Page 60 of The Friend Zone

Sweet fucking Jesus. Now my heart is pounding like after a grueling cardio session. I’m about to say that I’d love to hang out, but I catch Topher watching our interaction with his fresh drink in hand. The smirk on his face is pure evil and it reminds me that he has my balls in his pocket.

“Yeah, sure.” I do my best to sound bored. “But we can hang out any time, make sure you get some quality time with your sister.”

The disappointment in her eyes feels worse than a slam against the boards. She walks away from me without another word and I feel like the worst human being that ever lived.

CHAPTER 14

THE KISS

BAY

Every step I take, every move I make.

Topher is watching me, like in a creepy version of that very popular song.

But Topher isn’t the only one who has his eyes on me. Cole and Jagger are watching me too, but from a distance.

Cole is chatting with some of Luca, Cash and Blaze’s new teammates, who showed up fashionably late.

Jagger is surrounded by a bunch of girls, giving me serious flashbacks of last year’s parties; there wasn’t one post game shindig he wouldn’t end by taking a different girl to his room. Not that I was watching him or anything, but I just so happened to notice.

Fury is building up inside me at whatever is going on. I feel like I’m a pawn in some kind of game, but I have no idea of the rules.

It’s typical of Topher to scheme and plot to have what he wants, but I wasn’t kidding when I told him that I’m completely done with his bullshit.

Emboldened by Lakyn’s comforting presence by my side and by Ryker’s protective arm around my waist, I yell. “Let’s play spin the bottle!”

Ok, maybe I also had a couple of drinks. But I’m not drunk, I swear. I just feel a pleasant buzz, strong enough not to give a shit about what everyone else thinks and to make me want to punish my asshole ex.

Ok for full disclosure, maybe not just my ex. There are a few people I would love to mess with at this party.

My plan is to make out with my boyfriend in front of my ex and to also low key rub it in Jagger and Cole’s faces.

Not that I need a game to kiss Ryker, but I love the idea to mess with Topher, to get his hopes up that I want an excuse to kiss him. He’s enough of a narcissist to think that everything everyone does is about him in some way, shape or form. So I’m just going to use it to my advantage.

He falls for it, taking the bait. “Good idea. Let’s do something to liven up this fucking lame party.”

I whisper my plan in Ryker’s ear as everyone shuffles around to take a seat on the three huge sectional couches smack in the middle of Lakyn’s living room.

“Sounds good. Let’s crush that asshole.” Ryker chuckles in my ear.

If there was a “Best Boyfriend Ever” award, Ryker would give Luca, Blaze and Cash a run for their money right now, I swear to God.

My Zeta sisters are all eager participants, especially the ones who are cozying up to some of Lakyn’s men’s new teammates.

The only one who seems unhappy with my idea is Bianca, who is shooting daggers at me with her eyes.

“I’m going to be in charge of the bottle,” she decides. “As master of ceremonies of Zeta Theta Beta, it’s my duty to make sure everyone follows the rules.”

I roll my eyes. Bianca is the type of person who would do anything to have the spotlight on her. I know for a fact, Topher hasn’t made things between them official yet and that’s another reason why she hates me.

I honestly don’t get it. We’re sisters and beyond that, women should support each other rather than buy into petty jealousies.

Instead, since the moment she pledged our sorority, Bianca has been hellbent on dating a hockey player; it doesn’t matter who she hurts on her quest to the status she aspires to.

“Lakyn.” Bianca announces as the bottle stops pointing at my twin sister. “Let’s see who you have to kiss.”

She grabs the bottle to give it another spin, but Luca stops her.

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