Page 24 of Revenge Puck

Based on the furious look on Christian’s face as Elle went toe to toe with him before she walked away, I’m guessing she’s not asking him about getting back together.

Tonight, if she shows up to hang out with me, I’ll find out what he said. Until then, all I can do is wait.

And while I wait, I go through the hundreds of notifications waiting for me on my phone, and then respond to each and every comment that is rude to Elle.

8

Preston

Ikeep searching the crowd below the club’s VIP section, waiting for the beautiful blonde woman who is a fucking genius manipulator. Most of my teammates are either at the bar drinking or on the floor drinking and dancing. Neither of those things are for me. I only came out because I want to see and talk to Elle for more than two minutes at a time.

When I finally spot a pretty woman walking in alone, her long blonde hair falling over her shoulders, I’m almost certain it’s Elle. She changes her hairstyles more than most women change their clothes.

My heart races as I head down the steps of the second floor to greet her.

Her head turns this way and that, searching for me, too. When she sees me approaching, she smiles like I’m her favorite person in the world. Which is ridiculous since we haven’t even known each other but for a few hours.

“You came,” I shout over the music.

“I did, mostly because you invited me, remember?”

“I know. I just wasn’t sure if you would show up. Want to head upstairs where it’s a little quieter?”

“Sure.”

As soon as we’re past the bouncer at the roped off VIP section, I take a seat in one of the purple leather booths and Elle slides in next to me.

“It is quieter up here.”

“Yeah, that’s why I like it.” Already, just by having Elle sitting next to me, I feel calmer. Less volatile. What is it about her that puts me instantly at ease in a way I’ve never felt before? Right now, I can’t take my eyes off the specks of glitter glistening on her cheeks, forehead, and nose. I don’t even consider telling her because they’re too damn cute. If I had to bet, they came from when she was making my sign.

Suddenly remembering that this is a fake date, I figure I should at least pretend to be a gentleman. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“No, thank you. I drove so nothing but water for me tonight.”

“I don’t usually drink during the season, either.” Or the off-season, I don’t bother to mention before I signal the waitress over. “Can we get two glasses of water, please?”

“Sure thing,” she says before hurrying off.

Once she’s gone, I glance around the room to the people nearby. Everyone, teammates and non-teammates, are either hot and heavy in make-out sessions or close enough to be whispering in each other’s ears. I wouldn’t mind doing either of those things with Elle, but first I can’t help but break the silence by asking what’s been festering in my gut for more than an hour. “I saw you talking to Riley after I got on the bus.”

“Oh. Right.” Elle nods and tucks her hair back behind her ears with a bright, proud smile. “He blamed me,us, for how badly he played tonight. Needless to say, he was not happy withme fraternizing with his enemy. He actually forbade me from seeing you again.”

I’d love to see Riley try to tell me to stay away from Elle. “And yet, you’re here with me now, so you obviously took his decree to heart.”

“I told him he doesn’t get a say in who I talk to anymore.”

“Good. Screw him,” I remark. Still, I can’t help but point out a discrepancy with Elle’s claim to be just Riley’s meaningless flavor of the month. “I think you undersold your relationship with him.”

“What do you mean?”

“He was furious, Elle. Clearly, you did more than just date a few times.”

She shrugs and says with a heavy sigh, “He never cared about me. He said so himself. Our time together obviously meant more to me than it did to him.”

“Oh yeah?”

Jesus fucking Christ.

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