Playing the Game (Providence University #6) - Ali Parker Page 0,80
I was just looking out for her.” He turned and gave Avery a pleading look. “Right, Avery?”
“I don’t know. I thought you were kind of cute.” She put her arm around him. “I’m just having a little fun with my new friend.” She placed her other hand on his chest and stared me right in the eyes. She was teaching me a lesson I’d never forget. This was what I’d done to Layla, and now I knew how it felt.
“No, no, we’re just talking,” said Ben. “You know she’s not even my type. I mean, not that she’s not sexy. A lovely girl. What am I saying? You know she is, but all I’m saying is, I would never try to poach anyone from you, man.” He was so nervous if the music was lower, we might hear his knees knocking together.
I looked down my nose at him and puffed out my chest. “That’s not what I heard.” I just wanted to intimidate him.
“Well, you know how untrue rumors can be, right?”
“Yeah, I do.” I looked at Avery.
I noticed the crowd had quieted their chatter, and everyone was staring at me to see what would happen next.
Normally, I’d put someone’s fucking head through a window, but I had to behave, and I couldn’t let my temper get the best of me.
I put the beer down on the windowsill beside me and grabbed her hand. “Come on,” I said. “We need to go somewhere and talk.”
Avery pulled away. “I’m fine thanks. I’d rather not.”
“Dammit, Avery. Don’t do this.”
“Don’t do what? What you do?”
“We need to go somewhere and talk before we both make things worse.”
“Are you kidding me? As if it could get worse than this? You have no idea how mad I am at you.” She took off toward the kitchen.
I looked around the room at everyone who was getting an eyeful and saw Britany going in after her.
“Fuck,” I said. She was only going to make it worse.
I glared a Lizzy, who was on her friend’s heels and giving me a big shit-eating grin.
I hurried, catching up to her, stopping her before she could get in their way. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Me? I thought I’d go into the kitchen and get some popcorn for the show. Your little girlfriend has been all over that dork for the past hour, and I can’t tell you how amusing it is to watch Ben try so hard. Not to mention, it’s highly entertaining to see her fall, making a fool of herself just to piss you off, and, of course, the grand finale—when you fall for it.”
“Right. I’m glad my grief amuses you. You used to be a nice girl too. I guess I know where Britany gets her bitchiness.”
“Come on. Me and you used to have a lot of fun. We’re old friends. You know all about my influence.”
“Yeah, which is why you’re no longer my type. Come to think of it, when was the last time anyone actually wanted to date you?” I didn’t care if it hurt her feelings or not. I was pretty sure she didn’t have any.
She laughed, proving my point. “Aww, nice try. I’m still having fun. But I’m curious. Tell me. What do you want with her? Marriage? A family?”
“All of the above,” I said. “What’s the big deal? Maybe I think it’s time to grow up and settle down.”
“You’re not the type. And you’re wasting the best years of your life trying to be something you’re not. Let her go. Come back to the dark side with Britany and me. We have a few tricks left to teach you.” She turned up her drink and gulped it down. She gave me that devilish grin and held her hand on the door as if I’d have to go through her to go in.
Not a problem.
“Move.” I pushed her aside. I had to get to the kitchen.
They were going to tell her God knows what about me before I could set the record straight. I pushed the door open just to make sure Avery was okay, and when I did, Britany had her cornered on the other side of the room.
Avery looked up, and in her eyes, the pain was so great, I knew she’d never forgive me for whatever the girl had said. She’d never believe me, no matter how much I said I was sorry and no matter who told her it wasn’t true.