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Chapter Forty Five

Grant

My delayed flight meant the party was well underway when I arrived at the apartment twenty minutes before midnight. Grabbing my bag out of the taxi, I turn to look up towards the apartments, and it looks like the biggest party we've ever thrown. I dodge people sitting on the stairs as I head up. If I want to kiss Brooke at midnight and finally make what we're doing official, I need to move quickly.

Chucking my bag into the apartment, not even bothering to make it to my room once I noticed none of our group was in this apartment, so I made my way to the girls and found exactly what I would expect.

Brooke and Cami dance on top of the breakfast bar with music blasting while Adam and Bear hype them up as more people crowd around them in the packed apartment. I move towards them and feel a clap on my back, and turn to findGunnar. We hug, slapping each other on the back as we let go, and he shoves a beer in my hand.

"Took you long enough." He laughs as we knock our beers together.

"Tell me about it; I should have come back yesterday." I chug the beer, trying to catch up. It looks like everyone's on a different level than me.

"Nah, Cami and Adam have been bossing everyone around like dictators," he snorts. "Lucky escape."

"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY, GUNNAR?!" Cami shouts down from above us, still standing on the bar, her eyes narrowed on us.

"Of course, she heard that," he mutters and throws his hands up as he walks closer to her. "I said you and Adam threw an awesome party."

"Don't you dare lie to me, Gunnar Cameron," she points a finger at him, bending down to tell him off. I finally catch Brooke's gaze, and her smile widens as she throws her hands up.

"Grant!" she shouts, and I laugh, walking up next to Gunnar. "You're here," she smiles, putting her hands on her knees and bending over to talk to me.

"You look like you're having a good time." I smile, taking the solo cup she's holding out of her hands and finishing it in one go. She smiles; it's our thing.

"I was, but these two keep going at it." She cups her hand next to my ear and whispers.

"Want me to rescue you?" I whisper in her ear, and she leans back, biting her lip, and nods.

I grab her behind the knees and throw her over my shoulder.

"HEY," Cami shouts. "Give her back, Anders…. No, Gunnar put me down." Gunnar has grabbed her, twirling her and following behind me.

Brooke laughs, bracing herself on my back as I spin her about on the makeshift dance floor. "Grant put me down; I'm heavy."

"No way, this is a light workout for me." I laugh, doing some squats as she hits my back.

"Five minutes to midnight, bitches," Adam shouts. "Grab a person and a drink."

I slide Brooke down my front as Cami swings around me and grabs her. "Let's grab a drink," she says, pulling Brooke away as she looks helplessly at me.

A beer gets shoved into my chest by Bear. "Tough luck, bro"

"He needs something stronger," Adam says, handing me a Jack and Coke in my other hand, and I nod at them both in thanks, taking sips from each.

My phone goes off in my pocket, and I manoeuvre the drinks into one hand, pulling it out and checking it.

Brooke-Meet me out front.

"I'll be back in a second." I squeeze between them, heading out the door and down the steps. Most people have goneinside, ready for the countdown, but Brooke sits at the bottom, lounging back on her elbows on the steps. She looks up as I come down and smiles, sitting up a little

"I told Cami I needed the toilet and I would come find her before midnight."

I look down at my watch. "That might not happen," I say, chuckling as I pass her my beer. Knowing she hates Jack, she takes it.

"I know, but I wanted to be with you at midnight." Smiling shyly, she leans into me.

"Yeah?" I put my arm around her waist and pull her closer. With the chill in the air, it's cold tonight.