Page 45 of Counter Bet

Good question.

I sweep my gaze over their little group, wondering what possessed me to come over? I’m clearly very different from them. They probably don’t want me here, but I feel drawn to them for reasons I can’t explain.

“I don’t know,” I answer truthfully.

April lifts her chin, blowing smoke in the air.

“Lay off her, April,” Steph says. She smiles at me. “Ignore April. She needs to get laid.”

I return her smile and hold my hand out for the joint. “I changed my mind.”

April’s eyebrows shoot up.

“Let her have some,” Ben says, drawing his leg up and resting his elbow on the knee. I like his deep, baritone voice. That, and his tanned arms. Even his hands are sexy.

I reach out and touch his leather wristbands, tracing my fingers along his wrist. My eyes are drawn to the smatter of dark hairs on his arm.

He looks up in surprise.

I blush fiercely and draw my hand back. Sometimes I don’t think before I do stupid shit. “Sorry,” I mumble.

“It’s okay, princess.” He passes me the joint.

I take it gingerly and bring it to my lips. My palms are clammy with nerves. I mimick April and take a deep drag, inhaling the smoke into my lungs. I’ve never done this before, but some deep part of me wants to fit in with these people.

They all laugh when I start coughing violently.

My throat burns, and my eyes water as I hack up a lung.

Ben takes the joint off me and places it between his lips, his eyes crinkling with mirth.

The tip sparks orange.

Steph interrupts our moment. “Where’s lover boy?”

I reluctantly look away from Ben’s brown eyes, shrugging. “We broke up.”

Ben’s gaze warms my skin.

They all exchange glances, communicating silently. I try not to feel uncomfortable, but it’s difficult. I don’t know these people.

I worry my lip as Ben removes a piece of weed from his tongue and flicks it off his finger. “Is Dallas okay? I haven’t seen her around this week.”

A shadow crosses his eyes. He heaves his big body off the boulder, throws the joint down on the grass, and crushes it beneath his heel. “She’s unwell. She’ll be back next week if she’s feeling better.”

They leave.

Steph smiles at me as she walks past, and Matt puts his warm hand on my shoulder.

He squeezes gently. “See you around.”

I stare after them, feeling lonely and confused.

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