Page 28 of One Little Kiss
He’s so close I can smell his beer breath. Gross. But at least I can handle him. There’s no way I’m backing down.
I’m so focused on Brad, I don’t hear someone come into the room behind me until I’m gently nudged back a step.
I don’t see Elijah until his back is looming in front of me, blocking Brad from view as he takes over the small space between us. “Is there a problem here?”
I can’t see Brad because Elijah’s caging me behind him like he’s my own personal security team, and I swear I don’t even recognize my best friend’s voice right now. It’s a low growl that I’ve never heard before, not from him.
“We’re good man,” Brad says, his tone all pleasant again. Back to being a brown-noser now that the rich, influential host is here.
God, this guy is so cliché I can’t stand it.
“We just had a little misunderstanding, that’s all,” Brad continues. “Right, babe?”
He’ll be pleasant as can be to someone he thinks deserves respect…but that’s clearly not me.
I blink back this stupid urge to cry. The even dumber urge to wrap my arms around Elijah’s waist and rest my head against his back.
I am stronger than that, dammit. And I don’t need any guy fighting my battles.
But apparently I don’t answer quickly enough because Elijah’s up in Brad’s face, gripping him by the collar and lifting him so he’s on his tiptoes.
For a second all I can do is blink in surprise. Elijah doesn’t have a temper. I’ve never once seen him get in a fight or so much as threaten another guy.
“Hey, man, she’s just being dramatic,” Brad says. “You know how girls are.”
This can go two ways. And part of me—a big part of me—wants nothing more than to let Elijah fight this battle for me.
I’m tired. I’m so freakin’ tired all of a sudden, I just want to walk away, curl up in Elijah’s cozy bed, and close my eyes.
But…
I take a deep breath and step out from behind my friend.
“It’s fine, Eli,” I murmur.
I don’t know why I call him by his nickname. I almost never call him that and it feels weird to do it now. Like I’m talking to a stranger, or something.
But I don’t look at him. I turn to Brad and force a polite smile, “Brad was just leaving. The car I called should be here any minute.” I turn to Elijah but can’t quite meet his gaze.
Humiliation makes my belly twist and churn.
God, I think I’m gonna be sick. I need out of here. Now.
“Think you can make sure he catches his ride?” My voice is sugary sweet. Plastic. Fake.
But it’s my nice way of saying,escort this a-hole out, please, and we all know it.
I don’t wait for either guy to answer. I walk out before they can respond.
No, I strut out. I’m not my mother’s daughter for nothing.
I join a group of cheerleaders who are celebrating in the pool house. Dominic’s there too and he greets me with an easy grin. I find myself gravitating toward him because he’s not in the middle of a conversation and he’s way more chill than the girls who are downing wine coolers like there’s no tomorrow.
“You look like a bodyguard or something,” I joke, looking up at the towering guy as he hovers on the edge of the room.
He snickers and concedes with a shrug. “I guess I kinda am. Don’t want Jaz going nuts with the coolers, if you know what I mean?” He smiles at me and I’m internally “awwing” at the fact he’s a protective brother. That’s kinda cute.
“Need a drink?” he asks.
