Page 47 of The Misfit

The bathroom door creaks in greeting, and I expect Drew to be there, ready to lecture me for fighting in public again. But it’s not him; it’s Aries who leans against the doorframe with an odd look on his face.

“Quite a show tonight, Sterling.”

I shrug, turning back to examine my knuckles. Nothing I haven’t dealt with before. Fighting is the only way to get the chaos in my head to shut up sometimes. Fighting, bourbon, and sex. Which … that actually sounds like the perfect fucking night.

“What the hell? You were there? Why didn’t you come say hi? I didn’t see you.”

“A few guys from the team wanted to hang out, so I took them up on the offer. I was going to come over but thought better of it. Didn’t want to interrupt you. Will say I’ve never seen you so protective before.” He moves closer, his reflection appearing behind mine in the mirror. “But especially not over a woman.” His voice sounds strange, and I don’t know if it’s the way he’s acting or the topic of discussion that’s got me wanting to count exit routes instead of bruises.

“Salem’s different,” I speak carefully, watching his reflection.

“Is she?” He’s way too close now. I can smell the vodka on his breath. “Or are you just playing a very convincing game?”

I grip the sink edge, forcing myself to remain still. To count my breaths like Salem taught me.

One reason to step back: He’s drunk.

Two reasons to worry: He’s acting strange.

Three seconds to decide: How much truth to tell.

But then my gaze catches on my bruised knuckles, and I remember the way Salem felt cradled in my arms, our bodies swaying together as we danced.

Nothing about this is a game.

“Come on, Lee,” he presses.

I blink and am back inside the bathroom. Aries is closer now, his broad linebacker frame crowding me. The air is heavy and thick.Something is off.

His long, curly hair falls forward as he leans in, his scruffy beard almost brushing my shoulder. Despite years of friendship, he’s never shown interest in exploring anything sexual with me. But right now, he’s looking at me like he might be interested.

“Since when do you commit to women? You barely commit to men,” he adds.

I clench my jaw and bite out a response. “Don’t start that shit.”

“Why not? Everyone wants to know …” His hand lands on my shoulder and gently caresses my arm. “Come on, Lee. We’re friends. I know your track record with both teams, and commitment isn’t in your playbook. Fucking and leaving before things can get serious is more your style.”

I take a step back, putting space between us. The movement is careful, deliberate—trying not to hurt him while making my position clear. “I’m with Salem.”

“Only Salem?” He laughs, but there’s no joy in his laughter, more bitterness and anger than anything. “Sure, you’ve been with women before, but never in a serious way. Never like this.”

“Things change, people change.” I shove around him into the bedroom.

“Do they?” He stalks forward, caging me against the bed banister by using his large-ass size to his advantage. “People and things don’t change that fast. Not that you asked for my opinion, but I feel like this is another one of your games. A way to get your parents off your back momentarily. Are you trying to improve your skill? In need of a challenge? Wait, don’t tell me—the usual girls aren’t doing it for you anymore, so you decide to conquer the campus freak?”

I clench my hands into fists involuntarily, the urge to hit him close to outweighing our many years of friendship. “Don’t fucking call her a freak,” I grit out through my teeth.

“Or what?”

Anger pools in my gut. “Or we will have a problem. Maybe that’s what you want? You act like you’re looking for a fucking fight, and you know I’m always down to throw a few punches. But I’m really holding myself back here because we’re supposed to be friends.” I push back against the desire to act on violence and send Aries’s head spinning.

“We are friends. Why the hell do you think I’m trying to talk you out of whatever stupid mistake you’re making?”

“Talk me out of it? All you’re doing is pissing me off.”

“Because I’m telling you the truth?” he whispers in my ear. His breath is warm on my neck, and I can’t lie to myself … a tiny part of me wants to push back. Kiss him. Let the physical way it would be between us shut off this swirling in my head. But I don’t. I take a deep breath like a fucking adult and narrow my eyes. “What truth? I’m serious about her. Whatever fucked-up shit this is between her and me … I’m going to see it through to the end.”

“Whatever this is?” A cruel laugh bellows out of him. “You can’t even identify what you guys are. I don’t know. Smells like bullshit to me. Like it’s not real. You don’t do relationships, Lee. Not with men, and definitely not with women.”

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