Page 13 of Puck Block

All I can manage to say is, “I do not sound like that.”

Taytum glares at me and tries to turn away. Instead of letting her go, I grip her hips a little tighter and keep her in place.

“Oh, come on. It’s funny.”

“It’s not funny!” she hisses between her perfectly straight teeth. “Do you know what it’s like to be me and have this unyielding responsibility to keep everyone happy and stay on top of my sugar and insulin? I’m expected to do what I’m told at all times, no questions asked. God forbid I make a decision for myself. And you and Emory are even worse! You two destroy any little bit of fun I try to have. I’m going to die alone because of you guys. And who knows! It might be sooner than we think.”

Taytum started off her little rant with anger backing her words, but it went southrealquick. She stops moving her feet and shoves my hands off her waist. Her pink, plump bottom lip folds in behind her front teeth, and the gloss of her eyes catches the bright disco light off in the corner of the room.

For once, I’m speechless.

Is she…crying?

In the midst of panic, I’m met with her back as she charges through the party and disappears into the fog of rowdy college students. My first thought is to chase after her, but I stop myself because what am I going to do to make things better? Allow her to drink and fuck up her sugar? Watch her take off with some guy to lose herself for a little while?

Neither of those options do anything for my sudden irritation.

But seeing her upset doesn’t do anything for it either.

[ 7 ]

TAYTUM

The party isfull of hot potential, but as usual, I’ve run off to be alone. Most of the time, I think everyone assumes I’ve disappeared into one of the bedrooms with some guy, but nine times out of ten, I’m alone.

There’s a knock on the door, and I sigh.

I wonder who that could be.

I turn toward the noise. “Go away, Ford.”

There’s a raspy chuckle that follows my demand, and I immediately know it’s not Ford. “It isn’t Ford.”

I slip in between the mismatched couches in the room and head toward the voice. The media room is usually off-limits but Rush, who’s the captain of the football team and doubles as the rule-maker for these parties, has a soft spot for me and allows me to come in here. But only because his younger sister is in my sorority, and he knows I watch out for her.

I watch out for all the girls, though. We have no room for mean girls in our sorority–only built-in besties and mentors.

“Rush?” I ask.

I reach for the doorknob but refuse to open it until I know who's on the other side.

“No. Cruz.” He says his name like I should know him. After my silence, he adds, “If you open the door, I think you’ll recognize me.”

Taking the bait, I turn the doorknob, half expecting to see Ford holding someone hostage there to get me to open the door, but I’m wrong, and Cruz is right. I do recognize him. But I pretend like I don’t because he obviously has a chip on his shoulder.

“Sorry, I don’t know who you are.” I move to slam the door, but he stops it with his hand and gives me a look. His lip hitches, and it’s the same hot grin he gave me in the hospital days ago.

“You are the most stubborn person I have ever met,” he says.

A quick laugh escapes me and causes me to drop my hand. I let him in the room and notice right away that he leaves the door cracked.

“What are you doing at some college party?” I ask.

My arms cross against my chest, but I drop them abruptly when it hits me.

“Oh my god. Did my brother ask you to follow me around?” I throw my hands up in frustration and start to pace the media room. “He did, didn’t he? Just in case I faint or my blood sugar gets out of sync, right?” I kick a pillow out of my way and mumble under my breath. “This is getting out of hand. Having some EMT follow me around.” I turn. “Was this Dr. McCarthy’s idea?”

Cruz grips me by the waist, his fingers pressing into my bare skin right below my shirt. It’s very clear to me that he isn’t wearing medical gloves like in the hospital, because my flesh burns beneath his touch. “Calm down. No one asked me to follow you.” He chuckles under his breath, and I drop my gaze to his mouth.

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