Page 15 of Huge Games

"Ellie would probably disagree in this situation."

I cock an eyebrow, surprised. "Why?"

"Because I should be talking you down from going ahead with these revenge games. I should be encouraging you to see it as a waste of your time and energy and get you to focus on moving on."

"I am moving on." I fold my arms across my chest, resentful of imaginary Ellie for her negative assessment of my decision-making. "This is an excellent way of moving on. Elias helped me so much."

As soon as the last part is out of my mouth, I regret it. I don't want to sound manipulative. Whether Dornan intends to go as far as Elias did with me is up to him. I'm not pressuring anyone to have sex with me if they're not crazily up for it.

"Elias is out for himself."

"Dornan, that's not very nice."

He shakes his head, and his nostrils flare. Down, boy. "You know Elias. He never has anything good to say about anyone."

"He had lots of nice things to say about me."

"Because he wants to get his dick wet."

I bristle because, even though that might be true to a certain extent, I think Dornan is being tougher on Elias than is justified. "He has a big brooding bear thing going on, but I've never heard about him being a dick."

"He was a dick about Ellie when it got around about her fooling around in the closet with the Townsend Triplets."

"He was?"

Dornan nods. "He was asking them about it in the locker room."

"Asking them?"

His shoulders stiffen. "Yeah. Poking his nose in where it doesn't belong."

"So, he was curious? Did he call her names?"

"No."

"Did he make bad insinuations about her?"

"He started talking about stepsister porn."

"Sounds like he was trying to be funny."

As we pull up a little down the road from the bar, Dornan unsnaps his seatbelt. "He was trying to get under their skin. I don't like that shit."

I pull the sunshade down to check my face in the little mirror. My make-up is still perfect. Ready for the second phase of this operation.

"Well, he's been supportive of me. Maybe he's turned over a new leaf."

We step out of the car, and our eyes meet over the roof. "He'd have to turn over a new forest to make up for his past assholery."

I slam the door shut, watching another couple head down the road to the bar with their arms wrapped tightly around each other. I look back and find Dornan watching them, too. "It's not like you to be vindictive."

His eyelids lower a little, then he shakes his head. "I just don't want to see you hurt."

When he rounds the car, I glance around to make sure no one's looking. Then I hitch up my dress. "You see these. These are big girl panties, Dornan."

His eyes almost bug out of his head at the sight of my black lace thong, but I think I've made my point. Before he has a chance to fix his shattered brain, I drop the fabric and link my arm through his. "Let's get some drinks, shall we?"

It's weird hanging out with Dornan without the rest of the crew. Weird and easy. We never seem to run out of conversation, maybe because we know so many of the same people and have shared a lot of time together because of his friendship with Ellie. In contrast to Elias,Dornan keeps a respectful distance while we sit across from each other at the bar. Some of Eddie's crew are seated in a booth across the dance floor, and I've already noticed them looking our way. Being out with Dornan is good, but it's not good enough. I need to be seen with his hands on me if Eddie's going to believe that this is anything more than two friends catching up over beer and cocktails.

---