Page 12 of Second-Rate Superstar

Under her breath, she grumbled, “Don’t call me that.” Then, louder, she accused, “You’re late.”

Levi shrugged. “Can’t be late when the party doesn’t start until you arrive.”

Not sparing her any more attention, he resumed making out with the redhead. When he trailed his lips down her neck, he murmured, “Fuck, Coop. I’ve missed you.”

Ah, sothiswas the infamous Coop.

“Nix, baby. I’ve been waiting so long for you,” she breathed out.

The brunette shifted uncomfortably on her stool, watching the public display, which was turning more explicit by the minute. He wouldn’t really fuck her in front of all these people, would he? As Levi’s hand shifted beneath her skirt, I wasn’t quite so sure.

Before I could pull my eyes away from what was quickly turning into a live sex show, I noticed what looked like a tracking tag affixed to Coop’s dress.

Huh. Wonder what that’s about.

I leaned closer to Coop’s friend, offering, “Want a drink?”

She shook her head, curls bouncing atop her high ponytail. “Can’t. I’m driving.”

“A pop, then?” I tried again.

Chewing on her lower lip, she nodded. I led her over to the coolers in the corner, asking, “What’s your poison?”

Surveying the selection, she said, “I’ll take a root beer.”

My eyebrows rose. I’d gotten those for me, deciding early off that I would remain sober tonight.

Reaching my hand into the ice, my fingers curled around the glass bottle. Popping the top, I handed it to . . . Danny? No, she didn’t seem to like it when Levi had called her that, but she wasn’t too keen on volunteering how she preferred to be addressed.

“Thanks,” she said before taking a sip.

“Mind if I join you?” I gestured to another bottle in the cooler.

One shoulder rose and fell. “Sure.”

Uncapping my own bottle, I pointed it in the direction of Coop and Levi. “So, your friend . . .”

Rolling her eyes, she huffed, “Don’t get me startedon those two.”

“Not a fan?” I asked.

She scoffed loud enough to be heard over the music. “You could say that. He uses her, but she refuses to acknowledge it. Deep down, she has to know he’s stringing her along, but . . .” She sighed heavily. “I think she’s so caught up in what he symbolizes that she chooses to ignore it.”

“And what exactly does he symbolize?” I questioned, curious as to her response.

“Status, celebrity, wealth, you name it. Why does anyone lust after professional athletes?”

Stunned, I could only stare at the girl who listed all the reasons I actively steered clear of puck bunnies.

“Doesn’t that mean she’s using him?” I challenged.

The brunette shook her head. “It would be if she was the only girl he was with.”

I winced, recalling my earlier conversation with Levi about not being a one-woman man.

She continued, “Hell, she wasn’t the only onetonight. She wasn’t the one on his arm at the ceremony in front of the cameras. Tells you exactly where she stands.”

“Doessheknow she’s not the only one?”

---