Page 103 of Puck Prince

Kennedy plops down on the couch beside me, wine glass and all. “—and the next, he’s on the stage and you’re MIA. Literally for the rest of the evening. What happened?”

God, whatdidn’thappen? That’s a better question.

“We left early because the press was getting nosy.”

“Oh, no… you mean people want to take pics of you and your hot as fucking Hades boyfriend while you glide around the dance floor like some fairytale dream? It must suck so much to be you, Callie Coleman.”

“Dating someone who is literally always in the spotlight isn’t easy,” I say defensively. Then I realize how stupid that sounds. The look she gives me also tells me how stupid that sounds.

“So you left during the ceremony?” she asks.

“Not exactly. I went to the bathroom, and when I was heading back to the ballroom, Miles stopped me.”

“Oh?”

“He was kind of a dick, Ken…”

She swallows a gulp of wine. “Miles? I’ve always thought he was one of the sweeter guys on the team. And that whole Noah Centineo look he’s got going on? Fuck me…”

“With the way he was acting towards me, he’d probably be open to it.”

“What does that mean?”

I swallow before going on. “He grabbed me and pulled me aside. At first, he was just being friendly but then it… escalated.”

“Miles was hitting on you?”

I didn’t want to tell Owen the truth. I’m not really his girlfriend, but as that little dance we just did in the hallway proves, I have no idea what is real and what isn’t anymore. I didn’t want to cause any trouble.

But this is Kennedy.

“Yeah. And when I tried to leave, he got kind of, like, aggressive. Luckily, Lance and your dad came out before anything happened, because I don’t know where it was going.”

She shakes her head in disbelief. “I’ve never known Miles to be that kind of guy. Maybe he was just drunk?”

“If he’s a handsy asshole when he drinks, then he shouldn’t drink.”

“Callie, he’s engaged,” she says, as if I’m the one who needs the reminder.

I blink. “I know.”

“He probably just had too much to drink and was pissy that Owen got to present the check and not him. I wouldn’t worry about it.” She puts her hand on my leg before going on in a softer tone. “I think you’re just jumpy because of Spencer. But Miles isn’t Spencer.” She stands up and holds out her hands, pulling me to my feet. “Now, let’s change out of these dresses into fat pants and order a pizza. This girl needs something besides aged gouda and caviar.”

I reluctantly follow her into her room. Miles definitely went too far, but maybe I am blowing it out of proportion.

I have been on edge ever since everything with Spencer went down. I’m still a little uncomfortable when a man offers to hold a door for me.

Then again, Owen had his arm wrapped around me most of the night, and I didn’t mind that at all.

I decide to shove it in the back of my mind. All of it. The evening was nice, and then it wasn’t, and then it was hella confusing. And now, it’s over.

I’d like to just forget about it, please and thanks.

31

OWEN

“Sharpe!” Coach Coleman’s voice sears across the ice so hot I’m surprised it doesn’t melt.

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