Page 14 of Replay

Exhaling heavily, I nod, and Cash walks up just in time for me to smooth out my pissed-off expression.

“Y’all good?”

“Yeah, as good as I’m going to be.”

“What happ—” His attention is drawn to the door that opens to our patio area, where his stepsister, Berkley, and Carter walk out to the backyard, joining the majority of the partygoers. “Shit, never mind. I will gladly tell Carter to kick fucking rocks if you want me to.”

“Nah, he would get too much satisfaction out of that. Dude has been trying to get under my skin since we hit puberty, and he finally found a way.”

My center walks up to me, right as I finish my sentence. “Hey, QB…my girl’s best friend was asking if you’re single.”

I chance one more glance toward Berkley…Come on, BB, look at me. Give me something.

“Yeah, I’m single, but unavailable. Thanks for looking out, Big John.”

If she doesn’t have blonde hair, blue eyes, glossy lips, and the initials ‘BB,’ I don’t want her.

“Probably for the best. She’s a bit of a clinger.”

We all chuckle at that.

When he walks away, Cash’s tone is low as he says, “Yeah, if you got it that bad, fucking another girl, no matter how many times, isn’t going to make you see anyone else but her.” I don’t miss the way Cash watches his stepsister when he says it and not his girlfriend standing just a few feet away.

“Yeah, I tried that and quickly learned that void could never be filled.”

Nothing would change my reality. Nothing would turn their brown hair blonde or their green eyes blue. No one’s smile would light me up with one glance.Nothing would make them her.

She walks back into the house as Carter talks to some of our teammates. Staring him down, I follow her inside. I know it won’t take him long to notice we’re both gone, but I don’t give a fuck.

“Can I grab a beer for Carter from the fridge?” she calls out to Graham, who’s talking to a girl I don’t recognize.

“Help yourself, B,” he says over his shoulder.

Standing back, I watch her open the fridge, trying not to stare at her cute bubble butt and failing miserably. I notice her pink painted nails reach for the Blue Moon.That’s right, baby…think of me.

With her lip between her teeth, she stares at it for a few seconds before putting it back and grabbing a Michelob Ultra instead.

I’m speaking before I can stop myself. “What? You don’t want to taste me on his lips?”

She jumps, turning to face me, but recovers quickly with a sneer. “That would mean I’d remember what you taste like… Sorry to disappoint.”

Her words break through me like hundreds of tiny shards, but deep down, I know she’s lying, what we had is unforgettable.

“So we’re going to play it like this, huh? Just going to walk in here and act like you don’t even know me. Like there aren’t a thousand memories between us.”

“Yep. Left those in Nori beach the day you walked out on me.” She tries stepping around me, but I move, blocking her into the kitchen. Berkley puffs up her chest and raises her eyebrow, letting me know she isn’t the least bit intimidated by me.

I want to reach out and touch her, but I remind myself I gave up that right two years ago, so instead, I ask what I’ve been thinking about all evening. “What about my note? Did you even read it?”

Still standing her ground, her clear blue eyes feel like they dig into me. “Yes, and fuck you and your questions. You being here is like a slap to the fucking face, Nate.”

It’s like a smack to the face to me too, BB. I wish she understood, but how could she? She has no clue.

“I know none of it makes sense, but that’s why I want to talk. I want to explain.”

Do I? Am I willing to tell her the truth? Fuck, it feels like it was all for nothing.

“Berk, you okay?” I hear Graves ask from right behind me, and I’ve had enough of him this week.

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