Page 21 of Scrimmage

I hug Penny. “We’re heading out.”

“Save me some pizza?”

“Will do.” Cole gives her a hug. “Don’t be too late, or Ashland will eat it.”

“Fuck off.” I shove him. He catches my hand and holds onto it. Penny raises a brow at me. I ignore her. “Love you, cunt. Try to enjoy yourself.”

Cole’s eyes glisten with alcohol. I like how he flirts with me when he’s drunk. It’s the only time I contemplate being with him, but when I think about the times we've kissed, I always come straight down from cloud nine. He’s too soft and too…caring. I pull my hand from his.

He shoves his hands in his pockets pretending I didn’t just reject him. “I feel kind of bad for leaving Penny behind.”

“She’ll be fine. She’ll get drunk and come home, tell me how annoying he was over pizza, and then we’ll cuddle all night.”

“I mean, I could get drunk, tell you how annoying he is over pizza, and cuddle all night,” he laughs, but I know it’s not a joke. It’s a question. I hate the fucking thought of cuddling with anyone except for her. There’s an awkward silence that’s broken when we reach Late Night, the pizza place. It’s only ten, but it’s already crowded. The smell of greasy cheese and pepperoni fills the air.

“Mm,” I moan. “Pizza.”

“Find a table.” He looks me over wistfully and hands me his phone. “Go ahead. That stupid match game you like is still downloaded.”

I take it, unlocking it immediately. “You’re just trying to keep me from running off.”

He shrugs, heading over to the line. “It’s effective.”

I find a table to the side and start scrolling. Guys are boring when it comes to their phones. He doesn’t have any nudes, and his texts are limited to texts with me and our group chat with Penny. I see a thread with Ava and open it up hungrily. It’s possibly the most boring conversation I have ever seen. She’s text him several times, and he answers with the most boring uninterested responses of all time. I log into his social and post a story of him standing in line and say something about him finally leaving his mom’s basement. Luckily, Cole finds those antics funny instead of irritating. Then I text Ava on his behalf and ask her what she’s up to tonight.

I’m finally bored of fucking with his life, so I scroll to the matching game he talked about. I’m mid-match when a shadow is cast over me.

“Thank god. I’m fucking starving.” I slam his phone onto the table and glance up into bright hazel eyes. Alexi Daemon stands above me with that same annoyingly friendly look on his face.

“Ashland Bradshaw.” He says with a smug grin and a twinkle in his eye. He’s flanked by the guy who had been at brunch. I can’t remember his name.

“Allen, was it?” I bite out.

“Alexi,” he says with ease. “Fancy seeing you here.”

“It’s the only pizza place on campus. Are you stalking me?”

“Happy coincidence.”

The guy behind him doesn’t look amused in the slightest. He honestly looks annoyed. Seems to be his perpetual state. Fucking same.

“Too bad. Horrible seeing you. Goodbye.”

“Are you here with anyone?” he asks.

“Doubt it,” the guy behind him grumbles. His black coal eyes stare me down with malice.

My anger flares. “Do you have a problem, Chance?”

His eye twitches. “It’s Koda.”

“Where’s Stacy? I don’t see her anywhere. Shouldn’t she be pretending to choke on your dick or something?”

Alexi smirks. He’s a good audience even though he keeps annoying the hell out of me.

“Shut your dirty slut mouth,” Koda growls.

“I prefer to call it filthy.”

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