8

RAVEN

“This is so not fair,” Hunter gripes as Jax and I hold a bottle of alcohol, preparing to take a drink. “I want to play, too.”

Mine is the coffee liquor, which isn’t good plain, but the only other option was whiskey, and Jax scooped that one up right away.

“We’re almost to the house,” Jax tells him with his hand wrapped around the bottle. Every so often, the lampposts lining the street reflect in his eyes and reveal that he’s starting to relax. I’m sure the three shots we’ve taken are helping with that. “You can take one when we get there.”

I giggle. I’m not even sure why, other than I’m slightly buzzed.

“Traitor,” Hunter teases me while lightly tugging a strand of my hair.

I giggle again, and a smile curves at his lips.

“You know what? I don’t care if you guys are drinking without me. I’d seriously cut off my right arm if it meant I got to hear you giggle like that.”

I giggle again. “How in the hell would cutting an arm off make me giggle?”

He shrugs, one of his hands resting on the steering wheel. “I don’t know. But saying that made you giggle.”

“True.” I turn back to Jax, tap the bottle that I’m holding with his, and then take a long swallow.

He does the same.

“Dude, you two need to slow down, or you’re going to be trashed before we even get inside the house,” Hunter warns as he steers the car into the driveway.

The moment he parks, Jax announces, “I gotta piss.” He sets the bottle of whiskey down, bails out of the car, and hurries … around the side of the house.

“What the crap?” I twist to face Hunter. “Where the heck is he going?”

Hunter pushes the shifter into park and silences the engine. “Probably to piss in a bush.”

I crinkle my nose. “Ew.”

He chuckles as he slips the key out of the ignition. “Apparently, you’ve never hung out with drunk guys before.”

I shake my head. “I’ve never hung out with anyone before.” I take another swig as the truth burns in my chest. “I’m too big of a loser for anyone to want to hang out with me.”

Yeah … So, drunk Raven can get a little confessional sometimes. And I’d stop her, but I am her, so…

Wait … What?

His whole expression drops. “You don’t really believe that, do you?”

I shrug, staring down at the space between us so I won’t have to look him in the eyes. “I don’t believe. I know.”

“Aw, baby, that’s not true at all.” He cups my face with his hands and angles my head up so I’m looking at him. “Jax and I already love hanging out with you. I just regret that I didn’t hang on to you tighter when that fight broke out.”

“Me, too,” I admit. “I liked the feel of your hand on my waist. It made my skin feel all tingly.”