Page 1 of Exes That Puck
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“Your ex won’t stop staring at me,” Payton says, flicking her manicured fingers in his direction like she’s shooing off a fly. She wiggles them with an exaggerated scowl. “He’s still staring. I swear, it’s creepy.”
Tori sips her drink and follows Payton’s line of sight. Emma’s head whips around instantly. Lola hesitates, pretending she doesn’t care, but even she caves and sneaks a glance.
I don’t want to look. I shouldn’t look. I didn’t come here tonight for him. We came for Payton and her wolf-boy mission. That’s it. Not for me. Not for him.
“Don’t look at him,” Tori warns me, though she can’t tear her own gaze away. “You need to leave him in the past.” She raises her voice, enough for half the room to hear. “He’s a toxic asshole, and you can do better.”
My chest tightens. My eyes betray me, skimming the crowd until they lock onto Zeke Wilshire. His dark hair falls over hisforehead as he lifts a beer to his mouth. When our gazes meet, he doesn’t flinch, doesn’t even pretend he wasn’t staring. He just looks at me hard and steady until every hair on my body rises. Then he flicks his attention to my friends and rolls his eyes, turning back to his crew like he couldn’t care less.
“Obsessed,” Payton mutters. “He’s literally so obsessed with you, Kare. You just looked away and he’s already staring again.”
Emma raises her brows and zones out at the ground, silent judgment dripping from her expression. None of them like him. They tolerated him when I was wrapped up in him, but nobody thought we were good together. They were right. We were gasoline and fire. Burning fast, burning hot, until we scorched each other to ash. I left because I had to. Because I couldn’t keep drowning in fights and tears.
“Once a guy starts telling you who you can and can’t hang out with, it’s done,” Tori says, turning her sharp eyes on me. “I’m proud of you, Kara. Don’t go back.”
I swallow hard, forcing a sip of my drink. I don’t remind her that I wasn’t the perfect girlfriend either. That most of those fights started because of me. That I hated how he made me, how he made me lose control until I felt like I was unraveling. None of that matters now. We’re over. And I need to keep it that way.
“Let’s just find wolf boy,” I mutter, scanning the room for the hockey player Payton has been obsessing over all week. She doesn’t even know his name. Just calls him wolf boy because of his blue eyes. He’s on the same team as Zeke. Same world I don’t want to be sucked back into. I never met most of his teammates. Zeke didn’t exactly encourage a social life outside of us. Which is why my girls are relieved to have me back. I was out of the loop for months.
“He’s not here,” Payton says, craning her neck. “Not yet anyway.”
“Okay,” I say, draining my cup. I grab Tori’s hand, tugging her toward the music. “So, let’s dance.”
The girls follow me, except for Lola, who announces she needs a stronger drink. The rest of us sway into the crush of the dance floor, hips catching the beat. I pull Payton close, grinding against her with a laugh. Tori jumps in, and soon we’re a ridiculous train of bodies, laughing, bumping, wild with the kind of freedom I almost forgot existed.
I throw my cup in the air, dancing like I don’t care, when Payton suddenly drops to her knees. She sticks her tongue out. Tori tips her beer over, pouring it into her mouth. Foam spills down Payton’s chest as she chokes out laughter.
I glance across the room. Zeke’s watching. His eyes are locked on me, daring me. My lips curl into a grin, and I sink down beside Payton. I stick out my tongue, letting Tori pour beer into my mouth too. Beer overflows, soaking my dress, dripping between my breasts, sliding down to where my thong absorbs the last of it. I choke, swallow, laugh. It’s messy and reckless and I don’t care. I hold his stare the whole time.
Lola appears with her phone, recording, yelling, “Hell yeah, girls!” She pushes me back down to my knees. Her eyes gleam with mischief. “He’s watching,” she whispers, low enough only I can hear. “Let’s give him a show.”
She tips liquor straight into my mouth. This one burns. I cough, but I stand, wiping my mouth. Lola leans in and kisses me. Warm, unexpected lips crashing into mine. My eyes go wide. My heart stutters. Shit. Everything about this feels wrong.
“Lola?” I gasp when she pulls back.
She just laughs, hugging me tight, whispering in my hair, “You’re welcome.”
Payton’s jaw practically hits the floor. My stomach twists. I don’t swing that way. Not like that. And when I lift my gaze, Zeke isn’t even watching anymore. He’s on his phone.
Which buzzes in my pocket.
Payton yanks me away, dragging me toward a corner. “What the hell was that?”
“I don’t know,” I mutter, head spinning. “I have no idea.”
“Don’t cry,” Payton says quickly, grabbing my cheeks. “Kara, don’t cry.”
I didn’t even realize tears were rolling down my face until she wipes them away. Violation burns on my lips, in my chest. I rip free from her hold and pull my phone out.
Zeke: You don’t need to do that to get my attention.
My eyes snap across the room. He’s staring again. My pulse skitters everywhere, betraying me. My phone buzzes again.
Zeke: So you’re gay now?
My throat closes.
