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Chapter Eleven

K nox

I’m sure the food was great, but I didn’t really taste it. Instead, I had the taste of Corie’s skin on my lips from where I kissed her temple. It was a risky move when anyone could have looked through the glass door and seen me, but I couldn’t not do it.

That’s how it is with her.

I know it’s wrong. I know I have to stop, but I can’t.

No matter how hard I try to keep my distance, something about her keeps reeling me in.

Basically, I’m fucked. Well and truly fucked.

I’ve never had a woman consume me like Corie does.

If I were ever lucky enough to touch her—I mean, really touch her like I crave to do—I know there would be no turning back.

Dangerous.

That’s what she is. That’s what this situation is, and I still can’t stop.

There’s a big part of me that doesn’t want to stop.

I know how that sounds, and I’m crossing all kinds of lines, but there’s something different about her, about whatever this is, that ignites between us whenever we are in the same room together.

“Bro, good call on the pastries,” Landry says.

We’re all sitting outside at the patio table. Our bellies are full—well, everyone’s but Landry’s. I don’t think he’s ever full. The stars appear as day turns to night, lighting up the night sky.

“It’s a celebration,” I tell him. I don’t look to my right, where Corie is sitting with Sloane next to her. They’re both at the end of the table, their chairs shoved close together.

“Baby Reynolds is a Rampage!” Baker calls out.

Everyone cheers and looks her way, which means I can, too, without making it obvious. Turning slightly, I take in her smile and flushed cheeks.

Beautiful.

“She’s always been a Rampage,” Landry grumps, shoving another bite of a chocolate-drizzled croissant into his mouth.

“Yeah, but now she doesn’t need you,” Foster tells him. “She’s a Rampage all on her own.” He’s sitting to the right of Corie and holds his fist out for her. “Leaving big brother in the dust.”

Her head falls back in laughter, and I want to capture the sound so I can always listen to it.

Foster grins, proud of himself for making her laugh, and while I appreciate the fact that she’s happy, I’m also really fucking annoyed that it’s because of him.

I know that’s a contradiction, but it is what it is.

“When do you start?” Reid asks.

“Monday.”

“Nice.” He nods. “Welcome to the Rampage family.”

Landry grumbles under his breath, and we all laugh. The guys keep saying it to get a rise out of him. It’s just too damn easy.

Corie smiles again, and I watch as she shivers.

“We should start a fire,” I say, standing and tossing my empty water bottle into the outdoor trash can.

“It is getting chilly out here,” Sloane agrees.

I start my journey down the steps to the fire pit to get it started. I’d offer her the hoodie in my truck, but that’s pushing it. Besides, she lives here. She can go up to her room and grab one of her own. This is the only way I can ensure she’s warm without making it obvious.

By the time I have the fire lit, they’ve all joined me.

Everyone takes a seat, but we’re still short two.

I’m honestly surprised Landry has not taken care of that now that she’s home and Sloane is always here.

I would mention it to him, but if there’s a chance for her to be on my lap, I’m keeping my mouth shut.

“All right, boys, who wants me?” Sloane asks.

Landry groans because Sloane is like a sister to him. “Not it,” he says, holding his hands up.

“I got you,” Foster says, patting his leg.

Sloane wastes no time making herself at home on his lap.

The two start talking, and I look away, searching for Corie.

She’s standing a few feet away. I stare until she feels my gaze and turns to face me.

It’s mere seconds, but it’s long enough for one of the other guys to offer, and I’ll be the only one she’s sitting with tonight.

This is the last time. That’s what I tell myself as I hold my hand out for her, even though I know it’s complete bullshit.

A lie doesn’t matter if you only lie to yourself, right?

She steps lightly and settles on my lap with a nervous laugh.

I glance at Landry, and he’s scrolling through his phone.

My eyes dart around the fire, and no one seems to be paying too much attention to the fact that she’s on my lap again.

Where she belongs.

“What’s it gonna be?” Sloane asks. “Truth or Dare or Name that Tune?”

“Never have I ever is always a good one,” Landry adds.

“Name that Tune,” Baker votes. “Baby Reynolds, you’re going down,” he says, rubbing his hands together.

“You really think that you can beat me?” Corie asks him.

“I’ve been working on my playlist,” he tells her.

“All right, big man, let’s see what you’ve got,” Corie taunts.

“Let’s see,” Baker says, scrolling through his phone. “Got it.” He nods, and there’s a smile on his face. He thinks he’s going to stump her with this one.

