On The Rebound (Steinbeck U #1) - L.A. Cotton Page 0,22

them. Calli looked all kinds of awkward at first, but with a little encouragement from Josie, and Preppy, she began to find her confidence. She threw her head back, letting it land on the guy’s collarbone as she continued grinding against him.

Fuck.

My nails dug against my palms as I clenched and unclenched my fists. She looked so fucking sexy. Tempting and teasing. Her eyes fluttered closed as she lost herself to the music, the guy’s dick digging into her ass, no doubt.

My skin grew hot, vibrating with pure rage.

Mine, a little voice whispered.

But she wasn’t mine. She hadn’t been mine in a really long time.

I needed to get the hell out of there.

Before I could leave though, he spun her around and leaned down, brushing his lips over hers. Calli hesitated, her hands pushing against his chest. It was only a small action, but it was all I needed.

Shoving my way through the bodies, I grabbed his shoulder and yanked. “Take a hike, fucker,” I sneered.

“Fuc—Messiah? Zach Messiah?”

Shit.

This wasn’t good.

People started looking. I felt the weight of their stares burning into me.

“And you.” I jabbed my finger at the guy trying to mack on Josie. “Do you have any idea who she is?”

“Zach, don’t you dare,” she seethed.

“Wait, you know him?” The guy balked.

“She’s my teammate’s little sister, asshole. And unless you want the entire team here, I suggest you take a walk.”

The guys glanced at one another before shaking their heads and backing off.

“What the hell, Zach?” Josie batted my arm. “That was completely... Wait a minute, you didn’t do that for me, you did that—”

“You should go find Joel,” I barked.

“Joel?” she hissed. “I’m not going.... oh.”

I finally looked at Calli. She’d wrapped her arms around her waist and was staring at me like she didn’t recognize me. And maybe she didn’t.

After all, I was different.

But so was she.

“I’ll give the two of you some space.” Josie glanced between us. “See you tomorrow.”

“What? No!” Calli said. “We should go.”

Josie grabbed her hand and pulled her to one side. I watched, rubbing my jaw, trying to work out some of the tension. I half-expected Calli to refuse to come with me, but she didn’t. Josie hugged her, and then Calli stormed past me, making a beeline for the door.

Letting out a harsh breath, I followed. I was an asshole, yes, but I wasn’t about to let her walk home alone. The second I stepped out onto the sidewalk, she was all up in my face though.

“What the hell was that, Zach? Do you have any idea—”

Grabbing her wrist, I yanked her around the side of the bar into the dark alley. “Watch your mouth,” I snapped, feeling a lick of irritation zip up my spine. “I saved your ass back there and you know it.”

“S- saved me? You have got to be kidding me. I was dancing... dancing, Zach. Do you have any idea how deranged you are?”

“He was practically dry-fucking you right there in front of everyone.”

“It’s college,” she cried. “I’m supposed to get dry-fucked on the dance floor.”

My nostrils flared as she narrowed her eyes at me. Closing the space between us, I crowded Calli against the wall, not stopping until a gasp fell from her lips. “Is that what you want? To be someone’s fuck doll? To spread your legs and let some guy, some preppy fucking asshole, get you off? You’re not that girl, sweet pea, and we both know it.”

Anger simmered in her eyes. “You have no idea what kind of girl I am, Mr. Hotshot Basketball Player.” She practically spat the words at me.

Calli hated basketball the way Californian’s hated winter. She blamed it for ruining her family, for taking away her brother.

But what she didn’t realize was, it wasn’t a basketball thing, it was a human thing.

People made choices. They decided who to love and what relationships to nurture. They decided how to prioritize their time and who to let into their lives.

Basketball wasn’t selfish or arrogant or narrow minded.

People were.

And she was right up there with the worst of them.

“Oh, I remember, Calli.” I let my mouth linger near the corner of her lips. “I remember how you like to give it up to monsters hiding in the dark. I remember exactly how you taste, how your breath hitches right before you come. I remember every single thing.”

I wasn’t being fair.

Calli was a good girl. She liked rules and validation and order. But that night, last Halloween, she’d been reckless. She’d