Page 32 of Puck Block

“I know who you are,” I say, baring my teeth. “And if you think you’ll get away with fucking me like you fucked Aspen, you have another thing coming.”

Jasper’s lip rises into a half-smile, and I tug on my wrists again. This time, he lets me go and takes a step away.

For the first time, I’m grateful for growing up with a hothead brother like Emory, because thanks to him, I not only know how to break up a fight, but I know how to start one too.

I brace myself for the pain and steady my stance. My fingernails dig into my palm, and I wind my arm back with enough force to bring it forward quickly, landing right on Jasper’s nose.

He bends at the waist and calls me a bitch, but I hardly hear him because I’m already out the door and halfway down the hall.

[ 14 ]

FORD

The moment Taytumis out of my sight is the very moment I become sober. I’d down more of my whiskey if I had any left, but the flask in my back pocket is empty, and unfortunately, the sloppy kissing isn’t nearly enough to make me feel drunk either.

Damn it.

I pull away from the kiss and crook a smile at Wanda…or Wilma? Willow. Her name is Willow. “I’ll be right back.”

I’ll be surprised if she’s in the same spot I leave her in, since I’ve been back and forth all night, but if I don’t make contact with Taytum and confirm that she’s okay, I won’t be able to pay much attention to Willow anyway.

I scan each and every face as I make my way through the party, subtly looking for her throughout the sea of blonde females. Once I reach the stairs, I place my hands on my hips in defeat and stare up at the steps leading to the upper landing. My chest is tight with anxiety, and guilt is knocking on my back door.

Leave her be.

I shake my head and let out a low grumble before backing up into someone.

“My bad, bro,” I say, taking in the sight of a guy who looks less than pleased that I’ve run into him. He has a little bit of dried blood underneath his nose, and I immediately search the party to see who decided to take part in a fight.

Rush doesn’t allow much conflict in the football house. Everyone knows that. So either this guy got one past Rush, or Rush hasn’t found out yet.

“You got a little…” I point to my nose, and his bloody nostrils flare. I laugh under my breath when I look past the guy and see that Rush is right behind him. “You might want to brace yourself for another hit.”

His eyebrows dig down into a crevice, and I take a step back when Rush’s hand makes contact with the Rocky Balboa wannabe. “What the fuck are you doing here, Jasper?”

I grab the beer out of Berkley’s hand when he saunters up beside me. All we need is some popcorn, and we’d be set.

Rush bundles Jasper’s shirt in his tight fist. “I thought I told you to stay the fuck away from my house.”

Jasper appears to be humored by our BU football captain’s temper, and it’s obvious that he’s only here to piss Rush off.

“Who’d you fuck with this time?” Rush asks, pulling on Jasper’s shirt again. He’s wearing a Wilder U shirt, and I assume there’s a little rival going on between the two. “Looks like she did a number on you.”

A girl hit him?

I turn my head and peer up the stairs before turning back and staring at Jasper’s bloody nose. My shoulders tighten, the beer can in my hand crumpling slightly with my assumption.

“The goalie’s sister. Thought I’d pick a fight with another athlete for a change.”

My beer can falls to the floor, and I step forward. My chest screams a lethal dose of violence, and even though I’m like Rush in the sense that it takes a lot to get under my skin, Taytum is my number one trigger.

A hand grips my shoulder, and I crack my neck.

Rush moves in front of me and shoves Jasper toward the door. “If I see you again, I’ll make a conscious decision to do more than give you a bloody nose. You got it?”

Jasper laughs. “See you on the field, big guy.”

Not so fast.

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