The first notes of the song play, and Corie wiggles in my lap as she shouts, “‘The Ballad of Jayne.’ LA Guns!”

“Fuck,” Baker mutters.

“Your turn, Corie,” Sloane says with glee.

My phone is already in my hand. I type in the code and hand it to her.

She looks over her shoulder at me and grins as she scrolls, looking for the perfect choice.

“Here we go,” she says as she hits Play.

The song plays for five seconds and cuts off without anyone guessing.

“Well?” she says, and I can hear in her voice that she’s pumped that she has them stumped.

“Beckett, my man, a hint,” Foster says.

“No way.” Corie turns and places her hand over my mouth, and I can’t help it. I lick her palm. Her eyes widen, but she doesn’t drop her hand as she turns back to glance at Foster on the other side of the fire. “That’s cheating. He can see the phone.”

“Fine, phone a friend,” Foster mutters.

“We’re all right here, genius.” Reid laughs. “I admit defeat on this one, Corie. Tell us what it is.”

“Is everyone throwing in the towel?” she asks.

“I think we need to change the rules,” Landry suggests. “If we don’t get it from the first five seconds, we should get a hint.”

“Nope. That’s not how it works. When we started this game years ago, we agreed it was only five seconds. Besides, we’re not keeping score, so you don’t get to hear more of the song. I can play the same five seconds again,” she offers.

“Fine. Play it,” Landry says. He sits up in his chair and leans his elbows on his knees as if that will help him hear it better. “Turn it up, too.”

Corie turns the phone volume as loud as it will go. “Ready?” she asks. She waits for everyone to reply and plays the first five seconds again.

“I give,” Landry says, leaning back in his chair. “We grew up in the same damn house. How do I not know these songs?”

“Well, big brother, while you were living, eating, and breathing football, Sloane and I listened to music and talked about your cute friends.”

Wrapping my hands around her waist, I pull her back to my chest, needing her closer. I’m not a fan of her thinking about someone other than me. Yes, it was in the past, and I’m very aware of how irrational I sound, even in my head, but where Corie is concerned, I can’t seem to stop myself.

“Ahh.” Landry covers his ears. “I don’t want to hear that shit,” he says, making everyone laugh.

I join in because it would be funny if I didn’t agree with him.

It’s all a part of the ruse to keep my true feelings in disguise.

I know that I’m going to have to deal with them sooner rather than later, because if tonight has taught me anything, it’s that I can’t stop.

Even more so, it’s taught me that I don’t want to stop.

I’m breaking the best friend code, and I’m sure a million others, but I’ve always followed my gut, and my instinct is not to let this go.

Whatever this is, I need to embrace it. Consequences be damned.

“What’s the song?” Sloane asks. “Even I don’t know this one.”

“‘Karma Chameleon’ by Culture Club,” Corie tells them.

“What?” Landry asks. “Play the song.” He furrows his brow almost as if he’s never heard the song.

Corie giggles, and it does something to my heart. It makes it feel lighter yet squeezes it at the same time. She hits Play, and it takes the group a few moments, but as soon as the beat changes and the chorus hits, they all start to sing.

“All hail the queen of Name that Tune,” Reid says, pointing at Corie.

My queen.

My body stills, because I don’t know where that thought came from. Corie isn’t my anything. She must feel the change in me because she turns to face me. There’s worry in her eyes.

“Are you okay?”

Am I? I’m not sure. So that’s what I tell her. “I don’t know.”

“What’s wrong?” She leans in close, making sure the conversation is just between us.

She’s so close, it would take very little effort on my part to close the gap and kiss her.

Thankfully, everyone is still singing off-key as they laugh and belt out the words.

They’re not paying a bit of attention to us.

I chuckle under my breath. “What’s wrong is that you are all I can think about these days. Do you know what my thought was just now?” She shakes her head. “That you were my queen. Not the queen of the game, but mine. What am I supposed to do with that, Corie?”

“I don’t know,” she whispers.

“I really want to kiss you. I want to feel your lips pressed to mine like they were earlier, but longer this time.” I lift my hand to trace her lips and curse under my breath.

I can’t do that. We’re surrounded by people, her brother—my best friend—in particular.

I have to get my shit together, but fuck me.

I can’t do that with this woman on my lap.

“You want to kiss me?”

“More than I need to breathe,” I confess.

“What are you two scheming over there?” Foster calls out. “Corie, you’re not allowed to help him. That’s cheating,” he grumbles.