Page 67 of The Penalty

“Then you know what you have to look forward to if you say a word about that.”

“It is true! I knew it.”

Great. He had suspicions before, but now he knows for sure. I’m dating Beau’s sister. Behind our captain’s back. Behind my best friend’s back.

The room has gotten progressively louder as people get drunker. I keep a watchful on everyone because drunk people are unpredictable, and I hate surprises. But my main focus has been watching Cece flit all over the house. She wiggles her hips, dancing with Georgia, then she’s in the kitchen. She flits out back and then in. She’s like a bee, bouncing from flower to flower to fill up her hive. The complete opposite of me. I’m usually happy to sit back and watch things unfold at these kinds of parties. But tonight, I’ve been gravitating to whatever room she ends up in.

The only time I step away is to hit the bathroom and when I get back, she’s on the dance floor again, arms twined around some skinny dude’s neck.

A dark haze clouds my vision, and I lock on them, about to head over there to tell him to remove his hands before I do it for him when Cole appears behind her. He taps her shoulder, and she immediately forgets about the guy, spinning around and clapping her hands. She cranes her neck to peer over Cole’s shoulder at Jazz.

Cece is fanning her neck as the three of them make their way through the crowd and out the front door. I take a sip of my coke, letting the bubbles burn the back of my throat, and glance around the room. It’s packed with sweaty bodies, and I spot a handful of my teammates, but they all seem to be occupied.

I find myself pushing away from my spot planted against the wall and drift over by the front window. Cool air sneaksthrough the cracked window washing over my heated skin, and I glance out toward the porch.

Cece is talking animatedly with Jazz, hands flying. The bottle she’s holding in her hand slops over the edge a little and she giggles. She looks so hot in the Spider Gwen jumpsuit that hugs every curve of her delicious body. Her eyes are shining and there’s a huge smile on her face. I take advantage of the moment to observe her unnoticed. Tracing her features, learning each line.

“What’s up?” The loud voice in my ear is accompanied by a rough slap on my back.

I turn toward JJ, irritated at the interruption. He’s grinning and bobbing his eyebrows. “See I knew it.” He turns his head to follow my gaze, and my stomach dips again. If I’m being so obvious that JJ notices, it’s possible some of the other guys have noticed as well. And that would be bad.

“What the fuck was that comment about earlier?” I glare at him.

He throws his hands up in the air. “I did that for you. Misdirection. You ever watch Penn and Teller? Beau got all angry at me. Hopefully, it kept his attention on me tonight, so you could ogle his sister to your heart’s content.”

My mouth drops open. Fucker is way more devious than I thought. “Don’t talk about her like that again. I could punch you, or I could let her do it herself.” The color leeches from his face. “But thanks.”

“You’re welcome. Haven’t seen Beau around for the last hour. I think maybe he’s tapped out and gone to hibernate in his room.”

With that, he smiles and wanders off to find a new adventure. Would not have thought about him as that observant, but he is a goalie, and they’ve got to be aware of the puck every single moment of the game. I’m impressed, and a little curious why he’s got so much invested in my love life.

When I turn back to the window, Cece is gone. Now I’m just being a creeper, spying on an intimate moment between Cole and his girl.

“What are you looking at?” That’s the voice I’ve missed all night.

She presses up behind me, looking over my shoulder to see what’s got my attention. “You were spying on me.”

“There’s a nice breeze here.” It’s not a lie.

“And a great view?” She’s agonizingly close. The heat from her body warming my back, but not in the icky way of the rest of the crowd. Her warmth is welcome.

“Not anymore.” The admission slides out easily.

“I knew it. I’ve barely seen you all night.”

“Is that why you were dancing with that asshole?” There’s more anger in my tone than I intend. But I can’t help getting heated again at the thought of her dancing with another guy.

“Smoke screen. Dancing with other guys to keep Beau’s attention off us.” She’s in on the conspiracy too.

“You and JJ been plotting together?”

“JJ? No. That’s your goalie, right? Barely know the guy.” She tugs on my arm, trying to spin me around, but I resist. Because if I turn around and see her standing so close, I’m not sure I’ll be able to stop myself from kissing her right here.

“He knows.”

“He knows what?”

“About us.”

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