Page 16 of Shutout
I shake my head, forcing myself to stop thinking about him.
We start dancing and it’s worse than I imagined. Not only are we extremely uncoordinated and he steps on my boots. But also Jayden grabs onto my sides, hands sliding under my crop top without asking for permission instead of easing me into this with some finesse.
Damn it, I knew this was going too well.
I grab his wrists and lower his hands to my hips over my jeans. Cute guy starts looking less cute when, instead of apologizing, he gives me a look like this is just a game and slides his hands back up.
“Okay, let’s stop right here.” I step all the way back.
“Wait, I’ll play nice. I promise.”
That all makes me think he’ll do the exact opposite. I can’t see myself possibly kissing him now.
“Pass. It was nice to meet you, Jayden.” I turn to leave and the little shit grabs my side—again.
“It’s just—you’re so hot, I can’t help myse?—”
“She said no, asshole.”
I don’t have to turn to the third voice. Every cell in my body knows it belongs to Brooke.
No,Brooklyn.
Why the heck is he even here right now?
Jayden has enough cojones to glare at the star defensemanof the Thunder Bolts and all 6 feet and 5 inches, two hundred twenty pounds of pure lean muscle. “She was mine first, dick. Find your own.”
I blow a raspberry. “Dude, you wish.”
“Let’s go, Liv.” Goosebumps break all over my skin as Brooke whispers in my ear. But I’m truly toast when he grabs my wrist and twirls me around.
CHAPTER 7
BROOKLYN
“Yo, Tatum! Where you going? We need one more.”
I wave at Dane as Liv and I march by the pool tables. He shrugs and then works on recruiting one of the JV guys for the game.
“What the hell are you doing?” But even though her free hand grabs onto my wrist, she doesn’t dig her heels in to stop me.
The place is packed tonight, which stands to reason on the last Friday of freedom before the new semester. I don’t want interlopers for the talk Liv and I are about to have, so I navigate us through the bodies all the way to the back of the establishment, past the bathrooms and to the emergency exit. I know it doesn’t trip any alarms, because this has become my escape route every time I’m out-peopled.
A drizzle greets us outside in the back alley. Liv finally twists out of my grasp and I expect her to beat it, but when I face her, she’s still out here. Arms folded tight. Mean glare on her face. A strand of hair falls across her eyes and she puffs to try to move it. When that doesn’t work, she releases a hand topush it back, which messes her hair in a way that suits her more. Just like the black nail polish and the chunky silver rings.
The Olivia I know is back, huh? Freaking finally.
Mimicking her, I fold my arms too and her eyes lower to my tattoos.
“What the hell areyoudoing?” I spit right back at her. “Like, I’m glad to see you’re looking more like yourself, but shouldn’t you have learned the lesson? Stay away from douchebags, Liv.”
She scoffs in total disbelief. “And what gives you the right to say any of this shit?”
“I’m your friend,” I say through gritted teeth, pissed out of my mind that I can’t saybestfriend anymore.
“No, you’re just a stranger now so butt out of my business.” She starts for the door and I almost laugh when it doesn’t open.
That’s right, babe, one way only.
