Page 63 of The Foul Out

Like the desperate need to help her. But that was easy to justify. Because she was an incredible person, and she deserved someone on her side. And she didn’t have many people. So I wanted to be one.

Understanding thatI wantedto see her smile at me, wanted to see her name pop up on my phone screen, and wanted to hear her voice wasn’t the same as understandingwhyI wanted those things. And the burning need to punch people on her behalf, on her kids’ behalf, was new. I rarely felt that kind of anger unless I was losing a competition.

Did that all mean I liked her?

I sighed at my own ridiculousness as I set my bottle back on the bar. Of course I did. She was cool. And riling her up was the highlight of my day. But he was implying a deeper feeling. A stronger one.

“It’s why you keep glaring at the beach bum over there.” Chuckling darkly, he turned back to the bar and lifted his drink.

I took another swig from my bottle. “Total tool, right?”

Cam shrugged. “I’ve never met him. But he looks like he should be out riding waves.”

“I met him. He was trying to get her to go out with him when I brought the kids home last week,” I growled.

“And you were jealous.” He spun his drink on the lacquered surface of the bar. “Ever feel that way before?”

I scoffed. “I wasn’t jealous, I was annoyed.”

He lifted his whiskey and held it toward me. “Let’s toast. To all of us having your level of self-awareness.”

Fucker. Biting back a curse, I flipped him off.

“Look,” he said, laughing, “I’m giving you shit, but…” Head tilted, he cocked a brow. “She’s watching you in the same way you watch her when you think no one is looking. Don’t be dumb. Go after that.”

I studied her, found she was watching me too, then scanned the group she was with. Maybe Cam was right. Maybe I should stop holding back, have some fun, and see what happened.

“Can I get five chilled vodka shots?” I asked the man behind the bar.

“Just remember,” Cam said, patting my shoulder, “before you cross lines, she and JJ need some honesty from you. Make sure you balance out the fun with the truth.”

Right. Of course. Only there was a damn good chance that would ruin everything.

“Once we toastthe birthday girl, this party can officially start.” Kyle sidled up next to me and set a tray of shots on the table. As he did, he lingered there, the heat of his arm soaking through my sweater.

For the last twenty minutes, I’d been attempting not to watch him chat with Cam across the room. I’d failed miserably.

“Ooh, fun.” Zara clapped as Kyle handed her a small glass. “As long as it’s not that bloody tequila.”

“Vodka?” Asher asked, a brow quirked.

Kyle nodded as he passed one to him. Then he continued around the table, holding glasses out to Trevor, Mitch, and Cam, who slipped in beside Asher, making the table a bit crowded. Then he dropped taller, skinnier shot glasses in front of the two of us.

“Wait, why do I get the huge one?” I hadn’t had a shot in years, and vodka burned.

Kyle smirked. “Because bigger is always better.”

He wanted to be childish? I’d play along. I leaned closer and tapped him on the nose. “Funny, Kyle, I always found it wasn’t the size of the boat, but the motion of the ocean.”

With his lip caught between his teeth, he waggled his brows. “Spicy tonight. My favorite.” He stepped closer, if that was possible, and gave my hip a squeeze.

That small move sent a shock of electricity through me. As the heat of his palm burned through the thin material of my leggings, I tried to remember that, only twenty minutes ago, he had been hanging out with a table full of women.

It was a challenge in this moment, though, because he was watching me like I was the only person in the room.

“Is it?” I whispered.

“Hell yeah.” His hold on me tightened, his fingers biting into my flesh. Clearing his throat, he lowered his gaze to my tall, skinny shot glass and released me. Instantly, I missed his touch. “You’re a lightweight, aren’t you? Need me to take some off the top?”

---