Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 80197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Jeez.
Ellie doesn't know, but I've been crushing on Celine since I first laid my eyes on her. She was draped over Eddie's lap, and he had his hand up her shirt, so she wasn't exactly available, but that didn't matter. She was pretty and fiery and funny as hell. She flicked all my switches and more.
But for some crazy reason, she stayed with that idiot, going back to him over and over despite the fact he was a terrible person. Everybody could see it except Celine. When we suggested that maybe she'd be better off without him, she seemed to double down and stay with him longer. She didn't want to face up to the fact that she chose wrong or admit it to anyone else.
And now here she is, wasted and floundering, her vulnerability peeking out from behind a mask.
"I can take her home."
Ellie touches my arm in a gentle thank you. "I would, but I need to get back to Noah, and Gabriella needs to stay for Dalton."
"It's no problem."
As I kiss Ellie goodbye, Elias moves to the booth Celine is currently sleeping in, touching her arm to bring her around. Over my dead body is he going near Celine when she's in this state.
"Hey," I say, covering the ground between us in four long strides.
"What?" Elias turns as Celine cracks one eye open, looking around like she can't focus on anything.
"I'm taking Celine home."
"Like fuck you are."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"She's wasted. I'm going to take her home."
"So you can finish what you started?"
Elias straightens, drawing himself up to his full height, which is equal to mine. Eye to eye, we both bristle with underlying tension. He's not my favorite person, and even though we play on the same team, I've always felt he's an adversary rather than an ally.
"I hope you're not insinuating what I think you're insinuating because that is fucking sick, Dornan." His eyes are dark and furious, and I immediately feel bad. He might be a moody, prickly asshole, but insinuating he'd violate a drunk woman is a step too far.
"I just want to make sure she gets back safely."
Travis approaches, looking down at Celine, who seems to have fallen asleep again, her red hair tangled around her face and shoulders, making her look like a mermaid washed up on a godforsaken shore.
"She's out for the count," he says.
"And I told Elias I'm going to take her home."
"And I told Dornan I'm going to take her home."
Travis looks between us like an umpire at a table tennis game. "So, who's taking her home?"
"ME!" we both say in unison.
He snorts and shakes his head. "How about we all take her home, and that way, she'll be safe, and you guys won't end up killing each other in the process?"
"That isn't necessary." Elias narrows his eyes. I don't know why he’s suddenly so possessive of Celine, but I don't like it.
"I think it's a good idea."
Travis nods. "Now, help me get her up so we can get her to my car."
"You drove?"
"Yeah. I wasn't in the mood to get drunk."
"I'll pick her up," Elias barks, reaching out to get his arms under Celine's body. He lifts her like she weighs nothing and holds her against him like a bride he's carrying over the threshold. I shake my head, frustrated that I'm not getting to be the man who keeps Celine safe. She's my friend, after all.
"This way." Travis heads to the door, kissing his sister goodbye and shaking hands as he goes. Eyes follow us as Elias makes his way through the crowd. I spot Eddie looking on with a smirk on his face. He thinks Celine drank herself into a coma because of him—the smug asshole.
When the cool night air hits, Celine wakes with a long, loud inhale of breath and begins to struggle against Elias's hold. "Hey," he says. "Keep still, or you'll fall."
"What are you doing? Where are you taking me?"
"Home. We're taking you home."
Celine twists to look at me, then spots Travis opening the rear door of his vehicle. "All of you?"
"Yep. You hit the jackpot. Three knights in shining armor."
"My harem." She flings her right arm out expansively and laughs.
Travis cocks a brow, and Elias makes a choking sound. "Right now, we're just a glorified rescue crew."
When Elias lowers Celine to her feet, she shakes her head. "I'm disappointed in you guys. This has the potential to be a seriously hot situation."
"You're drunk." Elias urges her into the car and slides in next to her.
Oh, hell no. I'm not leaving him in the backseat with her while I'm confined to the front. I round the car and slide in on the other side, nudging Celine into the middle.
"Dornan," she squeals. It's not a large car, and Celine is pressed between us like ham between two wedges of bread.