Never His Girl (Kings of Cypress Prep #2) - Rachel Jonas Page 0,78

before. It feels like… maybe… it wouldn’t suck so much to be his girl.

Chapter 30

WEST

Dane and Sterling told me not to hover, so this is me not hovering—watching from a booth in the corner, like the stalker Southside’s turned me into. Yes, she agreed to be here with me tonight, but my brothers’ advice was to remember I don’t own her. Let her breathe, have space.

She’s been on the dance floor for maybe five minutes and, already, guys are moving in on her sexy ass. She’s only dancing with Joss, not paying anyone else attention, but I see them all. Thinking of how they’ll make their move, thinking she’ll spend the rest of tonight naked, tangled in their sheets.

Over my dead fucking body.

I exhale a sharp breath and lean deeper into the seat, catching Dane’s wide grin when I do.

“What?”

He shakes his head. “Nothing. Just observing.”

I glance over at him. “Am I a fucking sideshow exhibit to you?”

He’s laughing now. “Sort of. It’s just interesting to see how you behave in a relationship. You know, this being your first and all.”

I wince, and the sick feeling that follows has nothing to do with Southside, but has everything to do with my aversion to that word.

Relationship.

Dane’s damn right when he says I’ve never been in one. May as well say I’m allergic to labels and everything that comes along with them. The obligation. The expectation. And eventually, the disappointment.

Fuck that shit.

“You honestly gonna deny Southside hasn’t successfully trapped your ass?” he jokes. “Look at you, dude! You look like someone just stole your favorite toy. Used to be a time you knew how to party, have a good time. Now, you’re keeping an eye on your girl, making sure guys like the old you don’t push up on her.”

“The old me? What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” I snap.

He doesn’t even flinch at my harsh tone. Instead, he laughs again before saying two words that ring inside my head long after he says them. “You’ve changed.”

Bullshit, I have.

He seems to notice the look of denial on my face.

“If I’m wrong, tell me how long that girl in the corner’s been eyeing you?” he asks.

I turn when he says that, only now noticing who he’s talking about. She’s on a stool at the corner of the bar with a group of friends and, yep, she’s eyeing me. I know the look. It’s the one girls give when they think they can handle me, only to learn they’re usually dead-ass-wrong about that.

Now that she thinks she has my attention, she smiles a little, pushing the length of about a hundred tiny braids off her bare shoulders. Her dark skin glistens beneath beams of blue and pink light shining down from the rafters, and it isn’t lost on me that she’s beautiful. All that’s covering her tits is a halter top, and her midriff is somewhat exposed, down to where a pair of high-waisted jeans cover the rest. She’s curvy in all the right ways, but Dane’s right. I hadn’t even noticed her before he pointed her out.

“The old you would’ve been all over that, had her pinned to a bathroom stall, and been back on the prowl by now. But the new you?” he says, shaking his head again. “Guy’s not even interested.”

Fuck. He’s right. About all of it.

My gaze shifts back to Southside, seeing one of the asshats who watched her from afar has gotten ballsy, dancing close, but not quite grinding on her. Not yet at least.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lie.

Dane gives a casual shrug. “Okay. If you say so.”

Bass rumbles and Southside’s hitting every note of it, moving those damn perfect hips with impeccable timing. She’s a wet dream in skinny jeans and red heels, but there’s more to her than that.

She’s more loyal than anyone I’ve ever met—which is more than apparent with how she cares for her sister. She’s smart and resourceful, wise beyond her years. And she’s got an amazing heart. Must, if she forgave an asshole like me.

Doesn’t take long to realize I couldn’t care less about what Dane thinks or if he’s expecting me to do exactly what I’m about to do. I’m done watching other guys think they have a chance with Southside, knowing that, if she’s saying yes to anyone tonight, it’ll be me.

I’m out of the booth, knowing Dane’s talking shit in his head, but who gives a fuck. I know what I want, and all