Page 43 of Clinch'd

Why does it feel like everyone is playing a fucking game?

I’m searching for the damn restroom when Cooper catches up. He pulls me around with a feral glare and says against my lips, “Where are you going?”

“Wherever I want,” I hiss, wrenching from his grip.

With a huff, he lets me go and says impatiently, “What’s your fucking problem?”

“Me? What’s yours?” I gasp, slamming my hand on my hip.

“Where do I fucking start? Rafe or Cross? Or maybe you’ve conned one of them into making your dickcousinjealous?” he sneers.

“You ass! We were having a conversation until you so rudely interrupted. Besides, how was I supposed to know we’re still a thing when you iced me out this morning?”

Cooper’s brow furrows and my gut clenches. “Iced you out? Minnie, that was business.”

I have no idea what my expression holds but he steps back, searching my eyes before he says, “Wait. We agreed to fuck. You’re not…”

My chest burns and I bite my tongue to keep the hurt off my face as I say softly, “I’m not…what?”

After running his hand over his face, he says gruffly, “Nothing. This is just business, right? You get what you want and so do I?”

“Of course,” I say through a thick throat. “If you’ll excuse me.”

I leave him standing, staring after me while I duck into the bathroom where I lean my head against the door and sigh. I guess it’s a good thing I wasn’t hoping for rainbows and shit. Except I was, idiot.

“Shit.”

The only thing I can do is push the humiliation and hurt into a box. I’ll worry about it later just like every other part of my ridiculous life.

Resolved, I fix my makeup in the mirror, ignoring my watery eyes before using the facilities.

When I emerge, Cooper is sitting next to Jordan and I sit down next to Beast quietly, noting Jordan’s triumphant smile.

Dick.

We spend more time waiting to board than the actual flight. I slept through most of it and now I’m sitting next to Beast once again as he gazes out the window.

It’s beautiful here with sunshine and palm trees and I soak it all in because I may never be back. I refuse to think about anything but the scenery and sag with relief when we arrive at the hotel.

I’m exhausted and I need to regroup–ASAP.

“I have a fight tonight,” Beast grunts. “Meet me in the lobby at 5:30.”

With that, he stalks away, and I watch him go with a heavy heart. This trip is a fucking waste of my time and I’m running out of it with every event and sour action.

I don’t know what to do but I’m pretty sure I scared off Cooper which means soon Suit is going to come down on me and I’m afraid of what happens after that.

I’m screwed.

Beast is particularly beast-like and after a rousing win, we shuttle off to a nightclub across town. The place is hopping, and I’m barraged by music and flashing lights as soon as we enter.

Truthfully, I’m tired but I know I have to at least pretend to keep up my end of the bargain. I mean, for all I know Suit’s got eyes everywhere.

Beast leaves me at the bar with a grunt and morosely I stare after him, wondering what crawled up his ass and died. Maybe he’s sick of me, too. Fuck.

My phone buzzes in my back pocket and with a sigh, I open it up to a new text from Lorri.

How’s it going?

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