Loving You

33

"Ask away," she says before taking a sip of the seltzer in her hand. Braden nods his head as though he is calculating what he wants to say. I know Braden very well and I have honestly never seen this motherfucker this caught up about someone. I think in all honesty he is so caught up in all this Lacey shit because she's playing his own game. Hell, I think she might be playing our game better than any of us.

"Lacey, on a for-real fucking note, what in the flying fuck is going on in her brain?" he asks slurring some of his words. Carter laughs before covering it up with her hand then clearing her throat.

"Well, I'm gonna be honest Braden, I don't fucking know. Michael is an absolute douche and I hate him, first of all. Second of all, fuck her for playing a dude like you. And third of all, I love the girl but I think she's doing it to make you want her more," Carter says basically all in one breath. I think Braden and I share the same confused expression while Carter sits there like it is one of the simplest things ever.

"I think it's honestly working," Braden says looking back at Lacey and Michael. They have been joined by Tori and Julie. The two who are jumping around having the time of their life. I take note of how Carter smiles proudly at the two of them.

"Which part is working?" I ask still so fucking confused. She basically gave me the quadratic equation and apparently, Braden speaks girl. Maybe I am fucking drunk.

"The making me want her more," Braden says as Carter turns back at us. Braden reaches for the bottle again meaning Carter and I are next up for shots. This may have been a fucking horrible idea but once again he is my boy.

"Really? Hey, if I go out there and dance with one of your teammates, would you want me more?" Carter asks sweetly. She wraps an arm around my shoulder and gives me a cheeky smile while I blink at her. Is she fucking kidding?

"Well, first of all, they would be dead. Second of all, well there is no second of all," I say to her lightly pecking her cheek. She laughs at me before planting a kiss on my lips pulling away quickly. Honestly way too fucking quick.

"Only kidding," she says pulling away from me. I mumble a 'you better be.' Braden has now put his head in his hand staring at us in a very weird way. I snap my fingers in front of his face and he sighs.

"Fuck me, I'm fucked up," he says shoving the bottle into Carter's hand. She brings it to her lips happily and chugs from the bottle. Her face goes from happy to sour as she hands it over to me. I laugh slightly and take a swig of my own. We continue taking shots and talking about god knows fucking what.

At this point, Carter is relaxed against my body and I am pretty relaxed against this chair. Tori has joined us and has been talking to Braden. The girl really doesn't shut up when she is drunk but she's honestly pretty funny. I think they are talking about panda bears. Carter is distracting me with her short dress and being so close to me.

"Stop looking at me like that," Carter says poking my chest. I chuckle at her grabbing her wrist lightly. I tun my fingers over her healed tattoo. It really has been that long since Carter has been around.

"I'm not looking at you in a certain way," I mumble smirking at her. She rolls her eyes at me moving away from me slightly. Carter is about to say something when she is yanked, literally yanked, from my lap. Tori has grabbed Carter's face mouthing the words to 'No Guidance.' I watch very amusedly as Tori and Carter sing the song to each other.

"C'mon to the dance floor!" Carter yells pointing at the mounds of people in our living room. I watch as she walks away from Tori and walks over in my direction. Carter is dancing with her hands up in the air singing the song. Her blue dress hugging her body doing an amazing job at showcasing it. She looks up and directly at me mouthing the words still, 'I don't wanna play no games.'