Page 62 of Stealing Home

“Why is that guy staring over here? It’s kinda creepy,” Wren says under her breath.

I slyly glance over and see one of the players, Campbell I think, watching us. Chills travel down my back, and I feel like I’ve stepped into a trap.

The bell over the door dings, and my stomach drops as Nando walks in with his girlfriend giggling under his arm. I catch Scott’s eye and shake my head. His jaw clenches, but otherwise he remains with his friends.

My phone dings with a text that I know without checking is from Scott.

If he does anything I’m going to beat his ass.

I’ve got Charlie, Griffin and Donovan. Please don’t worry.

Scott shakes his head, and I see his eyes narrow. He’s pissed.

You’re mine to protect.

I look over at him and nod. I hope it doesn’t come to that, but I am learning that Scott is protective of the people he loves, and for some reason he loves me. There’s no denying that anymore. It’s in his touch, his words, and in the way he’s always thinking of me.

Nando freezes when he sees all of us sitting in the booth together. Until this moment, I didn’t realize how this would look to other people. Griffin and Wren are clearly together since he’s always touching her, but Charlie and I could be on a first date for all Nando knows. The distance we’re sitting from each other could appear like we’re just getting to know each other.

“Do not tell my wife about this,” Charlie mutters, and scoots closer to me.

Scott leans forward, his fists clenching on the top of the table. His eyes haven’t left us, and even though he knows Charlie is happily married, Nando’s presence seems to have triggered his more territorial side.

Griffin notices the same thing, and knocks on the table in front of Charlie. “I suggest you scoot away from Harlow.”

“Everyone is here now,” the guy I’m pretty sure is Campbell says as he stands up. “Raise a glass and celebrate our shining star on his birthday.”

The guys cheer. All except for Scott, his best friend Taylor, and one of the other guys. They seem to be waiting for something to happen.

“We haven’t seen much of you lately,” Campbell continues. “Well, except for Katrina. She saw a lot of you last night. That was one hell of a birthday gift you gave our boy.”

“What the fuck is he talking about?” Griffin asks the words going through my head.

Katrina looks embarrassed and covers her face. “Oh my god, Campbell! You swore you’d delete that.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Scott booms. He looks frantically in my direction, and as much as I’d like to, I can’t look away.

“C’mon, man. Like you don’t know. But, if you need me to refresh your memory—” Campbell pulls out his phone, and in a few seconds there’s alerts going off all over their group, including my phone.

Scott’s face goes white, and I realize whatever I just got sent is not something I want to see. But the fact he’s so stricken makes me check anyway.

“Harlow, don’t,” Griffin warns, but he’s too late.

I open the attachment and see an impaired Scott getting head from Katrina. Bile rushes up my throat, and I’m afraid I’m going to be sick.

“Let me out,” I beg and push Charlie so I can scoot out of the booth.

He moves and I head toward the door, sure they’ll follow me.

“Harlow, wait,” Scott shouts, and suddenly it’s too quiet in the bar. The moment we’ve been avoiding is here, but it’s too late.

“Oops, I think I sent it to your other girlfriend,” Campbell says, looking a bit too smug.

“What the fuck did you do?” Scott demands.

Campbell shrugs. “She deserved to know.”

In my haste to leave, I forgot Nando is here watching everything unfold until he roughly grabs my arm. “Are you fucking one of my players?”

---