Page 65 of Play It Off

What the hell? Is this guy on drugs? I feel like I’m witnessing a complete personality transformation. “Are you okay, Ryland?”

His gaze jerks to mine, and I swear there’s a spark of guilt shining in his eyes. “What do you mean, am I okay? I’m great, now that I’m here and you’re with me. I was hoping I’d get another chance.”

Did I say guilt? I think that spark is more like defensiveness. And he’s hoping he’d get another chance with me? After I told him I wasn’t interested multiple times? This guy is freaking me out. I need to get away from him for a minute and gather my thoughts. I’m struggling even being in his presence, and I need some distance.

“Excuse me for a moment. Need to grab a refill.” I shake my cup at him to indicate it’s empty before I turn to head for the temporary bar—and my brother. But Ryland locks his fingers around my wrist, stopping me. Glancing over my shoulder, I focus on where he’s touching me for a moment before lifting my head, narrowing my eyes. Frustration fills me, and I let it fly, all my earlier politeness forgotten. “Let go of me.”

His fingers spring away from my wrist as if he unlocked them, and he takes a step back, chuckling. “Now, now. No need to get so defensive.”

“You’re being really weird right now,” I tell him, deciding I’m not going to hold back any longer. This guy is overstepping my boundaries. “And you’re making me uncomfortable.”

“Making you uncomfortable? Aren’t you the one who went out with me last night and didn’t bother to mention that your brother is having a giant party the next day? What, did you conveniently forget? Or maybe you were hoping to ditch me completely and hook up withsomeone else when I just sent you flowers?” Ryland’s cheeks are red and his eyes are blown. He looks ready to full-on rage at me, and I’m not standing for it.

“Who the hell do you think you are? I’ve already told you how I felt. Multiple times. It’s like I go on one date with you and now you’re acting territorial because you sent me flowers? We never even kissed.” This man. I am shocked he’d act this way.

“I’ll take care of that.” He storms toward me, and I take a step back, my butt hitting the wall behind me. I’m trapped with nowhere else to go, and I part my lips, ready to yell at him when he settles his mouth on mine instead.

I feel nothing. Not a single thing. Just Ryland’s too-wet lips on mine, trying to persuade me to get into it. He settles his hands on my waist, and I shove them off me. My nonreaction proves that he is not the one for me. All Gavin has to do is look at me and I’m about to go up in flames.

“Stop.” I push Ryland away with all my might, and he goes staggering backward, nearly falling into a group of partygoers behind him. We stare at each other, my breathing coming a little fast, but not in a good way. No, more like in a totally freaked-out way because I can’t believe he tried to kiss me.

He basically forced himself on me, and that is just—it’s not cool. At all.

“You should leave,” I say, my voice cold. “And don’t ever contact me again.”

Ryland takes a step closer to me, working his jaw, his eyes icy. I don’t back down, nor do I look away, and he takes a deep breath before he says, “We’ll talk another time.”

He goes to the front door and exits the house, leaving me a shaky, disturbed mess. I bang the back of my head against the wall and close my eyes, counting to five before I crack them open again. The group of people I shoved Ryland into were mostly girls, and they’re all watching me with a mix of surprise and concern.

“Are you all right?” one of the women asks me.

“Was that guy harassing you?” another one of them adds.

“I’m fine. I handled it.” I push away from the wall and approach them, grateful that they seem to care when I don’t even know them. “But thank you for checking on me.”

“I’ll say you handled it,” the one who originally asked if I was okay retorts. “You shoved that guy hard.”

“So sorry he ran into you. That was partially my fault.” I make an apologetic face, wincing.

“You don’t need to apologize. It was badass, how you took care of him.” The woman lifts her hand into the air. “You’re my hero.”

I slap my palm against hers, my laughter soft. I’m still shaken up, but it’s getting better, especially thanks to these girls. “Aw, thanks. I didn’t really do anything.”

“He seemed a little—intense,” the girl adds, and I nod my agreement, still confused by Ryland’s behavior.

It’s like he doesn’t even listen to me. I tell him I want to stay friends—he sends me flowers. He shows up at this party and acts like he owns me, and when I call him out on it and say that he has no reason? Then he tries to kiss me.

And I thought I was delusional. Ryland is even more so.

I don’t like that he said we’ll talk later either. It almost sounded like a threat, which is freaking scary.

Holding on to that flicker of fear, I pull my phone out of my pocket—I love it when a dress has pockets—and block Ryland’s number immediately. Then I go and unfollow him on social media, blocking him there too. I don’t need that guy trying to contact me again and apologizing. I wouldn’t accept it anyway, but blocking him should solve all my problems. Now he won’t be able to contact me at all.

Screw that guy. He’s a creep.

I chat for a little bit more with my newfound friends before I take off in search of Everleigh. But I can’t find her anywhere. My brother is still at the kitchen table playing bartender, and the people surroundinghim are about thirty deep. Not deterred, I push my way through them until I’m standing directly beside Coop.

“Hey, you need to take a break,” I tell him.

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