Page 35 of Weak Side

Taytum’s hand squeezed mine as Ford spotted her from across the room. He smiled brightly with his flushed face and immediately began heading her way with a flirty twinkle in his eye.

“Come dance with me, T,” he said, looking directly at Taytum. I pulled my hand away, and she nervously glanced around the party. “Lookin’ for your brother? He’s getting his dick sucked somewhere.”

“Oh my God, Ford. Shut up.” Taytum pushed Ford against his chest, and he captured her by the wrist. “You haven’t changed at all since high school.”

“You guys went to high school together?” I asked, wondering why Taytum never mentioned anything. Granted, I had never been with her while she hung with any of the jocks because it wasn’t my scene.

Ford peeked over at me, and his smile turned from sly to friendly right away. “Yep. T and I go way back.” He was still holding onto her hand when he glanced around the party. “Theo is around here somewhere.”

I cleared my throat. “I’m not here for him.”

“Right.” He smirked before turning back to Taytum. “Come on, T. Wanna dance for old time’s sake?”

He nodded to the floor, and I gave her a little push at the last second. “You can go dance. I’ll be fine over here.”

“You sure?”

“Of course.” I nodded.

“Wait, you’re actually gonna dance with me?” Ford looked surprised, but Taytum threw her head back and laughed while ripping her hand out of his grasp.

“No. But I will findsomeoneto dance with.”

Ford followed after her a moment later, seeming interested in who she chose to dance with. Rose stayed beside me, but the rest of the girls we rode with had dispersed throughout the party, leaving me feeling a little out of place. I nodded to the far wall near the stairs, and Rose followed closely behind me.

I put my back against the wall and scanned the sea of undergrads before turning toward Rose. “Did Taytum tell you to stay with me?”

Rose was a year younger than us, so the only time I saw her was onstage. I knew that she was in the same sorority as Taytum, though, which meant that my assumption was probably correct. “Um…” Her eyes darted away, and I sighed.

“It’s okay, you don’t have to stay with me, Rose.”

“She said you’d say that.”

My mouth formed a tiny scowl, and I shook my head. Taytum knew me entirely too well, and even though I was annoyed that she thought I needed a babysitter, I was still grateful for her. I didn’t have time for many friends. I had plenty of acquaintances, and most of the dancers were nice to me—some of the younger ones even asking my help on certain techniques. And I had my co-workers. But a true friend who I could rely on? It was Taytum.

Rose’s lip was pulled into her mouth, and I assured her once again that she could go do what she usually did at parties, but she shook her head. “I’m her little. I’m supposed to do what she says.”

“And that’s exactly why sororities never worked out for me.” I laughed it off before turning all the way toward her. “Well, if you weren’t on babysitting duty, what would you be doing?”

She thought for a moment before pulling her shirt down a little and adjusting her hair. “I’d probably go get a drink.”

I nodded. “Then let’s go get a drink.”

She smiled. “Alright, let’s go.”

The moment we turned to head to the kitchen, my heart jumped straight up to my throat and stayed there for a second too long. Right there in the doorway stood Theo Brooks with a cheeky grin that turned my insides warm. There was a flicker of surprise covering his features, but a moment later came a nod of approval, as if he were proud that I had kept my word and didn’t stay holed up in our room on a Friday night.

And for some reason, I liked knowing he was proud of me.

17

Theo

I didn’t admitthat I was wrong often, but leave it to Claire to cause just that. I whole-heartedly thought she would back out. I gambled back and forth with myself, landing on the assumption that she wouldn’t come, even saying as much to Aasher and Ford when we showed up at the party, high on the fumes of conquering the Wildcats. I pushed Claire clear from my head the second I scanned the room and didn’t see her or Taytum, but surprise struck me as I turned around to walk out of the kitchen to slip away from some overly accommodating puck bunnies. I choked on my drink as I slipped my gaze down her body.

She looked different, and irritation brushed over my skin at her appearance, because the team was really gonna amp up their remarks after seeing what she looked like outside of her waitressing attire.Damn it, Bryant.

Tight jeans and a little black top that showed just the right amount of skin. I’d give it to her—she knew how to fight back. I had pissed her off yesterday, and the moment she accepted the challenge, I should’ve known she’d show up just to prove a point.

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