Page 15 of I Stop Somewhere Waiting For You

I roll my eyes when I see it’s that douchebag Trent from the football team. Daph fucked him once over the summer and he ghosted her the next day. I instantly know this is going to be a trainwreck.

“Truth or dare?” he asks her.

“Dare!” she shouts without hesitation.

“I dare you to give me a lap dance.” He smirks, his face looking downright sinister in the glow of the flames.

Yup, there it is. My hand grips her knee and offers up a squeeze, silently conveying that she doesn’t need to do this. However, I can already tell by the determination in her eyes that she’s made up her mind. And Daph don’t back down from shit.

Daphne downs the rest of her beer before tossing the bottle into the fire. She pushes up from the chair, rolling her hips as she rises while slowly pulling down the zipper on her fitted hoodie. The move earns her some wolf whistles from various spectators, while someone pulls up music and connects it to the Bluetooth speaker that had been left otherwise forgotten off to the side up until now.

Play with Fire (ft. Yacht Money) by Sam Tinnesz, Yacht Money (Spotify)

Play with Fire (ft. Yacht Money) by Sam Tinnesz, Yacht Money (Apple Music)

As she makes her way over to Trent, she peels the fabric of her hoodie from her body, discarding it to the side. The perv has a look in his eye like he just won the fucking lottery.

He falls back in his seat as she comes to straddle him from above. Her body dips and contorts in a manner so sensual, she’s probably got half the straight chicks here questioning their sexuality right about now. Trent lifts his hands, placing them on her hips as she continues to roll them beneath his palms.

I’m two seconds away from shutting shit down when JP runs up on the performance.

“Goddamn it, Dee!” His arms encircle her waist from behind and in one fluid motion he lifts her into the air.

“JP!” she screams, smacking at his arms. “Put me down!”

Trent pops up to say something, but JP extends his leg, kicking him back down into his chair. “Sit the fuck down, bitch,” JP spits in annoyance.

Trent glares at him but doesn’t dare open his mouth. He knows who JP is, who he works for. I sink back in my seat and smirk, silently thanking Nicky for making me bring him tonight.

Daphne continues thrashing within JP’s hold as he carts her ass off to the side.

“Sorry, Daph. Nicky’s orders.”

“Motherfucker!” she shouts, continuing to fight against him. “If he’s got a problem, he can bring his ass down here and…” JP eventually just tosses her over his shoulder and carries her off toward the Jeep.

“Yo, Jones!” Trent calls out. “Wanna come finish what your friend started?”

I snort. Shaking my head, I slowly rise before tossing my bottle into the flames as well. “Not even if you were the last fuckable living organism on the planet, Trent.”

A series of “Oooo’s” hiss out around us, and I don’t miss the way Trent’s jaw tightens.

I snicker, throwing up a peace sign as I head off to find Daph and JP.

I don’t have to go far. My eyes locate them near the car. They’re squared off against one another. Daphne’s arms flail about before she begins shoving her finger into JP’s chest. I can tell from her facial expressions she’s whisper shouting at him, while JP just stands there shaking his head.

Yeah, that’s a whole lotta drama still in full swing. They’re gonna need a minute. I decide instead to make my way over to the beer coolers at the edge of the field and grab one more for the road. The drama by the fire seems to be forgotten. The beat shifts, and somebody turns the volume way up.

I’m leaning over to sort through the cans stacked inside the open tub when an arm snakes around my midsection. A hand simultaneously covers my mouth. I try to scream, but my assailant’s too fast. I’m dragged backward into the darkness of the densely-covered forest. I continue to thrash as I’m dragged deeper and deeper before whoever’s behind me releases at last and drops me flat on my ass.

I pop up, spinning to find Trent standing before me.

“What the fuck, Trent?!” I spit. “Have you lost your shit?”

“What’s the matter, Jones? You can dish it out but can’t take it?” His arms extend slightly out at his sides.

“I cracked a joke, you fuck. I didn’t assault you.”

“Okay, you’re right. I’m sorry.” He slowly advances toward me. “Dick move on my part. I just wanted to talk to you.”

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