180 Degrees- Completed

Chapter Twenty Five

One more drink. Mixed normally as well. That was all it took for all the other alcohol to act in. I was wasted. And happy again. I knew I'd find it eventually. That sweet spot where I wasn't worried about where Oscar was or if he was here. 

"You are absolutely off it now." Caz laughed, handing me a cup filled with water. "I'm cutting you off." I pouted as they sat me up on the counter. She shook her head, tipping the cup back and forcing me to drink. "Liv has gone to find James for you. I think they're out in the front yard playing drunk football." 

"That sounds fun to watch." I giggled, hiccupping as I tried to slide down. "I haven't seen him play yet." She smirked. 

"He's topless." I giggled at her, pushing past her and stumbling through the house. I knew she was behind me. She wasn't exactly sober either but she was walking straight which was a good sign. We sat down on the porch watching the boys run around. I don't know what they were playing, but this wasn't football. It looked more like rugby with the amount of times they were throwing each other to the floor and rolling around. A ball game mixed with play fighting. All of them showing off as the group of girls observing just continued to grow. "They're all so hot." Caz laid her head on my shoulder and I giggled again. 

"Who do you want Caz?" Eve sat down on the other side of me, looking into my cup and smirking when she saw it was just water. Or vodka. Could be either tonight. 

"All of them." She groaned, sitting up straight. "Other than James. That kiss mark on his jaw tells me he's taken." We all laughed and I shook my head. 

"Hey, If you want him, go ahead and shoot your shot. We're not together together. I've made that clear." I felt her eyes on me but I was still watching him. 

"Come off it Vee. You guys are essentially in a relationship after tonight." I rolled my eyes. No we weren't. "In college terms, if he comes over here and kisses you, on the lips, in front of everyone. You're together. That's how it works." 

"Can we talk about something other than boys for a little while? My life does not solely revolve around the guy who's taking me home tonight."  I drunk from my cup, trying to avoid biting my lip as he glanced over. He stopped what he was doing, standing up right as our eyes locked. I could hear the girls talking about dance class this morning. I could hear them but I couldn't make out what they were saying. His eyes were stealing every bit of drunk brain power I had. 

"He's coming over." Is all I could make out as his eyes were getting closer to mine. "He's going to do it. He's going to kiss you." I turned to Eve quickly as she slapped my arm, turning my head back to him. He bent down to my height, pushing my hair out of my face. 

"Are you okay? You look bright red?" 

"She's wasted." I chuckled slightly, sipping some water as he looked at me. 

"Your team mates look pissed that you've come over here." I looked behind him then back to his eyes. Icy blue in this light. Like the dead of winter in the middle of summertime. But it was warm. Welcoming. Homely. Maybe that was the way his smile was reaching them as I laid my hand on his cheek gently. 

"Let them be pissed." His voice was barely above a whisper in the crowd. "Do you want to go home?" I shook my head and he smiled. His hands were on either side of me, holding himself up as he kneeled between my legs. "What you drinking?" 

"Water. I've been cut off." I smiled at him, holding the cup and allowing him to have some. 

"You're that drunk?" 

"It's a good job I'm sat down. Caz had to escort me out here when I heard you weren't wearing your shirt." I raised my eyebrows, pulling my cup away from him. "You know my scratch marks are still down your chest right?" He looked down and smirked. 

"Maybe that's why I'm not wearing the shirt." I swallowed nervously. "There's a rumour going around that the guy you were talking to earlier is your high school crush? Penny's boyfriend?" 

"It's not a rumour." I shrugged. "He is." 

"He's still here. You know that right?" I tilted my head at him. "You looked pissed at him." 

"It's a whole thing and I would rather not kill my buzz. Go play." He shook his head, leaning in closer. "James. I know what you're doing." 

"I don't want him as competition Vee." He brought his voice lower and deeper than it had been even the morning when he first woke up in my bed. It was more demanding now and it was taking all of the air around me. "Anyone but him. Because I can't win against him." 

"James-" 

"I want you to myself Avery. I don't want to share anymore." I fought to take in a deep breath, acting as cool as was humanly possible in this situation. "Not now he's here." 

"Ja-" 

"No. You're mine." He put one hand on the back of my neck, cradling it protectively as his thumb traced over my cheek gently. "I'm not sharing. Not with him and not with anyone else. Not anymore." He kissed me now. With everyone watching. It wasn't like his kisses have been in private. This wasn't thought out. He wasn't thinking about what he was doing right now. I think the jealousy had gotten too much and rather it coming out in our usual sexual tension, having Oscar around was genuinely knocking this guys confidence. He wanted to tell everyone here, including Oz that I was taken. I wasn't up for grabs, I wasn't available. I was his now. 

He pulled back and looked at me, not moving his hand from my cheek. My brow furrowed at him as he slowly moved his hand down to the bruises on my chest, neck and shoulders, running over them gently. 

"Girlfriend." He looked up at my confused face. "That's what I'm using to describe you now. My girlfriend." 

"I don't get a say in this?" He shook his head, smiling as he brought his lips back to mine. 

"No one else's Vee." Another kiss. "Just me and you." God he tasted good right now. "No more games." He was so warm. "Exclusive." Fuck. He stood up, leaving me staring up at him. "Tell me when you want to go." 

"Now." He smirked and nodded. Right now. I needed him right now.