“Isn’t it January?” I grumbled. “We’re supposed to wear sweaters this time of year.”
“We’re in California.” Kate stepped towards me. It was more like she stalked towards me. A chill went down my back, and I edged back a step. She walked like a panther would towards its kill. “If you’re cold, have some booze.”
“Yeah.” Parker started forward, but Kate clamped a hand on her arm. She was jerked back. “Drink up, wino.”
“Wino?” Nate materialized at my side. He couldn’t hide his amusement. “Since when did you start drinking?”
“Nate!”
“Parker, stop,” Kate seethed.
I grinned at him before I took the cup he’d been holding. “Tonight, apparently. I’m a wino, you know.”
“I heard.”
“I have a drinking problem.”
He shook his head and tsked me. “You’re so young, Sam. So sad.”
I finished his drink in one swallow. “Tragic even.” And I tried to ignore the burning in my throat. What had he been drinking?
“You two are making fun of me,” Parker screeched as she continued to strain against Kate’s hold. She had one hand on her arm and a tired expression on her face. When she yawned, her fingers let go and Parker stopped in surprise.
She hissed at her, “You’re supposed to hold me back.”
“I’m bored. We can’t do anything.” Kate gestured to Nate. “He’s here.”
“Nate. Leave.” Parker turned to him.
His grin grew. “You leave.”
“Come on. Just go. Please.” Her smile turned seductive. “I’ll make it worthwhile.”
He mirrored in Kate’s boredom. “Been there for the night.” Then he smirked. “And we all know you’ll come crawling back later.”
She flushed. “I won’t now.”
When she turned and stomped away, he called after her, “Good to know. I’ll look for someone else.”
She froze, twisted back around, and opened her mouth. Kate yanked her behind as she led them away now. “That was stupid of you.”
We heard Parker mumble, “He wasn’t supposed to call my bluff—”
“Idiot.”
I turned with a grin on my face, but—slap! My head snapped to the side, and a stinging spread from my cheek. I sucked in my breath at the pain and looked back with a glare.
Cassandra had her arm extended back for another slap.
A growl burst out of me and I started to charge her when she was yanked to the side and an arm pulled me backwards. I kicked at them. “Let me go!”
“She’s a bitch!” Cassandra screeched. “Let me go, Adam! She deserves this.”
His head was bent low as he whispered something to her. It enraged her further, and she clawed at his arm. “Let go! Let go! Let go!”
“Get her out of here!” Nate’s voice was rough. His arm tightened around my waist, and he lifted me in the air. When he started to walk away, he barked again, “Get her the hell out of here. All of you go!”
“Nate,” Mark started.
“Out!” he roared back. He glanced at the crowd. “Get ‘em out. Now.”
The guys clipped their heads in nods and started ushering Adam and Cassandra towards the cars. Mark stood closer to his girl, but when the guys descended on them, she waved goodbye to him. He was scooped up with the rest of them.
“Sam!”
Becky was being led away by a guy I recognized from the bonfire earlier. She tried to duck under his arm. “Let me stay.”
Nate growled in my ear, “She goes with them. I don’t want any of them here.”
I clambered over his shoulder and yelled back, “Go home. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Sam? What about my car?” I saw Adam at a different car. Amelia and Cassandra were already inside. They were both sulking and crying at the same time.
“I’ll get it home. Go.”
Nate swept around the barn’s corner then and they were gone from our sight. He settled me on my feet but kept a hand on my arm. “You okay?”
I nodded and pressed my palm to my face. “That was a bitch slap.”
“Yeah.” He nodded and grinned ruefully. “You were going to lay one out on her.”
“I wanted to.” I studied him. “Why’d you stop me?”
He jerked a shoulder up. His tone was rough. “Because I could barely contain myself. If I didn’t get you out of there, I was going to lay into her too.”
That image brought a smile to my face. “I would’ve liked to see that.”
He shuddered. “Not me. I’d be in jail and my folks would have me shipped back to Brazil. It would be a year before they’d allow me back here.”
“Brazil?”
“It’s where they’re at.”
“Oh.” I frowned as I remembered I had no idea what Nate’s parents did for a living or where he lived besides his cabin. I was about to ask when Mason separated from a group by one of the bonfires. He approached and a frown grew the closer he got.
“What happened to her?”
“Hello. Right here.”
Nate held his gaze. “She got attacked.”