Boarded by Love (22 page)

I sit in the open chair beside Jayden and then pull Claire into my lap. She leans back into my chest and smiles at me before giving me a kiss on the cheek.

“So you’re the girl to change my brother?”

We both look over at Jayden, and I love the grin that sits on Claire’s face. It’s a playful one. “Yup, he apparently likes me.”

“I know. He talks about you all the time.”

I glare at my brother, but Claire seems to like that. Looking over at me, she runs her thumb along my jaw. “He’s pretty great.”

“Yeah, my mom is excited to meet you,” he says and then takes a swig of his beer with no cares in the world. Acting as if he’s saying it’s a beautiful night. Damn asshole.

Claire glances at me, surprised, and I set Jayden with a look that could kill. “Thanks, asshole.”

“Oh, you hadn’t told her yet that you promised to take her to dinner with our family?”

“Oh wow,” she mutters, and I swear my brother is going to be sleeping in the tub for the next couple weeks.

Meeting Claire’s surprised gaze, I say, “Yeah, is that okay? Sorry, my mom asked, and I said I’d ask you.”

“When?”

“Next week. She’s excited to meet you, but I get it if you don’t want to come.”

“No, it’s not that, it’s just, wow, your mom.”

“And family,” Jayden adds, and I flip him the bird.

He laughs before taking a swig of his beer. Ignoring him, I look back at Claire. She works her lip and then meets my gaze again. “Sure, I’d love to.”

I smile as my heart beats loudly in my chest. I don’t know why I thought she would say no, but I did. I’m usually so confident with girls, but with her, I’m nervous and unsure of myself. It’s a new feeling, one that I’m learning means I actually care for this girl. I hug her tightly in my arms as she leans back into me, and I can feel everyone staring at us. I know it’s new and weird for me to be so into a girl, but people are going to have to get used to it. Claire is someone special.

My game changer.

Kissing her ear, I nibble on her lobe before saying in her ear, “You don’t have to come.”

Why did I say that?

She looks back at me and smiles. “I want to.”

“Promise?”

“Swear it.”

We share a smile before she leans over and gives me a soft, sweet kiss on my lips.

“Who’s ready for some singing?” Matt yells as he throws a twenty on the table. I fish my money out and throw two down for Claire and me.

“What’s that for?”

“The buy-in. We sing three songs from each category. Last week’s winner picks, and you can’t look at the screen once or you’re out. You get extra points if people cheer for you. Hannah is the judge.”

She makes a face. “Extreme karaoke.”

“Yeah, that’s how we roll,” Jayden says. “Extreme karaoke, beer pong, roller hockey, we’re extreme kinda guys.”

“Sounds like my kind of fun,” she says with a grin before looking over at me. “I’m superexcited.”

“Good, so I guess I’ll be a gentlemen and let you go second so I can show you the ropes of how to sing a good karaoke song.”

She laughs, her body vibrating against mine. “How sweet of you. But get ready to be schooled.”

“Uh-oh! I think Jude has been challenged,” Jayden says and I roll my eyes.

“I think you can take him, Claire,” Matt says. “I mean, you did get him to sleep with only one girl.”

Claire laughs as she rolls her eyes. “He isn’t sleeping with anyone, for your information, especially not me.”

That stuns my friends, and to my surprise, doesn’t embarrass me at all. I’m proud that I’ve only slept with one girl in two weeks. That’s a record for me. Knowing that it’s a good time for me to exit, I tap her butt to get up. I stand up behind her and then kiss the back of her head before walking around her. Looking at me, she asks, “Where are you going?”

“Off to pick the categories.”

“Why?”

“’Cause I’m the winner from the last week.”

I flash her a grin before leaning over for a quick kiss and then head off to get my songs. I should feel bad that I’m about to kick her ass in karaoke, but I guess the competitor in me can’t muster up any guilt. Too bad, too, because Claire is going down.

“O
kay, categories are as follows,” I say once I come back to the table.

Claire has a water in front of her that Jayden must have gotten her when he went to get a beer. They’re sitting close; probably so they could hear each other over the music because I know my brother would never cross me. We’re too close. And he knows how much she means to me. He’s probably the only person I trust at this table. Caleb probably wouldn’t do anything, but Bryan and Matt are horn dogs out for a little tail, and if I see them give my girl anything but a friendly smile, I might knock out their teeth.

With everyone’s attention, I say, “Pop, love songs, and rap.”

“Love songs!” Matt says with his face twisted.

“What the hell?” Bryan asks.

“He’s got a girlfriend now,” Jayden says with a grin. “He’s all about that mushy shit now.”

“Shut up,” I sneer before flipping him the bird. Looking over at Claire, I see that her cheeks are a little darker in color, and she’s grinning wide. Leaning over to her, I brace my hands on the chair arms, bringing my mouth so close to hers that it wouldn’t take much move moment to feel her lips against mine. “I hope you’re ready because I’m about to dominate here.”

She scoffs, rolling her eyes. “You ain’t about to dominate anything. I’m a master at this.”

“We will see,” I say before standing up.

“Oh, we will,” she says, pursing her lips up at me.

I want to give her a kiss, but she’s my competitor now, and I’m about to whoop her ass. Heading toward the stage, I take the mic and put it on the stand. I hear my name screamed by some of the girls, and when I look out to where I know Claire is, her eyes are on mine, a challenge in her eyes. She doesn’t care about the girls; she doesn’t care about anything but me. That’s freaking awesome, but I’m not going to let that distract me. She’s going down.

