Free Rocked Down & Out (Rocked #11) by Clara Bayard Page B

section and were nursing beers while everyone else partied hard.
    Matthew's hand was under the back of my shirt, fingers splayed across my bare skin as we watched Julia dancing on a table, laughing.
    "Five bucks says she bites it," I offered, eyeing the stiletto boots on her feet and the rather drunk expression on her face.
    "No chance," Matthew replied, his lips against my ear. "If she does fall down, she'll turn it into some kind of graceful gymnastics thing and everyone will cheer."
    "Julia's a gymnast?"
    "In the sack, according to Rick."
    "Ew. Gross."
    He laughed and kissed my cheek. "Yeah, sorry. But if I have to know entirely too much about their sex life, so do you. All part of your duty as my girlfriend."
    I froze, shocked and delighted. He'd just tossed the word girlfriend out there like it was nothing. My first instinct was to panic, but after considering it, I realized there was nothing to be afraid of. Matthew wasn't like anyone I'd ever known before and if he said girlfriend he meant it, and seriously.
    Smiling, I squeezed his thigh as Dex came over to talk to us.
    "What are you lot hiding out over here for? Come do a shot with me."
    Matthew shook his head. "No, thanks. Next time. We're just chilling right now."
    "That's no fun." Dex shook his head and turned his back on us before dancing away on wobbly legs.
    "Oh man," Matthew said. "There are going to be a lot of hangovers tomorrow."
    "Well, at least no one's really paying attention to how little you're drinking." I cocked my head to the side and looked at him. "You feeling okay?"
    "Pretty much. Those pain pills are working, at least taking the edge off my ribs. Getting drunk will just make me clumsy and sleepy."
    "We can't have that, can we." I glanced around and kissed him quickly on the mouth.
    "Don't start that or I'll drag you out of here right now, Ellie."
    "Not a chance. You're showing the world how united and perfect your band is, remember?"
    He arched an eyebrow. "Oh, right. I almost forgot." He stood up and pulled me to my feet. "Wanna dance?"
    "Not really." I grinned. "But I will."
    "Shit, I was hoping you'd say no. Oh well, what a shame. Come on."
    We walked to the middle of the room, laughing together. Julia saw us and hopped down from the table. She slung an arm around Matthew's waist and bumped her hip against his. "Finally joining the fun, Matty?"
    "Ugh, don't you start calling me that, too," he pleaded.
    She looked over at me. "I thought you were supposed to be making him fun?"
    I grinned. "I'm trying."
    "Good." She took my hand and spun me around in a circle. "Someone has to. I'd offer my services, but I've got a jealous man up my ass all the time."
    "Please, we don't need the dirty details," I quipped. "Even a gross gossip-monger like me has a limit."
    Julia barked out a laugh and hugged me briefly, the scent of expensive tequila wafting around her. "Goddamn it, I'm really starting to like you. That sucks."
    I shook my head. "I get that a lot."
    The song playing changed to one of Julia's, and everyone cheered. She smacked Matthew on the butt and said, "It's an omen. Move your skinny ass."
    He laughed and grabbed my hand. "Sorry, Jules. You had your shot. I've found a new girl. I only shake it for her, now."
    "Is that so?" I asked playfully. "Well, then let's see it, big mouth."
    Matthew put his hands on my waist and we began to dance together. He was a million times better than me, I was doing good to be able to find the beat, let alone move with it, but it didn't matter. We spun and shimmied through that and the next three songs until I was happily dizzy and hoarse from laughing.
    I was about to suggest taking a break when I looked up into Matthew's eyes. They were wide and unfocused. Where I was red and sweaty, he was pale and clammy. I put a hand over his stomach. "What's wrong?"
    "I think I hurt myself," he said through gritted teeth. "Need to sit down."
    "Got it." My heart stopped beating as I led him off the dance floor, trying not to be