Page 84 of Released from the Sin Bin

Mayor Cocksucker: Come home. We need to talk about that game.

By talk, he means he wants to beat the shit out of me for losing. I already knew he’d tell me to come home, and I was heading straight to his house. He takes every loss out on me. At this point, I welcome it. I’m tense from losing and need the release.

“Carter?” Willa stands from the curb outside the arena doors.

I keep walking to my car, hoping she’ll think I’m mad and leave me alone for the night.

“Don’t ignore me.”

“I’m not.” I glance over my shoulder. “Why are you still here?”

“I’ve been waiting for you.” Her boot clunks against the concrete as she follows me through the lot.

The parking lot is empty except for a few abandoned vehicles, including one next to mine. Another student had left their car because they were too drunk to drive home.

“Carter, don’t be mad at me.” She catches up when I stop to put my bag in the trunk. “I’m sorry I was upset, but you can’t fight every guy in my honor. You’re so much better than that.”

“It’s fine. I have to go.” I hesitate, thinking of how she’ll get home.

She can call someone. I’m sure she’ll be fine, but my hesitation allows her to stop me from leaving.

“Then why aren’t you talking to me?” I flinch when she pushes my shoulder back. “You haven’t hung out with me in days, and I guess that’s fine, but now you’re ignoring me. If you’re mad at me, then we need to talk about this.”

“Willa, just drop it.” I move around to get in my car.

“No.” She grabs my arm to stop me. “Talk to me.”

“I don’t want to.” I shift over to the left, but she moves right to block me.

“Carter, you’re still my friend, and friends talk.”

“I’m not in the mood to talk.” I’m in the mood to fuck or get beat. I’ll take both, but Willa declared we can’t do that.

I keep shifting right and left, but Willa keeps moving with me to block my way.

“Move,” I groan.

“No, I’m not moving until you tell me what’s going on.”

I could pick her up and move her myself, but she’s relentless and will only come back.

“Willa, you don’t want to do this.” I’m frustrated with our dance.

“Tell me why you're mad, and I’ll back off.” She shoves me to stop trying to step around her.

I snap. Any willpower I had snaps. I grab her waist to pin her against my car. Slamming against her to shut her mouth and kiss her small, soft lips.

I kiss her and mold our mouths together over and over again, tasting that bitter cherry flavor and sliding my tongue in for more.

“Carter,” she breathes out and clutches onto my arms with her chest heaving between us.

“I’m not mad.” I lean down and kiss her again. “It’s infuriating how right you are, but I’m not mad at you.”

“Wait.” She stops me from kissing her. “We can’t do this.”

“Right.” Coming to my senses, I don’t give her a chance to keep talking and move her away from the door.

If that’s all it took, I would’ve kissed her as soon as it started.

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