Page 45 of Taking a King

“I wasn’t talking to anyone,” I say, lunging for the phone again.

“Yeah, but you were thinking about it,” Hannah says. “Admit it.”

I open my mouth to argue, but there’s not much point. “Fine,” I say. “I thought about it. But I didn’t do it.”

“Intention is just as real,” Hope says. “You’ve been away from him for like, two hours.”

I huff out a sigh of irritation and roll my eyes. “Your point?”

“Wow,” Mya says. “Girl’s got it bad.”

I feel my face heat, but I don’t say anything. Instead, I take a sip of my drink.

“Oh,” Hope says, sounding as if she’s just figured something out.

“What?” I snap.

“You’re totally in love with him, aren’t you?”

She reaches over to turn down the music, then brings her attention back to me. As a matter of fact, all of them are staring at me now. I open my mouth to say something, to argue with her, to tell them all to mind their own business. Instead, I just shrug.

“I don’t know,” I say in a small voice. “How do you know?”

“Oh, honey,” Hannah says, wrapping her arm around me.

“That’s not the easiest thing to explain,” Hope says. “I think it’s different for everyone. One day it just hits you and you know. You don’t want to be without them. Sure, you have your personal space and your own interests, but the really big things? You can’t imagine not having them there to share it with. Try this. Picture yourself when all your dreams come true. The thing you’ve wanted for years is suddenly in your grasp. You got it?”

I nod.

“Who do you want standing next to you?” Hope asks.

“Shit,” I say as the truth smacks me in the face.

“Yep. She’s a goner,” Mya says before downing a shot of whiskey.

I’m in love with Garrett. It’s so obvious now. I love him. I think I have been all along. And sooner or later, he’s going to leave.

I point to the bottle Mya holds. “Pour me a shot of that.”

Chapter Twenty-three

Garrett

It’s well after midnight when the party ends, and we end up back at Mack’s. The ladies arrive not long afterward. Except for Quinn, they’re all giggling and have clearly been drinking. That includes Claire. She’s not quite walking a straight line, though she does make it to my side without wobbling too much. I put an arm around her to steady her before she falls.

“Hi, honey,” she coos. “How was your night?”

I smile down at her. She’s kind of cute when she’s tipsy. Though this does put a crimp in my plans for those heels. Especially since she’s carrying them in her hand rather than wearing them.

“Not as wild as yours, I guess,” I say.

Quinn waves a dismissive hand. “She just can’t handle her champagne. She didn’t even drink that much.”

I shake my head. “What am I going to do with you?”

“I have some ideas,” Claire says in what I assume is meant to be a whisper.

“That’ll have to wait until you’re sober,” I say. “How about some water?”