Page 3 of A Little Jaded

She nods, though I don’t know if it’s for me or if she’s trying to convince herself it’s a good idea. To give thedisguise a break. To not cover up the damage some asshole left on her. Regardless, her hands tremble as she slips the glasses off and folds them. Lifting her chin, her forest-green eyes hit mine and almost knock me on my ass as soon as our gazes lock. But the fire in them does me in. The anger. Determination. It’s almost enough to distract me from the purple and black bruising along her cheekbone and the blood-red veins tainting the white surrounding her left iris.

“Fuck,” I breathe out.

As if my words are a lash, she forces a smile and unfolds her glasses again, avoiding my gaze. “And this is why I keep the glasses on.”

I reach for her, hesitating at the last second to keep from touching her and scaring her all over again while feeling like I’m moving in circles. Likewe’removing in circles. I don’t know this girl, but whoever she is, she’s like a scared little mouse, and if I don’t tread lightly, I have a feeling she’ll bolt.

She stares at my half-outstretched hand the same way she did when I offered it to shake during our introduction. Then, slowly, her gaze trails along my bare torso—fuck, I forgot to put a shirt on when Reeves dragged me out here—until her eyes reach mine. “I don’t want your pity.”

“Whatdoyou want?”

“From you?” She slides her glasses back on. “Nothing.”

“Then why come in the first place?” I demand. I shouldn’t be offended, but dammit, I kind of am. When she stays quiet, I push. “What? I’m not good enough to help you, but Reeves is?”

“This wouldn’t have been Reeves’ first rodeo. Not if the rumors are true.”

I move closer to her. “And you think it’s mine?”

“By the look on your face? I’m gonna go with yes, this would be your first time helping someone in my situation.I’m not stupid enough to risk pissing off my boyfriend even more than I already have by being here.”

“Yet you’re stupid enough to date him in the first place, am I right?” Regret clogs my throat as soon as the words roll off my tongue, but it’s too late.

Her sharp inhale lingers in the otherwise silent corridor as she glares at me. And I’m surprised by the girl’s tenacity.

“Fuck. You.”

The words slam into my chest, leaving a heavy dose of shame in their wake. I shouldn’t have said it. What the hell is my problem? Moving in front of her, I block her escape and rush out, “Look, I’m sorry?—”

Heavy footsteps echo off the walls, breaking the building tension and distracting us both. Raine glances over her shoulder, searching for the culprit. The way her body tenses, the way she looks like a ghost is chasing her, gets to me and pisses me the fuck off.

“I have to go,” she whispers.

“Wait!”

“Ican’t.” She scurries down the hall like the little mouse I pegged her for, disappears around the corner, and cuts off the heavy footsteps heading my direction.

I should be grateful. For the get-out-of-jail-free card. For the chance to wash my hands of this entire thing and go back to the locker room to celebrate today’s win with the rest of the team. Instead, I stand here. In the middle of the empty hallway. Waiting. For what, I’m not sure. But I can’t walk away. Can’t get my feet to move.

“Where the fuck have you been?” a low voice growls.

“I was looking for you,” Raine answers. There’s a tremor in her voice, and, dammit, it urges me forward.

I have a feeling I’ll regret this.

CHAPTER TWO

RAINE

There are bad ideas, and then there isthisbad idea. Reaching out to a guy I’ve never met and asking him for what? Protection? I’d laugh if it wasn’t so pathetic.

What was I thinking?

So. Damn. Stupid.

I pull my arms a little closer around me, rushing toward the familiar gait, hoping to keep Drake’s frustration in check, though I doubt it’ll work. Not after today’s loss. It looks like the honeymoon phase after he decked me a couple of nights ago is about to end. It’s a pity. If the Grizzlies had won, I’d probably have a solid few days until Drake’s asshole side decided to make another appearance.

Why am I not surprised?

---