The Sophomore (College Years #2) - Monica Murphy Page 0,49

on the football team is a break from real life. From making decisions that only involve me.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand straight up. I can smell Ellie. Her delectable, unique scent. I can also feel her anger. It’s a palpable thing. Aimed straight at me.

“Putting some of my tips to use, huh?”

The words fall out of me before I can even think.

She comes to a complete stop, glaring at me. “What do you mean?”

“Flirting it up with ol’ Carson over there. How convenient that he showed up tonight,” I mutter.

Ellie comes right up to the bar, standing to my left. I glance up at her, noting the shrewd look on her face. I think she has me all figured out.

Fuck, I hope not.

“Didn’t expect you to show up either,” she says.

I lift a brow. “I am your ride, after all.”

“You’re early.”

“I wanted to chat up Chuck.” I wave a hand toward him. He laughs.

“Right.” She draws the word out, like she doesn’t believe me.

This is the game we’re currently playing. We’re lying to each other. I’d bet major money that she hasn’t kissed three other guys. The story about making out and getting felt up with the fictional Justin?

All bullshit.

Gave me the excuse to feel her up though. Her tit fit perfectly in the palm of my hand. She shivered when I kissed her neck, and slowly but surely melted beneath me.

I’d also bet major money that it would be good with her. I could make her come easily with a few strokes of my fingers. What would she do if I put my mouth on her? Damn, what would she look like on her knees in front of me, her mouth stuffed full of my cock? Holy shit, that would be a sight to—

“Have fun talking to Chuck,” she says to me. “I still have a least an hour left before I can clock out.”

She walks away and I watch her go, appreciating the little twitch her butt makes with her every step.

“She’s a good girl,” Chuck says once she’s out of earshot.

“Yeah, she is,” I say miserably as I turn to face him once more.

“Your friend?”

I nod.

“She wants more though?”

I nod again.

“If she were my daughter, I’d tell you to stay the fuck away from her,” Chuck says, not holding back whatsoever.

“I get it,” I say morosely. What he speaks is the truth.

Ellie should stay the fuck away from me.

“She’s the type who goes all in. You’d probably break her heart,” he continues.

“I know.”

“She’s also the type who’d do her damnedest to please you for the rest of your life. Which would have you wanting to do the same, just to earn that sweet smile of hers again and again,” he speculates.

“You’re probably right.” There are girls you fuck around with and girls you revere and put on a pedestal, because you know they’re not built for that.

And that’s Ellie. She’s not the girl you have a casual thing with. She feels too much. She’d fall too hard.

“Don’t mess with her head,” Chuck says, his voice stern, reminding me of my father. “Don’t be telling her you want something more when you don’t.”

“Relax. I’ve got it under control,” I say, flashing him a smile.

He scowls at me in return.

Guess that charming smile only works on the ladies, not middle-aged bartenders who know what I’m all about.

I turn and watch Ellie unabashedly as she works. Carson and his friend eventually leave, and of course, Ellie talks to them before they go, but they’re too far away so I can’t hear what they say. She watches them go, a wistful look on her face and I remember when she used to look like that over me.

Seeing her face, watching her with that Carson dude, reiterates what I already know.

I messed up with Ellie. Big time.

The front doors are eventually locked and the open sign turned off. Management lets me stay because Chuck vouches for me. I keep out of the way as the remaining employees wipe everything down. Ellie and another girl hurriedly mop the floor—what a shit job. Chuck does a thorough clean-up of his bar space.

I sit there like a prince and watch the servants work, like the spoiled brat I truly am. I’ve never had to hold down a job such as this in my life. I worked the dock at one of the resorts on the lake back home the summer between my junior and senior year, but that wasn’t hard work