Page 69 of Puck Block

I spot her right away—looking all cute in her ripped jeans, white sneakers, and a light-blue sweater that just so happens to be hanging from her shoulder to show off some skin.

She’s tucked in the back booth with a guy at least ten years older than her, and now that Taytum has kicked me off the Bex Hex app and changed her password, I wonder if she found him there or somewhere else. You know, like a fucking nursing home.

I ping-pong my attention from him to the menu several times as I stand in line to order.

When it’s my turn, I’m faced with a pink-tinted teenager who is so shocked she stutters. “H…hi…how can I help you?” Bless her heart.

“I’d like to get an extra-large cauliflower-crust pizza with cheese.”

I keep my hood up when ordering, just in case Taytum happens to walk by.

“Are you dining here, or is this to go?”

As if I’d take it to go when Taytum is on a date with some guy she says she’s going to callDaddy.“I’m dining here.”

“Okay, and it’s…Collins, right? Or do you like to go by Ford?” The girl's cheeks burn brighter.

I grin. “Actually, the name is Walker.”

She stares at me long and hard, probably wondering if I have a twin who plays hockey, but eventually, she accepts the name I’ve given her and hands me the ticket.

“Thanks.” I slip a tip in the jar for her cooperation and head to the opposite side of the restaurant while making sure I still have a good view of Taytum.

I slink back against the booth, spread my legs out beneath the table, and cross my arms against my chest. It’s too loud to hear anything she’s saying to her date, but something breaks in my chest when I watch her throw her head back with laughter. Her cheeks flush, and there’s a little glimmer in her eye that’s always present when she flirts.

I hope her date chokes on the pizza he’s about to bite into.

“Order up!” I push my hood off my head and stand. “For the name Walker.”

I’m staring directly at her as I prowl toward the counter. The realization flickers across her face, and I brace myself for the impact.

Her eyes flare with heat, and I’m on fire.

My smirk deepens, and her smile falls.

Taytum wants to play games and go on a date with some guy who looks like he could be her father?

Not on my fucking watch.

She only allows me one bite of pizza before she heads in my direction. Every guy stops and looks, even the ones out with a date. Her swaying hips in those jeans are a lure if I’ve ever seen one, and I hate that she’s so alluring.

I shove another bite of pizza into my mouth when she makes it over to my empty booth. The pink gloss on her lips draws my attention to her mouth, and I know it draws her date’s attention too, which only irritates me more. I usher for her to sit with my hand, but she doesn’t budge. Instead, she crosses her arms over her chest and seethes under her breath. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Her snippy tone forces me to chew slower, just to piss her off.

The ends of her perfectly curled hair brush against my arm when she leans into my space with flared nostrils. “Ford!” Taytum is practically foaming at the mouth, which is ironically how I felt when she texted me thirty minutes ago.

Once I swallow my bite of pizza, she repeats her question. “What are you doing here?”

I reach for my drink, but she snatches it away at the last second, causing me to laugh under my breath. “I’m eating pizza, obviously.” I flick my chin toward her date. “What’s he doing here? Robbing the cradle?”

I chuckle at my own joke, but Taytum doesn’t find it funny.

Surprise, surprise.

“Professor Sterling isn’t that much older than me,” she states.

I grip the table. “Professor?”

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