Serendipity

Chapter 60

Elodie

"Seriously? This is where you wanted to take me? This is the fun surprise?" Raffaele exclaims, digging his heels into the pavement leading up to the frat house and making it harder for me to drag him any further. I resign to stopping short and turning around on him with my hands on my hips.

"Stop acting like a baby. You've never been to an actual party, Raffaele. Soon, you'll be an old man and then I can't bring you without you coming off as a creep," I argue.

His brows furrow, his stubbornness forgotten for the moment. "In what scenario am I considered an old creep and you're not?" he asks.

"Hate to tell you this, but you're already in your twenties. Clock's ticking, old man," I tease him.

"I'm less than two years older than you," he protests, making me smile.

"Yeah, yeah, details. Anyway, let's go!" I take his hands again and pull at them with all my might. I nearly stumble when he gives in and takes the first step but he has the decency to catch me and pull me back to him, draping an arm over my shoulder as he does.

I don't delude myself with the thought that I actually managed to overpower him with my pull but we're finally walking again so I'm taking the win. If he keeps behaving this well, I'll certainly have to reward him later. I smile to myself at the thought.

With his first step into the building drowned out in loud music and even louder conversations, my man's face scrunches up in a grimace. "God, it smells horrible. And why is it so fucking loud? I'll get a migraine in no time," he complains.

"Okay, you really sound like my grandpa now. Loosen up, babe, give this a fair shot. After that, we don't ever have to do it again."

He gives me a long, unimpressed look but finally caves. "Is this something you like? I mean," he breaks off, stumbling a step into me as someone shoves him from behind. His jaw clenches, face going red as he whirls around to look at whoever it was.

I take his hand before he can act, though. Starting a fight amidst all these drunk college kids is certainly not a good idea. Raffaele looks back at me, takes a deep breath, and relaxes his fists. "Is this something you'd want to do again?" he finishes with a grumble.

I smile, unable to help it when he's so goddamned adorable. Already, it's clear that this is not his scene but he's willing to bear it if it would make me happy. I don't need to go to parties to be happy, I've been popular enough growing up to have attended plenty, we're here so Raffaele gets to experience it just once.

Which is why I pull him further to the dancefloor, making a mental note that we'll stay only for an hour if he still has that face on by then.

Luckily, he doesn't. Fifteen minutes of me jumping around with my hands in the air, swaying my hips as I shout lyrics to old-school songs, and occasionally grinding against his groin have him in a better mood. Sure, he's not smiling but I'm almost certain that's due to the many people around. I can tell he no longer wishes for this to end as badly as he did in the beginning.

When the next song ends, I throw my hands around his neck and lean in close to his ear. After taking a few deep breaths since my stamina is not made for dancing like this, I manage to ask, "Want to get a drink?" over the music.

"Do they have drinks here? Or just more of those red plastic cups that are probably filled with beer sold at Walmart."

I roll my eyes at him, already moving towards the kitchen. Knowing he'll follow me either way, I don't bother to drag him along.

There are only a few people gathered around the small kitchen island and I don't pay them much attention as I head toward the kegs. I look around desperately, hoping to find anything other than this bad-smelling beer but before I can find any such treasure, a hand on my hip distracts me.

The corners of my lips are already curled up in half a smile when I realize something's off about the touch. The hand doesn't feel large enough, the grip isn't as possessive as it should be and through the thin fabric of my short dress, I can feel how sweaty they are.

I cringe and whirl around, coming face-to-face with a blue-eyed, blond-haired jock giving me a lopsided grin. His hand, still on my waist, gives me a squeeze as he drawls, "Hey, beautiful. You new here?"

I glare at him, swatting away his fucking hand. "First off, back off," I insist, shoving him. He stumbles solely due to the intoxication and when he rights himself again, he looks less charming, scowling at me as if I'd kicked his puppy.

I'm already taking up a protective stand, knowing I can take this moron and ready for this confrontation. Sadly, like all the girls I know, I've had my fair share of fragile-egoed boys that couldn't take a hint. Lucky for me, my dad had made sure I know how to properly take care of them.

Blondie takes a step towards me but that's all he gets to do before a shadow falls over him and Raffaele steps in between us. "My woman told you to back the fuck off, didn't she?" he insists, lacing his words with the kind of threat he usually reserves for when someone fucks up at work.

Call me silly but I nearly swoon right there. Sure, Raffaele always looks like an eleven out of ten but here, surrounded by these childish guys his age, he seems impossibly more attractive. Suddenly, I don't remember why we came here. So what if he's never been to a party? All I really want to do right now is take him back home and give him a proper "thank you" for being the way he is.

Blondie mumbles something I don't hear before he's off faster than Flash. My man turns to me, looking me over intently before asking, "You alright?"

I smile softly, "Yes, thanks. You know I didn't need your help but it was still hot."

He doesn't indulge in my teasing and keeps talking with a clenched jaw. "He didn't touch you? A group of girls blocked my view of you and I couldn't get through all those fucking people."

I place my hand on his arm, taking a second to appreciate the way his muscles relax beneath my touch.

"I'm fine, baby. Not the first time I've had to deal with one of his kind," I insist. When his face doesn't brighten at that, I step closer and lower my voice. "How about we go home, hm?" I give him a knowing look which finally gets his attention.

Without another word, he hauls me over his shoulder like a bag of fucking potatoes. I squeal, yell at him to let me down while simultaneously trying to pull down my dress to cover my ass, and for the first time tonight, he has the audacity to laugh. A real, booming laugh that almost makes me forget that I'm mad at him.

Bastard.

"Let me down," I hiss as he starts his way back to the tight crowd in the living room. At least his arm is now circling the very top of my thighs so I'm not flashing anyone. I try to twist around to fight him off but when I see the looks I get from the people around, I quit it.

The last thing we need is for someone to try and play the hero and save me. Not that I think anyone would, with the way Raffaele looks. Even in his shirt and jeans, he exerts the kind of vibes that tell you to stay away.

I resort to accepting defeat and let my body go limp. Still, I can't resist pinching his back as he keeps going. I allow myself that much defiance.

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That pinch in the end... u saw that? Raffaele did too... I'd hate to think her getting into trouble for that...

Have e fantastic day<3