He continued to race around with his free hand in the air. Beer spilled from it, but he didn’t care. He hooted and laughed as everyone cheered him on.
“You’re mine, Sam. You’re mine.” His legs pumped higher and he raced back to the barn. Everyone stood and hollered in laughter as he returned to my friends. I took a breath and expected to be placed back on my feet. Nope. Logan circled around them. His head was thrown back, and he ran the same routine as before.
When he turned back for the barn, someone grabbed the back of my jeans. I was hoisted off his shoulders and held suspended in the air. Mason grumbled as he lowered me to my feet, “Sam’s not a prize to be paraded around.”
I bent forward and took gaping breaths of air. His shoulder had been hitting my sternum.
He smoothed his hand over my back. “I’m surprised she didn’t vomit on your ass. You would’ve deserved it.”
Logan tipped his head back. A smile was spread from ear to ear and he pumped his knees in front of him again. He took off once more with the same hyena laugh sounding out.
I couldn’t stop a chuckle. “How drunk is he?”
A girl screeched, and Logan’s laugh doubled. Mason rolled his eyes as he turned me into him. He held me close. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” And I was. I touched the side of his face for a kiss. “I’ve missed him too.”
The corner of his lip curved up. He dropped his chin on my shoulder and kissed the side of my neck. “He’s pretty drunk tonight. Pretty sure he’s already gotten laid twice.” He glanced back when the same shriek was heard, followed by high-pitched giggling. “That’ll be the third time.”
“Same girl?” Did I really want to know?
Mason grimaced. I had my answer.
A girl snorted behind us. “What’s he so amped about?”
Mason turned us to the group, who was spread around a bonfire. The girl who spoke lifted her hand in a lazy wave. She gave me a polite smile. “Hi, Sam.”
My insides tightened. “Kate.”
She swung her legs wide and leaned forward to brace her elbows on top of her tight jeans. She brushed some loose strands of golden blonde hair back and sighed. “Logan’s in rare form tonight, Mason.”
His tone cooled. “He’s excited. That’s all.”
Another girl perked up. “I’m excited!” She had a drunken giggle on her face before she toppled off the log she had tried to squat over.
Kate rolled her eyes. “Parker’s going to get laid tonight. We all know.”
A hand shot in the air. A cup was in it. “I saved my beer.”
Some of the guys snorted in approval. One stood, bent down, and scooped the petite black-haired girl from the ground. He deposited her on the ground beside Kate, who patted her on the head. “Thanks, Strauss.”
He grunted before he took his old seat.
Parker giggled and fell to the side. “When’s Nate coming, Mason? I’ve missed him.”
I swiveled around. “Nate’s coming?”
Mason pressed a kiss to the side of my head and whispered, “I’m excited too.”
“When?”
“Now!”
The shout came from my right, and I was scooped off my feet once more. Nate wrapped both arms around me and twirled me in a circle. “Heya, Sam!”
“Nate!” I hugged him tight and couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. It grew when he set me back on my feet and grabbed Mason in another bear hug. He scooped him up but only lifted him in the air for two steps before he couldn’t hold him any longer. The two couldn’t contain their delight, and the best friendship was easy to spot when they thumped each other on the back a few more times.
“Hello!” Parker stomped the ground. “Other people here.”
Nate turned with a different grin, one with promise as he crossed and lifted her off her feet too. She giggled as she wound her legs around his waist. Whispers were shared between the two as Nate carried her away from the group.
Kate stood and yelled, “You better come back and greet the rest of us.”
Nate flipped her off before they were swallowed into the darkness.
“Ass,” she grumbled and sat back down with a huff. Her eyes glittered with a dark promise as she fixed them on me. “Parker’s not gonna be happy with you.”
Mason curved a hand around my hip. “Shut it, Reid.”
She shut her mouth but continued to glower.
“Why’s she going to be mad at me?”
“Because Nate said hi to you first,” she clipped out. When Mason stiffened, she made a show of closing her lips and took a long swallow from her glass.
“Serious?”
Mason rolled his eyes. “Parker’s an insecure bitch.”
“She’s my friend, Mason!” Kate surged to her feet. Her jeans slipped low over her hip bones and the thin white tank top she wore inched high. Her rib cage showed through the top; her black bra did as well. She flipped a loose braid over her shoulder and gripped her beer tight.
His hand tightened on me as he cursed at her. “You’re an insecure bitch too.”