18. the chapter with Rose's ass

Rose

I concentrated on controlling the little dolls on the foosball table, moving them at an intense pace in an attempt not to let the ball pass, but that didn't do much good, since in a few seconds the sound of the ball entering our goal rang out, making me groan.

" Another goal," Theo celebrated, giving Sky, his playing partner, a high five.

" Come on, Davis. You missed another one," I complained.

" I'm not the only one losing, Rose. You're not helping either," Christian retorted.

We had taken over one of the game rooms in the residence hall and were stuck in the game for the last few minutes.

" Sky I want to switch with you, let me be on Theo's team," I asked.

" Rose, you can't switch teams just because you're losing," Liam warned, lying down on a couch next to the table.

" Who said no? " I turned to Liam.

" The sporting spirit," Christian warned me.

" Yeah, I don't have it. I like to win," I murmured, turning back to the small players at the table.

I managed to defend my side of the field well while Christian concentrated on trying to hit the goal. After a few more offensives from our opponents, I pushed my partner out of my way, taking full command of the game. I wasn't going to lose, no matter what I had to do.

" Yeah, that's how it's done! " I celebrated a goal, getting surprised looks from my friends.

" Rose…” Christian tried to regain his position.

" I'll stay here, you take care of the goal now.” I denied it as we resumed the game.

That was the best decision I had ever made, I vibrated with each new goal scored, ignoring the looks of my friends. When I finally scored the winning goal, seconds before the game was over, I couldn't resist doing a little dance, before jumping on Christian's neck.

" Davis, I could give you a kiss if you weren't such a bad player that you almost made us lose the game," I declared excitedly, receiving a questioning look in return.

" Rose, don't you think you're overreacting? This was just a game of foosball in the game room. We didn't even bet anything," Theo asked as soon as I released Christian.

" That's what losers say," I crooned.

" Wow, little Romero Britto, you have no idea how sexy you look right now," Liam sneered.

" You can talk all you want, all that matters is that I won," I crooned as I skipped around the room.

Sky approached Christian, who was watching with fun, seeming to be amused by my reaction.

" Do you have any idea what accidental ritual we performed to summon this... thing?", she whispered to him.

" No, but remind me never to play anything with her again," Christian returned.

I stopped bouncing, crossing my arms and snorting as I faced my friends who looked at me as if I were from another planet.

" I'm just celebrating. What's the big deal?”

" It can't be the first time you've heard that you're a lousy competitor," Sky returned.

Okay, this was not the first time. To be honest, I heard it often. Too often!

" I know that," I muttered, plopping down on the couch next to Liam.

" You do? " Christian prodded.

" My parents banned me from family game night.” I returned with a sulk.

" What do you mean they banned you? " Liam sat up, finding the revelation amusing.

My friends gathered around the couch, ready to hear the sad family drama. Christian sat on the floor facing me, next to Theodore, while Sky sat on the arm of the couch, as far away from Liam as possible.

Weeks had passed since the festival, we were already in the middle of October, and their relationship was still shaken by what had happened. Liam couldn't understand what he had done wrong, and Sky decided to give Harry a chance, significantly increasing the boy's jealousy, as much as he tried not to show it.

" My family has always been very close, even though we are not married, until a few years ago, every Friday we would get together to play board games, cards, mime, whatever. But then, all this competitive spirit that dominates me sometimes, ruined everything," I returned with a pout.

" Your parents canceled the game night? I'm sorry," Sky held up my hand.

" They didn't cancel. It happens even today, they simply forbid me to participate and invited Nancy, the neighbor's daughter who is my age, to take my place! " I returned indignantly.

Sky let go of my hand, covering her mouth in an attempt to stifle a laugh. Christian on the other hand, was not as considerate, laughing openly at my misfortune.

" What the hell, Rose. What did you do to deserve this? " Theo laughed.

" I hit my father over the head with his beer bottle in a fit of rage because he had beaten me at Monopoly.”

All right, that hadn't been my best attitude, but I was ten years old and I was sure that my father was cheating. All right, maybe the additional ban on me going near any monopoly games would be right in the end.

" Did you hit your father over the head? " Sky stared at me dumbfounded.

" Yes, he needed stitches.”

" Okay, I guess the punishment was kind of light. My father would have skinned me alive," Christian returned.

" He wanted to call the police and press charges against me, but my mom thought that sending me to juvie would be too much," I admitted, taking out my cell phone and going through my photos.

I smiled when I saw my mother with her long curly red hair loose, wearing only jeans and a long t-shirt next to my father, who had the same lazy smile as always, with his well-kept beard and his perfectly gray hair that only helped him to be more successful among women. Still smiling, I handed the cell phone to Christian, who stared at the picture.

" Are you kidding that these are your parents?” He passed the cell phone on.

" What's the problem?”

" The problem is that your mother is hotter than most girls I've ever known.” Liam returned in amazement "You definitely had someone to pull on."

" Oh my God, is your father still single? " Sky stammered, making me laugh.

