Page 14 of Wrong For Me

“I think I’ll keep my sister company,” he says, never taking his narrowed eyes off me.

Alex rolls her eyes. “How about we all go sit down, new friends included.”

“We can get shots!” Everly cries, throwing her arms above her head and nearly falling on her ass. The bearded guy catches her, though.

“Food first,” he says, beginning to lead her back to their table.

“Come join us,” Alex says to me and Bodhi, nudging the still-glaring River away from the bar. “I promise we’re not all as moody as this asshole.”

“Hey,” he snaps. “I’m just looking out for her.”

“You’re being overbearing and you know it.” She looks over her shoulder at Rose as she pushes him away. “You coming Rose?”

Rose raises her eyebrows at me and Bodhi. “Feel like hanging out with my annoying family?”

I would much rather hang out with just her, but I doubt that’s going to happen as long as her overprotective brother is in the vicinity. Plus, I can tell Bodhi is thrilled at the chance to hang out with the Ransome offspring.

“Sure,” I tell her. “I could use some food.”

Rose falls slightly behind the group as we walk over to the table. “Sorry about them,” she says softly. “They can be a little…much.”

“It’s fine.” I take a chance and let my fingers brush against her hand as we walk. The contact sends an electric twinge straight up my arm and I’m pretty sure Rose shivers even in the overheated atmosphere of the club.

When we get to the table, Alex and River are arguing about the best foods to eat while drunk as Everly squints at a plastic menu. “Is this written in another language?” she asks. “I can’t read any of these words.”

“Yeah, it’s written insober,” the bearded cousin says.

“Guys, this is Will,” Rose says, gesturing at him. “Will, we met Leo and Bodhi at the festival tonight.”

“Hey,” he says easily, giving us both a brief wave. I’m relieved—it’s one thing to have her brother hawk-eying me, but he’s a pretty lanky dude. Will is a different story—I definitely don’t want to get on the bad side of the bearded, tattooed beast on the other side of the table.

“We should eat hamburgers,” Everly says, slapping the menu down on the table. “Uncle Cash always says grease is the best thing to soak up booze.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Bodhi still for a beat, no doubt affected by her casual reference to Cash freaking Ransome, but he manages to play it cool. “This place doesn’t make the best burgers,” he says. “Their tacos aren’t bad, though.”

Everly scrunches up her face. “Are tacos greasy?” Then her face lights up. “Oooh, I want pizza! Pizza has grease. And I love it so, so much!”

“Sweetie, this place doesn’t have pizza,” Alex tells her.

Everly stares at her cousin for a long moment before her face crumples. “That’s sosad.”

“Jesus,” River mutters. “You realize we can’t take her home like this? Her dad will murder us.” Everly starts waving at a passing waitress and River grabs her arm. “What are you doing?”

“I’m very sad about the pizza,” she says cheerily. “So I want to do another shot.”

“No!” we all say in unison. This girl definitely does not need another drop of alcohol right now.

“I think maybe we should go,” Will says, casting his cousin a worried glance. She’s starting to sway on her seat.

My stomach clenches in disappointment. I’ve barely said two words to Rose. I don’t want her to leave yet.

“But it’s just barely one,” Alex grumbles. “You know Uncle Cash is going to tease us mercilessly if we come home from partying this early.”

“There’s actually a really good pizza place nearby,” Bodhi offers, and I could almost hug him for the suggestion. “It’s kind of a dive but it’s right on the water and they usually have live music. The food is awesome.”

“Ooh, live music? Can we dance?” Everly asks. “Pizza and dancing are my favorite.”

“Everything is your favorite,” Rose tells her, a fond smile playing around her mouth. A mouth I can’t seem to stop staring at. She looks around the table at her cousins. “Pizza, then?”