Page 123 of Scrimmage

“Are you?” I smirk. “Everyone else is. It’s not a big deal.”

“Sounds pretty judgmental coming from a dude who had some groupie suck his dick, then kicked her out twenty minutes ago, so he can go to a party with a girl he considers his mortal enemy, that he also used to fuck, with another girl who sucks his dick.”

“Sue me.” I put my hat on my head backwards and clap my hand on Alexi’s shoulder. “Come on. Don’t wanna keep Stephanie waiting.”

When we arrive, the party is already in full swing.

“Koda!” A girl squeals, jumping on me. Stephanie and her god awful fucking lip stick. “Oh. My. God. This place is crazy.” She's wearing a summer dress, and it just fucking annoys me. It’s almost winter.

“Looks like it,” I respond, bored already by her company.

We usually don’t let the groupies into these parties, but I want to make Ashland realize that I don’t care if she happens to show up.

I catch sight of two of our teammates and wave them over. They’re more than happy to oblige when they see who I’m with. We head inside and the place is packed. From the front door I scan the crowd. Stephanie tugs at me to pay attention to her, but I shrug her off. Ashland is nowhere to be found, so I post up in a corner where I can see the front door. The second she walks in and I see Cole trailing her, I want to explode.

She still takes my fucking breath away. I can smell the blackberries from here. Her pink hair is on top of her head in two buns. She speaks with her hands, animated. I can’t tell if I’m angry, horny, or fucking desperate for her attention because it isn’t being given to me. She laughs, taking Cole’s bicep, and lets him lead her through the crowd.

I hate him. I hate them. I hate everyone at this fucking party. I hate that I can’t stop staring at her.

“I need a drink,” Stephanie whines.

“Then get one,” I snap.

“Whatever.” She pouts and stomps away.

I move further into the crowd, angling myself to get a better view of Ashland. She’s wearing a cropped tank top, her stomach on full display, and fucking shorts. She has a new tattoo covering her entire knee. Something about it strikes me as sinister, and I can tell she did it herself. She turns to Cole and says something that makes him laugh.

I can’t watch anymore. Not without several drinks. I head in the direction I saw Stephanie storm off to and find her with the other guys at the bar. I grab a bottle of the first thing I see.

“I’m sorry about earlier,” I apologize to her, with a charming grin. It’s the emptiest apology of all fucking time.

Her anger from earlier bleeds away, and she smiles at me. “Hey, it’s okay. You’re stressed out.” She runs her hand along my arm and I want to shove her, but I don’t.

Our group moves toward the room where I saw Cole fucking flirting with Ashland. I want him to know that I know he got into her head. I know what the fuck he said to her. He’s the entire reason she left that day. When we come in they don’t even look in our direction. Has he seen the parts of her that I have?

No one seems to notice they’re there except for Alexi. He abandons us. I can tell he’s pissed, but he can suck it up. Stephanie and her friends make a big show of touching all over each other trying to dance. Cole whispers something in Ashland’s ear and leans against the wall with an easy smile. He has fucking dimples. How had I never noticed before? It’s jarring. Then he touches her arm. That mother fucker.

“Dance with me.” Stephanie pulls at the bottom of my shirt. I shove her hands away. She’s a little annoyed, but lets it go, turning back to her friends to try to figure out how else to get my attention. “Here. I got you a drink. Loosen up.” She hands me a beer.

I don’t thank her, in fact, I don’t say a word. Cole walks out of the room, leaving Ashland behind with Alexi, and they disappear out of the front door. He’s trying to get her away from me. So, I follow Cole. He pushes his way through the crowd, saying hi to people in a way that says he’s been here many times before. I walk up behind him and push him into the bar as soon as he gets a drink in his hands, spilling it everywhere. He turns to say something and freezes.

I’ve never had an ‘oh shit’ moment that wasn’t mine, but I’m reveling in the fact that Cole is having one now. He composes himself. “Koda? Good to see you.”

“Cole?” I pretend to be surprised. “What are you doing here?”

“Just here with Ash,” he answers smugly.

I flash him a smile. “Yeah? Wanted to use my pocket pussy?”

He nervously glances in the direction he left her. He didn’t realize that I fucking knew. “Right.”

“Let’s get you another drink,” I continue the ruse.

He looks at me, his mind made up. “You’re the one who used her. I’m there for her.”

“Weird. You abandoned her after making her feel like shit. Then she was drugged.”

“Listen, dude.”

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