Page 107 of The Trade

Especially when I take note of the swarm of girls circulating around us.

It’s as though we’ve got some bright, glaring neon sign hanging over our heads, an irresistible beacon for every jersey chaser in the place.

Cradling my second beer of the night, I barely register the girl sliding into the spot beside me. The first thing that strikes me about her is her cropped black hair, sharp and fierce. It gives her an uncanny resemblance to a younger Zoë Kravitz.

The proximity, however, is not as appealing. She’s so close I can feel her warmth seeping into me, and it’s pretty fucking clear it’s no accident.

A wide-eyed glance in Cam’s direction pleads for help, but the bastard just winks back at me, thoroughly amused by my discomfort. Internally groaning, I inch away from the Zoë look-alike, a move that only prompts her to close the distance between us again. The awkward dance continues until a throat clearing to my side saves me from the embarrassment.

It’s our QB, Noah Elliot, whose voice cuts through the heavy din. “Look who just showed up.” His head nods subtly toward the bar entrance.

My gaze follows his indication, my heart hitching as it falls on those unmistakable dark curls, that breathtaking face. Those long, tan legs on display beneath a tiny skirt are a painful reminder of what I’ve lost.

“So much for getting back out there tonight,” Cam grumbles, the smugness from earlier replaced with a thin veil of sympathy.

“What the hell’s she doing here?” My demand comes out strangled, a knot forming in my chest.

“Fuck if I know, man.” He shrugs, looking as clueless as I feel. “You think Shan brought her?”

I strain to get a better look, recognizing the two girls who accompanied Jade to the scrimmage. “Nah, she’s with some other friends.”

“Just pretend like she’s not here.” Elliot’s advice grates against my already fraying nerves.

Easier said than done. Even in the jam-packed bar, Jade’s the only one I can see, the only one I want to see. Her presence seems to swallow the room, and memories flood in—tidal waves of recollection that threaten to drown me.

Her black attire, the cascade of curls down her back, the faint red lipstick accentuating her full lips ... lips that I used to know by heart. Fuck, how I miss kissing her.

I know it’s only a matter of time before she sees me, and the last thing I want is to be caught gawking like a lovesick fool. So, I tear my gaze away from her and back to my friends. I reach across the table and snatch Cam’s beer, downing it in two quick gulps.

“The fuck, bro?” he exclaims, looking at his now-empty glass with an accusing glare.

“Go get another one,” I bark, suddenly impatient. My wallet is in my hand before I can think twice about it, and I’m flicking my credit card at him.

Rolling his eyes, Cam pushes away from the table and ambles toward the bar. As he leaves, I can’t help but let my gaze drift back to Jade. She’s at the other end of the bar, clutching her cocktail in one hand, a radiant smile on her face as she absently twists a curl between her fingers.

As though drawn by the intensity of my scrutiny, Jade’s head jerks up, her eyes meeting mine. A jolt of recognition fires between us, searing through my chest. In this moment, where it’s just us, it feels as if time itself has stopped. There’s a pulse, an energy, a live wire connecting us, causing every thought, every breath to escape me.

Then, out of nowhere, the spell is shattered ... because Zoë’s hand darts up to fuck with my hair. My senses return as a surge of annoyance pricks my skin.

Twisting toward her, I manage to withhold a grimace, her brazen familiarity irritating me. I catch her wrist, removing her hand. “What are you doing?” I ask, my words clipped, every ounce of my attention already aching to return to Jade.

Her lips twist into a pout. “Sorry, your hair was in your eyes.”

“Sure it was,” I say dryly, letting out an exasperated sigh. I can’t help but cast a quick glance back to where Jade was standing, only to find that she’s already melted away into the sea of bodies. A bitter curse slips past my lips.

My eyes frantically skim the room, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. They halt abruptly at the sight of Jade. She’s sequestered some faceless man from the crowd and is now pulling him onto the dance floor.

Hell, no.

Ignoring the girl beside me, I make a beeline for the bar and order a shot of whiskey. I knock it back, my throat burning, my eyes never leaving Jade as she sways with the stranger. Her body moves against him, her arms coiling around his neck, the sight tearing at my insides.

“Bro, get it together,” Cam warns, materializing next to me, his voice strained with concern. “You’re making an ass out of yourself.”

“Does it look like I give a fuck?” I snap, snatching his beer again.

He grumbles something about me drinking all his booze. “You brought me here,” I remind him bitterly. “And now I have to watch Jade grinding with some asshole. I think it’s the least you can do.”

“Maybe it’ll help if you stop acting like her stalker.”

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