And then our bodies are thrown into shock as a bucket of freezing water is poured over our heads. I gasp, and Noah shoots back in laughter.
“Holy shit, it’s cold!”
Noah smirks, tossing his water gun into the water below us. “Gotcha.”
My mouth drops open, and I look up at the dirty trickster.
Brady busts up laughing.
“Thought the cold shower was for her, asshole,” he jokes with Noah and grins my way. “Run, Ari Baby, security’s coming.” He shoots to his feet, shouting, “Security’s coming!”
Wide-eyed, Noah and I look to each other.
“They’re over there!” one shouts.
“I spot two!” another screams.
“Shit!” I look around. “What do we do?”
Noah yanks me by the hand and we jump along the rocks, headed away from the park.
“Over here!” Cameron and Mason shout.
We follow the sound of their voices, spotting them on the other side of the fence, Chase just landing on his feet next to them. Noah and I jerk to a stop in front of it, and in the same second, his large hands are gripping my calves. I grab hold of the teal fence and help hoist myself up, throwing my legs over the side.
Chase rushes behind me, guiding me down by my hips.
Noah is over a split second after my shoes hit the ground, and I throw my head back laughing, my arms shooting up and around his neck.
He spins me, letting go of my right side on my way back down, so I’m tucked under his shoulder.
“Run fuckers!”
All our heads snap toward Brady’s voice, realizing he’s already halfway to Mason’s Tahoe.
“Get back here!” security yells, and we book it.
Mason peeks behind us to see how close the staff is while hurriedly digging in his pockets for his keys.
“Hurry, shithead!” Cam shouts, jumping up and down, her eyes widening as the mini golf cart grows closer. “They’re fuckin’ coming!”
“I’m trying, woman!” Finally, Mason tears the keys free, the lock clicks and we’re shuffling into safety.
Noah tosses me onto the seat, before climbing in next to me. No one takes the time to hop to the third-row seating, so I scooch up onto Cam’s lap and Mason peels out from the parking lot.
Once we’re a good five blocks away, the entire car erupts in laughter.
Brady yells, hitting the dash in excitement. “That shit was fun!”
I grin, dashing a hand out when Cameron shoves on my back.
“Bitch, get off me, you’re soaked!” She chuckles.
“So are you, asshole. What difference does it make?” I smile and try to wedge myself in at her side.
“I have room—” Chase begins, but Noah’s already grabbing me.
“I got her.” He places me on his lap, pulling the seatbelt over me awkwardly and buckling it.
I giggle. “I think I’ll be good, Noah. No one else has their seatbelt on.”
“Leave it on for me, yeah?” He speaks low, but we’re closed in a truck with no music, so I’m positive nobody misses his concern.
I nod, willing myself not to blush.
A minute or two later, I look up, catching Mason’s eyes in the rearview mirror. He stares at me, looks to my seatbelt, and then his attention goes back to the road ahead, his mouth curling into a small smile as he does.
Something inside me settles right then, only I’m not so sure what it is.
Chapter 19
Arianna
* * *
“I don’t feel like partying tonight. I’m fucking exhausted.” Brady drops onto the tailgate of Chase’s truck, the game having ended a little over a half hour ago.
“Same dude,” Mason agrees, tossing his bag in the bed. He turns to us. “What about you girls? How ‘bout a night in, come to the house with us? We can order pizza or some shit. Camp out in mine and Chase’s room?”
A party I could talk my way out of but a chill night at their house, when the celebratory party tonight is elsewhere? Not so much, so, I shrug, nodding along with Cameron.
My phone vibrates, so I pull it from my back pocket.
* * *
Romeo: You see me get laid out on my ass tonight?
* * *
I grin.
* * *
Me: I did. You got knocked down…
* * *
I wait a good ten seconds, letting his mind race, then send him the rest.
* * *
Me: But you got up again.
* * *
He sends back a laughing face emoji, and I chuckle.
* * *
Romeo: In case you were wondering, this will never get old.
* * *
I stare at his text, a strange warmth washing over me, and I gnaw at my bottom lip.