Page 6 of Fragile

“Hey, Queenie, how you doing?” I finally relax as I put my arm around her and pull her into my side, the need to escape quieting inside my head. She immediately hugs me back, her little frame fitting against me.

“I’m, uh, yeah…” she tapers off, glancing around the room.

I watch her for a second, waiting to see if she looks at me, but she doesn’t. Instead, she focuses on spinning her thin silver bracelet around her wrist.

“You sure with that answer?”

She nods and looks at me with a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Just tired.”

She doesn’t look tired, more slightly upset about something, her lips pursing in a subtle pout.

“Come on, lying to me won’t work. What’s up?”

She sighs with a shrug. “Missed you this morning, that’s all.”

I hug her, careful not to spill my drink on her back, moving her body until she’s in front of me. Her head tucks into my chest like it always does when I bear hug her. “I told you I’ll make it up to you with gummy worms, didn’t I? I haven’t forgotten.”

Mumbling into my chest, I don’t hear her answer.

“Huh?”

She steps back, creating distance between us. “I said, maybe you can order me some of my favorite stickers again too, the ones with the pink and purple clouds?”

“Done,” I say without hesitation, kissing the top of her head before letting her go and taking a step back. It’s only then that I register what she’s wearing. I trail my gaze down her green dress that hugs every inch of her and flares at her hips, stopping way too high up her thighs.

“Eyes are up here, Cooper.” She nudges me playfully, a faint splash of pink coating her cheeks as my eyes snap to hers.

I clear my throat. “Sorry, you just… Is that new?”

“My dress?” She drags her hand down the front, which brings my focus to her cleavage before I follow her every movement, every finger that grazes over all her soft curves. Ones I definitely shouldn’t be noticing, ones I’ve never noticed before this very second. I’m suddenly struggling to swallow.What the fuck?“Yeah, it’s new.”

I clear my throat, wanting to say something, but I can’t think of the right thing. “Cool, it…uh, it looks good on you.”Well, that was lame, Cooper.

She smiles, more genuinely this time, and I feel myself relaxing at the sight. Quirking an eyebrow, she nods to my cup. “Guessing that isn’t water?”

I blink, before glancing down and slowly lifting it to my lips, taking a deliberate sip, smiling at her conspiratorially over the top.

Her arms cross over her chest, those green eyes settling on me, unamused. “Don’t you have a game this weekend?”

“Don’t hate the player.” I wink. “Besides, a little alcohol never hurt.”

She looks down at her shoes, and I lean down toward her, a pang of guilt flooding my stomach for not showing up for her today.

“I’m still sorry I missed today. Things got busy.”

Her head tilts up to meet my eyes. “You missed a good one.”

“Jay and Hudson argue over pens again?”

She shakes her head, a smile teasing her lips. “Tape this time.”

I grab her hand, pulling her into my side again. “Next time, I’ll be there. Promise.”

Indie huffs behind her, untangling herself from Seb. “Come on, I’m only staying here for, like, thirty minutes. My skin isalready itching from all these people.” She pulls Quinn from my arms as Seb laughs quietly and watches his girlfriend walk away from him, arm linked with Quinn’s.

“We’ve got a game this weekend,” Seb says, nodding at my cup.

A sigh builds in my chest, but I tamper it down. Sometimes I wish he would forget he’s thecaptainand have fun. “You too? Quinn already gave me the disapproving Dawson look.”

---