Page 9 of Breakaway

“It’s all good. Don’t worry. Nothing I can’t handle.”

“Okay.” His plump lips ease into a big smile. “Any goals for tonight?”

I smirk, hiding my hands in my pockets as the bouncer lets us in. “I’m not leaving this place alone.”

“Me either.” Crawford laughs, bumping me with his shoulder. “Let’s go, Thunder Boy.”

Rolling my eyes at the nickname, I follow him further into the club. The pulsating beat of the music goes right through my body, sending a gazillion goosebumps over my skin. The sound is loud and pounding, and I start to nod my head to the bass. EDM is definitely one of my favorite genres, especially when I just want to relax and not think about anything. It’s exactly what I need right now.

Here’s hoping that tonight will be just like the beat. Fun and uncomplicated.

I watchCrawford dance with a petite brunette, a smile playing on my lips. It’s been three hours, and I don’t regret coming here with him. Dean is fun to be around, easygoing and very friendly. Not once has he tried to get me to open up. Instead, we just talked about our time off, our teammates, and his plans to go to Mexico next weekend. The more I listened to him, the more I really feel like I should go somewhere too. To distract myself from my memories and give my tortured mind a break.

Nursing the glass of whiskey in my hand, I let my eyes wander around the place. The dance floor is packed, so many people dancing and chilling to the blaring music. My gaze doesn’t linger on anyone as my thoughts swirl in my head. A fewgirls approached me, but despite my initial plan, I don’t want to go home with any of them. My fucked-up mood is a real turnoff to any attraction I might feel.

I raise my glass to my lips as my eyes zero in on a girl with blonde hair cascading down her shoulders and two little buns on top of her head. She’s dancing with a guy who has dark, curly, shoulder-length hair and his arm wrapped securely around her waist. Taking a sip of my drink, I frown, racking my brain and trying to understand why the girl looks so familiar.

The whiskey burns my throat, and tears form in my eyes. Realization finally dawns on me as I study her face. It’s Drake Benson’s girlfriend’s best friend, Nevaeh. And I know the look on her face all too well—she’s drunk.

Mesmerized, I watch as the guy slides his hand up, grazing Nevaeh’s tits until his palm is on her throat. He tilts her face toward him. I down my drink and rise to my feet. My focus is solely on them as I make my way through the crowd. The guy whispers something in Nevaeh’s ear, the strobe lights illuminating her face and reflecting in her glassy stare in a way that sends chills down my spine.

After she kept me company at the club the first time we met, we saw each other on several occasions: games she attended with Angie; Drake’s birthday party, where she was with her boyfriend. I don’t even remember talking to her the last time we were in the same room. I barely know her.

And here I am, an idiot playing the knight in shining armor in order to make sure she’s alright.

When I come to a stop, my eyes roam over Nevaeh, and my eyebrows pinch together. Not even a trace of pink remains in her honeyed blonde hair. Her shoulders sag, and the black minidress she’s wearing only accentuates the paleness of her skin. The dark streaks of smudged mascara under her eyes make me do a double take. She looks miserable. What the hell happened?

“Can I help you?” Tearing my gaze away from Nevaeh, I focus on the guy she’s dancing with. There’s a deep scowl on his lips, and his brows are drawn together. He’s lean and not really muscular, around five foot nine. He barely hovers over her.

Ignoring him, I step closer and lower my head so my eyes are on the same level with hers. “Nevaeh?”

Her gaze flickers to mine, and her luscious red lips slowly part. “You…”

“What do you want?” The guy tries again, his hand gripping Nevaeh’s waist even harder. “She doesn’t know you.”

I level him with a stare. “She does. Her best friend’s boyfriend is my teammate.” The guy narrows his eyes at me, pushing his hair off his face with his free hand. “So yeah, I know Nevaeh. What I don’t know is why it looks like you’re trying to take advantage of how drunk she is.”

“It’s not like that,” he retorts, avoiding my eyes. “She’s staying with me, and we decided to let loose a little. I had no idea she would get this wasted.”

“So instead of taking her home, you took her dancing?” I don’t mention that he was two seconds from shoving his tongue down her throat when I interrupted them.

The guy’s bravado slowly dissolves, and he fidgets in place, putting distance between him and Nevaeh.

“This is ridiculous.” He steps back abruptly, and Nevaeh’s legs shake now that she doesn’t have anyone to lean on. “Tell her she can get her stuff tomorrow. Her problems are not my concern. I’m done here.”

Hurrying away, the guy disappears into the crowd, leaving me alone with a very drunk Nevaeh.

Dammit. What am I supposed to do now?

1 ???? — Shit

2 ?????? — Son?

3 ?????????? — Please

Chapter 4

Unexpected Company

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