Page 74 of Collide
“I lost my balance, and I couldn’t hold on. I’m so sorry, Summer."
Aiden’s jaw tenses as he lands a scathing glare at Shawn.
“It’s okay, it was an accident.” This is a stupid game anyway, and the only one I’m mad at right now is the guy unaware of anything but Cassie in his arms.
The host makes sure I’m not going to sue the place for injuries before he thanks us for playing. “We have our winners! Everyone gives a round of applause to Kian and Cassie!”
I realize Aiden must have left Amelia, so I made them lose too. The partial victory doesn’t feel good, but only because of the bruise forming on my back. When the crowd cheers, I’m off the stage and barreling through the lounge before Kian can rope me into something else. Metal doors screech when I exit through the back, and the February air cools my hot skin.
I’m calling an Uber when the door screeches again, and Aiden steps out. “You really wanted that date, huh?”
***
Aiden
BROWN EYES SHOOT me a glare that tells me I’m not on her good side tonight. Not that I ever am, but I thought helping her off her ass might have given me a few brownie points.
“No?” I smother a laugh. “It looked like you were falling for him.”
Her glare doesn’t go anywhere. “Funny.”
“No comeback? Are you feeling all right?” I bring the back of my hand to touch her forehead, but she bats it away. “If it helps, he feels pretty bad about dropping you.”
“I don’t blame him. I’m probably heavier than he expected,” she says. “But dropping me in front of all those people? Great for a girl’s ego.”
“That says more about his lifting capabilities than your weight. We both know how easily I can lift you.”
The reminder of how I held her body in my palms dances in the air between us.
Her gaze flickers before she drops it. “You left your date?”
“Amelia’s a beautiful girl, but it’s better if we part ways,” I say dramatically.
“Why? You were flirting with her the entire time.”
Summer’s magnetic pull brings me an unconscious step closer. “Focused on me, were you?”
“Hard to ignore that blinding douchebag smirk.”
“You’re really feeding my ego here.”
“My life’s purpose.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be nice? You’re giving a bad rep to Canadians.” With another step, I’m treading on thin ice.
Her back hits the wall this time. “Right, we have to be the nice ones so you can have free rein to be assholes.”
“I’m not an asshole.”
“I specifically recall ‘Fine, I was an asshole’coming out of your mouth,” she says pointedly.
“That was to get on your good side.”
“You’re not on my good side.”
“Really? Because I think eating you out for so long my jaw was sore should bump me up on your list.”
I bask in the way her breath hitches. “You’re…vulgar.”
