Page 34 of The Breakaway

And then we were off, the ball ricocheting between us like a tiny missile. Rob played hard and fast with sharp angles and vicious spins that sent me scrambling.

“Did you bring in a ringer?” Crystal teased when Rob scored first.

Rory winked. “Rob comes over every night to practice. We’ve been planning this for weeks.”

I laughed and chanced a glance up at Rob. Nothing. He looked anywhere else but not at my face. Crystal dropped the ball in, and we continued on, shrieking and cursing our way to fives. Maddie, Mark, Nick, Axel, and a few of the other guys stood behind us, far enough not to get elbowed but close enough they could commentate on the game and shit talk.

“Weak!” Mark cupped his hand to his mouth since we definitely couldn’t hear him from a foot away.

“You girls need to get the ball onthisside of the table. Rob’s getting all the action,” Rory teased.

“Heeey, just like in real life.” Axel held up a hand, and Rob reached up to slap it.

“Oh yeah?” I blurted before I could stop myself. Maddie passed me my cup and I took a drink.

Rob finally looked up, meeting my eyes. “You know me. Out every night.”

I pursed my lips. So. I hadn’t lived that down. “You always go to their house?”

Rob raised an eyebrow. “You wouldn’t know if I brought them home. You and Logan are always spirited away in your bedroom.”

I scoffed. “We are not.”

He reached back to the window sill where he’d set his beer and took a swig. “That’s how Logan likes it, so that’s what Logan gets.”

My insides twisted. “It’s what I like.”

Rob set the bottle back on the sill. “Ah. Right. Thrilling.”

The Outlaws laughed, and my cheeks flushed. I clenched my jaw. “It just takes time when a man can last more than thirty seconds.”

Rory clutched his chest, throwing his head back and laughing, but I was locked on Rob. His eyes hardened, and his shoulders tensed. “Without mentioning himself? Absolutely.”

My eyes flashed. What exactly was he trying to accomplish? He acted like he hadn’t cradled me in his arms in my bed or broken the skin on his knuckles because a douchebag grabbed my wrist.

A thought crashed over me, fanning across my skin. What if he would do that for anyone? What if I just happened to be the girl having a panic attack, the girl who was stupid enough to walk across campus alone after dark?

“I have to go.” I let go of the handles and stepped back. Maddie frowned, standing from the couch.

Crystal might have been following, but I wasn’t sure. I was so sick to my stomach, my vision blurred.

I wanted to be special to Rob.Part of me, not so deep down anymore it seemed, wanted him to notice me. To care enough to hold, to protect,becauseit was me. Not just some girl.

And the fact that I wanted that—that I hoped for it—made me a despicable human being.

I was dating Logan. I shouldn’t give a damn what his roommate thought of me or whether he noticed that I’d worn my tight jeans today or that my underwear was still sitting in the dryer.

“What’s wrong?” Maddie grabbed her purse and followed me to the door.

“Can I stay at your place tonight?” I asked, reaching out for the door handle.

She frowned. “Yeah, but?—”

“Thanks.” I pulled the door open and strode toward the stairs.

Chapter

Fourteen

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