I know I have all three categories. I know my music, but I know she does too. She might get me on the pop one, but I’ll have one over on her in the rap and love song categories. When the music to “Say it, Just Say It” by The Mowgli’s starts, everyone in the pub goes crazy. I sing like I’m going for a Grammy, working the room, getting people to clap and scream, while knowing all the words. It’s fun; I love singing. It’s always been a passion of mine but hockey always won over it. My mom always says I could be the next Michael Buble, but I would rather be the next Wayne Gretzky.

Soon the song is over and the crowd goes nuts, even the bartender is clapping. Putting the mic back on the stand, I head over to where Claire is coming toward me, a grin on her face.

“Impressive,” she says, stopping in front of me. “But I’m better.”

With only a wink, she passes by me and I swear I’m so hard I can’t breathe. This girl gets me on so many levels, and knowing that she is as big a competitor as I am turns me on so much I’m not sure I can move. Somehow my legs start to move and I head back to the table to drop down into the seat beside Jayden. Claire is still setting up her song, so I reach for the beer that Jayden has for me and take a long pull.

“I like her.”

I glance over to see my brother’s eyes on me. “Me too,” I answer.

“She’s great. She likes you too.”

“Good, that’s what I want.”

He nods and then turns as the music to “Dark Horse” by Katy Perry starts. Oh, smart move. It’s the hottest song out and everyone in the pub is up, dancing and singing along. Claire’s voice is nice too. She wasn’t lying when she said she liked to karaoke. She can carry a tune, and damn, she looks good doing it. But when she starts to move her body to the music in a sexy way, the guys in the pub start to holler and my body tightens with jealously. I don’t want to share her with anyone in this pub; I wish it were only us two, but I know that’s silly. She isn’t dancing for anyone but me. Her eyes haven’t left mine, and soon I’m wound tighter than a clock.

Jesus, she is beautiful.

“She got you on this round.”

I scoff at Jayden. “No way!”

“Yes, way,” Matt says, his eyes all over Claire’s body.

“Hey, asshole, watch it!” I say sternly, and he laughs, waving me off.

“I’m not dumb, Jude. I don’t want your girl.”

“That’s right,” I say just as she stops singing and the pub cheers loudly for her as she puts the mic on the stand.

When she starts down the stage, I watch as Jimmy Tavins, a guy who plays for the football team, stops her, and she smiles up at him as he talks to her. I want to get up and go tell him to get away from my girl, but before I can even move, she’s waving him off before heading toward me. Dropping down into the seat that Jayden left empty since he went to sing, I look over at her.

“What did Jimmy have to say?

She eyes me, and then rolls her eyes. “I know you aren’t jealous.”

“No way, I’m just asking,” I say and she laughs.

“Oh gosh, nothing. He asked me if I wanted to dance, and I said no, that I’m with someone. Is that a problem?”

Yes. “No, not at all. You can dance all you want.”

She laughs as she wraps her arms around mine and leans her face on my shoulder. “Do you know how cute it is when you pout being all jealous?”

I don’t answer and she giggles as she rubs her nose along my jaw. “Have I told you that I’m glad I’m here with you?”

I give her a sideways glance and shrug. “No.”

Her giggles continue but then her hands slide down my thigh and I jump in surprise. Looking at her, I say, “Wow, getting a little frisky, aren’t you?”

“I’m trying to cheer you up,” she says innocently and I laugh, bringing her in for a kiss, but she dodges it. “I don’t kiss my competition.”

“But you’ll feel them up?”

She looks at me all wide-eyed and like I’m an idiot. “Of course. It weakens you.”

All I can do is shake my head. “Well played, Ms. Anderson.”

“Thank you,” she says and turns her attention to the stage where my brother is doing a horrible rendition of NSYNC’s “Bye, Bye, Bye.” We watch as Matt, Bryan, and Caleb have their turns, and in my opinion, my only competition is Claire. Going up next, I grab the mic as Justin Timberlake’s “Summer Love” starts. Looking out toward Claire, I smile as I sing and she moves in the chair, singing along with me. Moving my body to the beat, the girls all scream, and my girl looks at me like I’m a big piece of cake and she is the fattest kid in America craving me.

Hell, if I’d known singing Justin Timberlake would get her all hot and bothered I would have done this four days ago.

Finishing the song, the place goes wild and I know I’ve taken this category. There is no way she can beat that response or the fact that I didn’t miss a lyric at all. Jumping off the stage with a little more pep in my step since I know she won’t beat me in the rap category, I head toward her and she meets me in the middle again.

“Was that for me?”

I shrug. “Maybe.”

“Good choice, but my beloved JT won’t distract me from kicking your ass. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have extreme karaoke to beat you in,” she says with a look, and then she passes by me as I fight the smile that wants to come out.

This girl is nothing but fire.

When I get to my seat, I turn to see that she’s handing the DJ her phone and then she goes onstage. I don’t know what she’s doing, but then the soft medley to a song starts and her voice is like an angel’s, filling the quiet pub. I know the lyrics though; it’s a remake of Drake’s “Hold on, We’re Going Home.” It’s soft and beautiful, and as I watch her sing, I know my chances of winning this round have just been blown out of the water. Not only that, but good God, she is amazing and the words…I know they’re for me. Because she’s a good girl and I know it, and everyone knows I act so different around her. While I had done the same, it was playful and to throw her off her game, but this feels way different. When her eyes meet mine, everything inside me sizzles.

When she ends the song with a grin, the crowd isn’t as loud as they were for me, but still, she won that round, in my opinion. Coming offstage, she exchanges a grin with Jayden before coming toward me as I stand.