Page 6 of Dirty Little Mistake

Trystan's large hands grabbed my arms, helping me steady myself. "Are you okay?"

"I think I twisted my ankle." The words came out through gritted teeth.

Trystan crouched down, his calloused fingers hovering near but not quite touching my rapidly swelling ankle. "Can you put any pressure on it?"

I tested the weight and immediately regretted it, my fingers digging into his shoulders for support. My gaze dropped to where the skin was already turning an angry red.

"Some badass fighter I am." The laugh that escaped was more bitter than I intended. "I can't even get out of the ring without hurting myself."

Trystan's hands shifted to better support my weight. His expression softened into something that wasn't quite pity but wasn't quite humor either.

"We should get you home and get some ice on it."

He leaned forward, scooping me into his arms.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, trying not to let the rush of excitement I felt show on my face.

Trystan West showed up at my gym,I think,to see me and is now carrying me and my swollen ankle out.

Thank God for little miracles.

"Do you want to crash at my place tonight?" Trystan asked, carrying me out of the building.

"Uh—" The words stuck in my throat as his cologne clouded my senses. I forced myself to focus. "I can call Kaia and see what she's up to."

He stopped, his gaze shifting to meet mine. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "I meant with me."

My eyes widened before pinching with confusion. "You want me to spend the night with you?"

"Yeah." He smirked.

"That's going to be hard to explain to Kaia."

Trystan leaned closer, his voice dropping to that low whisper that always made my stomach flip. "She doesn't have to know. We can crash in the pool house tonight."

My chest twisted with the same gut-wrenching feeling I'd had after the first night we'd spent together, and I knew I wasn't going down that road again. "No, thanks." I shook my head.

His brows furrowed briefly like I'd both surprised and confused him. I wasn't going to be Trystan's dirty little secret. He would have to find someone else to play that role. If he wanted me, he'd have to step the fuck up. I'd agreed to keep our kiss and one night together a secret once, and I had no intention of repeating that night again.

"Can I give you a ride home?" Trystan shifted his weight, his arms tightening around me.

"Actually, Kaia dropped me off because my car is in the shop, and Owen offered to give me a ride home tonight." I forced a smile. "He should be here shortly."

"Owen, huh?" Trystan's jaw tightened, but I recognized that micro-expression from years of watching him. I kept my face neutral. Owen and I were friends, and I wouldn't use him to make Trystan jealous because that wasn't the relationship I wanted with Trystan.

I wanted him to want me because he was obsessed with me, not because he was jealous of someone else having me first. "Okay, well, are you coming to my concert tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I'll be there." I smiled. "I'll be the one in the front of the stage screaming all the lyrics like a fangirl."

He huffed out a laugh. "There's an after-party. You should come and hang out with me."

"Is that a special invite to hang out with the band's lead singer?" I channeled my inner fangirl, batting my eyelashes with exaggerated enthusiasm.

"Yeah." Trystan's gaze dropped to my lips. "And Kaia already knows that I'm inviting you, so no secrets."

My heart swelled to three times its size at the realization that this was really happening. Trystan West, the boy I'd been infatuated with since the first time I saw him, had asked me to hang out with him. I'd already made plans, but those plans would have to wait because I might never get an opportunity like this again.

A white car swerved into the parking lot, stopping in front of us.

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