On the Sideline (BSU Football #3) - J.B. Salsbury Page 0,53
ruining my night…again. Irritated as hell that I actually feel a little sorry for the rejection I see in her eyes. In the living room I don’t sit because I won’t be here long enough to get comfortable. “What?”
She clears her throat. “I am sorry for what I did to you at the formal.”
I lift my brows because I don’t believe her.
“I had a feeling Loren was seeing another girl and when I got confirmation that not only was he interested in someone else, but my own cousin, I lost it a little.”
“A little?”
“Okay, a lot.” She paces a few steps, turns around, then paces back again. “Do you remember Peter Ashbury?”
“Of course.” Peter was my very first boyfriend. He came from a family with money and we spent summers together at the country club. I was fourteen and he was fifteen. He always said he liked me because I wasn’t like other girls. We’d hunt for bugs and keep them in jars with holes popped in the lids. The 4th of July we snuck off to the golf course to hunt for frogs, he kissed me under the fireworks and told me I was his girlfriend. The next day, he treated me like I didn’t exist. I was wrecked for months. I finally couldn’t take the torture and told my parents I was sick so I wouldn’t have to go to the country club for the rest of the summer.
“I, um…I knew Peter liked you and I didn’t understand why he’d like you and not me. He told me you were his girlfriend and I kissed him. I won’t get into the details but we did a little more than kiss and I made him promise we could keep hooking up as long as he never spoke to you again.”
“Why would you do that?”
She juts out her chin, but her lip quivers. “Because you were right, I don’t like to lose, especially to you.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
She blows out a breath and then nods. “I guess I’m telling you because it hit me today, seeing the way Loren stuck up for you, the way your mom refused to give you the benefit of the doubt, I remembered what I did to you with Peter and…” She shakes her head. “You’re a better person than I am.”
“No shit.”
“If you want to come back to Eta Pi—”
“Never.” I laugh, but the sound lacks humor. “You kicking me out is the kindest thing you’ve ever done for me.”
She cringes. “For what it’s worth, I’m happy for you and Loren.”
Emery comes walking into the living room, her cold expression such a contrast to her pink seersucker dress, pearl necklace and silk scarf in her hair. She aims her steely blue eyes at Riley. “Are you thirsty?” She offers her a strawberry daiquiri. “I made this one just for you.”
Spider comes racing in and wraps his wife around the waist from behind. “Nope. You don’t want to drink that.”
Emery is as stiff as a mannequin as Spider backs out of the room with her, Emery’s outstretched hand with the drink still aimed at Riley until they’re around the corner and to the kitchen.
“She seems nice,” Riley says with a hesitant smile.
“You should go.” The last thing I want is her starting to feel too comfortable around my friends. I appreciate her apology, and her confession, but it’s going to take some time before I ever trust her again. I may never.
Loren stalks into the room and stands at my side. “You heard her, she asked you to leave.” He must’ve been listening around the corner the entire time, probably ready to jump in if our talk turned physical.
Riley tucks her chin and shuffles to the door. Loren and I watch until she’s gone and only then can I finally relax.
He slings an arm around my chest and kisses the top of my head. “You okay?”
“No.” I turn to him and smile. “I’m hungry.”
He smiles back and takes my hand. “Let’s eat.”
Loren
Her boyfriend.
That’s how Bex introduced me to the doorman, concierge, and elevator attendant at The Walden Luxury Condominiums.
My boyfriend, Loren.
Damn if hearing that doesn’t swell my chest and give me a case of the goofy-grins.
The second the elevator doors close, I pull her against me and kiss her.
“Whoa,” she says, breathlessly. “What was that for?”
I shrug a shoulder feeling a little vulnerable, which is so lame, but I have seriously fallen hard for this girl. “I’m your boyfriend.”
“Oh,” she frowns. “Is that