friend who had spoken, heating rising up my neck and cheeks.
“Tom?” Banner calls, exasperated. “Shut the fuck up.”
I giggle, glancing away when Banner gives me a look.
“I bet he didn’t want us to meet ‘cause he knew you’d run away with me,” Tom declares, ignoring the glare Banner sends him. “I’m Tom, by the way. The good-looking and clever one.”
“Emma,” I tell him, waving.
He grins. “Cute.”
“All right, let’s get this show on the road. We’ve still got to pick up Connor and the girls.”
“Girls?” I ask, first I’m hearing of this.
“Yeah, they found a couple of girls to come so they wouldn’t be alone with only each other’s company,” Banner explains.
“Okay.” I just hope they’re nice. One thing I’ve learnt is that girls can be mean when it comes to lads. Lake and I learnt the hard way at school. If a lad showed interest in either of us, they’d attack us like vultures. They were relentless, not giving up until the lad moved on.
“Come on, you can sit in the front. Those fuckers can sit in the back.”
“Wait, there won’t be room if you pick up the girls and Connor,” I tell him.
“John is picking up one of the girls for us. We’re gonna meet them there,” he assures me.
“That’s good, then. I wouldn’t want you to get pulled over.”
“Keep an eye on her,” Mark warns Banner. He holds the door for me, but I stop before getting in. “And be careful. If you want to come home, call me. Okay?”
“I will; I promise,” I tell him, bending down to get in. I’m stopped mid-way when Levi calls out to me.
“Wait, you forgot your pillow.”
I blush when Tom starts laughing behind me from the backseat. “Thanks, Levi.” I grab the pillow, clutching it to my chest.
“Did you tell her to call us if she wants to come home?” Levi asks Mark quietly, making me smile.
“Yeah.”
“Did you charge your phone?” Levi then asks me.
I roll my eyes, my lips twitching with amusement. “I did. Now go, it’s cold out here.”
They both look reluctant to let me go, Mark looking seconds away from carrying me over his shoulder back into the flat.
“Okay, we’ll see you when you get back,” Levi tells me, stepping close Mark and wrapping his arm around him.