" What do you expect? They haven't even turned forty. And don't kid yourself about my mom, if you think she's hot, you should see the women she dates," I teased Liam before turning to Sky. “And as for my father, I'm sorry, but if he forbids me to play monopoly, I forbid him to look at any of my colleagues. Rules are rules.”

" Oh my God, are you serious? " she stared at me dumbfounded.

I returned her gaze, raising both eyebrows.

" Of course not! I turned eighteen this year, my father is not one of those perverts who chases after teenagers," I murmured, "although many girls have tried to approach me just to get his attention.”

" I don't judge, I'd definitely be your friend just to hang out at his house," Sky scoffed, receiving a cross look from Liam.

" Well, you were the winner today, so you deserve an award," he changed the subject, pulling my legs into his lap.

" I like prizes, what am I going to win? " my mood improved a little.

" The best foot massage of your life," he winked at me, taking off the fuzzy slipper I was wearing before he began to massage the soles of my feet.

If this was meant to provoke Sky, it was in vain, as her cell phone started vibrating next and she stepped away to answer it

" You should talk to her once and for all and resolve this situation," I murmured, enjoying the massage he was giving me.

" Talk about what? She's overreacting," he murmured.

" It's easier for you to assume you made a mistake and apologize," Christian advised.

" And preferably tell her how you feel, before it's too late," Theo added.

" I don't know what you're talking about," he muttered.

That was typical. Why couldn't either of them just come out and say they were crazy about each other? Everything would be so much simpler if they just said so!

" Well, maybe it's too late. She is getting along very well with Harry, they are seeing each other more and more," Christian teased him, receiving a cross look in response.

My smile widened at this reaction, Christian was similar to me on so many levels that sometimes it even scared me.

" They've been out alone twice, so what? I've been out alone with her dozens of times, it doesn't mean anything," Liam returned.

We were about to rebut our friend's statement when Sky returned with a small smile on his face. A group took advantage of the empty foosball table to engage in a game, while some girls watched.

" Why are you looking at me like that? " She frowned as she found herself the center of attention.

" How is it going with Harry? " I caught her attention, having the pleasure of watching her cheeks blush.

" He's cool, we're going out tomorrow" she was vague in her reply.

I noticed one of the girls from the group started talking to Christian and Theo, who were sitting on the floor near the table, distracting him from our conversation. That attitude pissed me off a little, I needed him to pick on her and piss Liam off, he shouldn't have to share his attention like that.

" Really? I want to know all the details, it sounds like it's getting serious." I raised my voice slightly, trying to get his attention, but all I got was Liam squeezing my foot painfully, causing me to grimace slightly.

" Where is he taking you? In a cafe again? Great date," he sneered, grabbing my ankle as I tried to gather my leg.

" Actually, he asked me to go to a party, and I think I'm going to need help picking out an outfit, Rose.” She commented without looking at Liam, making me smile even more.

This time I moved my foot out of Liam's reach, straightening myself and putting on my slipper, kissing Liam on the cheek before getting up.

" You're a great masseur, thank you.”

Sky held my hand, pulling me toward the exit without even saying goodbye to the guys, and I frowned when I noticed that they were so distracted by the two oxygenated blondes that they decided to make small talk with the two who didn't even realize that we were leaving.

" Hey Davis," I stopped walking, raising my voice as I turned to the two of them, attracting the attention of everyone in the game room.

" What? " he frowned, looking back at me.

" I'm leaving, aren't you forgetting something? " I crossed my arms, giving him a defiant look.

A small smile appeared on his lips, and he tilted his head a little to the side, resting one arm on his bent knee.

" Sorry, I was distracted, it won't happen again.”

I turned away from him, walking back with a small smile on my face.

" That's much better," I threw him one last look over my shoulder, feeling my heart race as I saw his blue eyes locked on me.

" And when are you two going to do something about it? " Sky asked as soon as we left the game room.

" What are you talking about? " I frowned.

" Maybe about the urge you both feel to rip each other's clothes off and don't think anyone notices," she returned.

I looked at her dumbfounded, feeling surprised by this comment. All right, for the past few weeks I had been feeling a little attracted to those blue eyes? Yes, but that doesn't mean anything. I am attracted to a lot of people, even Liam, and in the end we are just friends.

" I don't... no! I don't know where you get this from, but you're wrong," I muttered.

" You're coming with me," she returned.

" What?”

" At the party, Harry invited all of us, but I'm sick of Liam acting like an idiot around him, so I said that only you would go.”

I could understand his annoyance, because in the last few weeks Liam always found a way to make the situation uncomfortable when Harry was around, and still, he refused to assume that this was the result of pure jealousy.

" You know that if there's a party it's practically impossible to keep the three of you away, right? " I warned, walking down the halls of the villa arm in arm with her.

" I know, but I'd love to pretend I didn't," she smirked.

We walked for a few seconds in silence until I spoke again on the subject.

" You're driving, I want to drink tomorrow.”

" Any chance you'll let me drive Brigitte? " she tried, making me laugh.