Page 15 of The Chemistry of Us

“No shit, Tru. That’s the problem. Either way, you’re fucking us if you fuck with him. Understand?”

“All you’re doing is delaying the inevitable.”

“That’s what I’m scared of.” He finished nearly out of breath.

“Fine,” I lied. “Can you just grab me a beer or something?”

He eyed me skeptically. “Go change first.”

“Get me a drink, and then I’ll change.”

His sigh was deep and full of annoyance. “Don’t make me regret this. We don’t want to start our friendship with no trust.”

Brady was honest and nice to a fault, and I wasn’t ready to listen to more of his warnings. I knew Vaughan way better than he ever could.

Also, last woman on earth?

Pretty sure there would be no shitting of bricks.

After Brady was out of sight, I made a beeline for the front door. The music was louder outside. It seemed like most of the team was there, and the only reason I would know was because they were huge and looked like football players. The girls with tight dresses mingled with the players around the lawn. One sat on Logan’s, another player’s lap, feeding him tequila and accidentally showing nip slips from her see-through black top, but everything else seemed tame in comparison.

Until I locked eyes on Vaughan.

He glanced over at the door, then me, then the door. Eyes crazed, he slammed his red Solo cup onto the grass and stomped toward me.

The moment he stopped in front of me, it took everything in my soul not to back down.

“Get the fuck inside now! I won’t tell you again.”

His lame attempt at a whisper earned the attention of almost everyone outside, including Brady, who I could hear cursing behind me. He'd probably realized that I’d lied and slipped past him.

I crossed my arms and attempted to stand toe-to-toe with him when really it was head to chest.

“You invited me, remember? And you said to dress up.” My breasts were holding on by a tiny black strand covering my nipple beneath the see-through holes of my dress. “So here I am, all dressed up.”

“I said look nice, not dress like a whore.” His jaw clenched.

I faked a laugh. “But I thought whore was your favorite flavor?”

Hands came in and separated us.

“Guys.” It was Brady. “This is supposed to be a chill hangout, where people smoke some weed before they get drug tested for practices and get extremely drunk before being forced into sobriety for the next season. If you have to take it to the house or bedroom, garage even, just take it elsewhere. You’re ruining the vibe.”

Vaughan reached for me again, this time backing me up against the wall next to the sliding glass door. I could smell the bourbon on his breath, and his green eyes didn’t even blink when he lowered his head close to my mouth.

“You will get your ass back inside right now, or I’m going to kiss you. I’m going to hate fuck you against the wall in front of all my friends, then ask them if they want a sample. Now go.” Hishand moved to my ass and squeezed. “And out of the two of us, you know I’m the one who keeps my fucking promises.”

Too stunned to speak, it took me a moment to gather my thoughts. “You want to talk about promises? With me? When you know full well?—”

“Ruining the vibeee…” Brady sang next to us.

I spread my legs a bit wider and flicked Vaughan on the nose with my finger.

“You wouldn’t even know where to begin, and then everyone would see how small your dick is.”

It wasn’t.

It was huge and painful the first time.

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