Page 68 of Offsides

He taps his fingers on the table top. “What are we doing now exactly?”

Piper takes the remaining chair. “Well, Ellie is baking, I just started the coffee, and otherwise we’re waiting for the douchebag out there to either clear out on his own or get arrested.”

Jackson makes a face like he’s not a fan of this course of action. “Seriously? We’re just gonna wait him out?”

An incredulous look on her face, Piper glances between Jackson, Autumn, and me. “Do you have a better idea?” She spreads her hands palms up on the table. “Dani did her best to try to get him to leave, but he’s determined to make a scene. He obviously wants the attention. If we deny him that, he might go away on his own. I mean, technically he got what he came for. He said he wanted to talk to Dani. She came. She talked to him—or at leastathim. It’s not her fault he didn’t like what she had to say.” She turns to me. “Is he usually the type of guy who won’t take no for an answer?”

I shift in my chair, wishing the coffee were ready, and clear my throat. “Yeah. He’s never much liked being told no.” I lift one shoulder in a half shrug. “It was usually easier to just give him what he wanted.”

The look Piper gives me can only be described as horrified. “Seriously?”

Autumn clears her throat next to me. “I think it’s important that we focus on the fact that Dani is no longer in a relationship with him and also that she did an admirable job standing up to him today.”

“Here here,” contributes Ellie as she measures out the flour and adds it to the mixing bowl.

That provokes a round of subdued laughter, and then we all grow quiet.

In the silence that follows, the sound of raised male voices reaches us from the front of the house. Standing, I head through the living room, assuming the police have arrived to deal with Luke. Since he came to see me, I suspect they’ll want to speak to me.

But when I open the front door, the scene in front of me is the last thing I expected to see.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Eli

I have to admit that I’m more than a little disappointed about Dani’s departure. Climbing out of bed, I scrub my hands over my face again, trying to decide what to do now. I’d planned on taking her out for breakfast. There’s a diner not far from here that makes killer French toast, which I know is Dani’s favorite breakfast food. Thick slices of bread covered in powdered sugar, whipped cream, and berries is definitely not on the meal plan. But I have an overwhelming desire to spoil her, especially since I know no one’s ever really done it before.

Starting in high school, her life’s been all about discipline and making other people happy. I just want to make Dani happy.

While I know we can’t eat like this all the time, I feel a little bit like I’m making up for lost time. And also that I need to show her what she has every right to expect from a boyfriend. The kind of relationship that she truly deserves.

Pulling on a fresh pair of joggers, I shuffle out to the kitchen to stare at the pantry and the refrigerator. Should I just make myself some breakfast?

Probably. I have no idea how long whatever crisis her roommates are having is going to take. There’s no telling if I’ll see Dani again today at all.

That’s even more disappointing to consider.

My phone alerts with a text, and anticipation makes my stomach swoop. Could Dani be done already?

But no. It’s not Dani. It’s Jackson.

Jackson: I can’t believe you let her come here by herself. What the fuck, man?

Confused, I read his text a few times before taking out my response.

Me: she told me it would be better if I stayed home.

Jackson: and you went along with it? You let her confront her stalker ex by herself without putting up any kind of fight?

“What?”

Instead of typing out the many questions running through my head, I go back to my room and finish getting dressed, all thoughts of breakfast completely forgotten. As soon as I’m ready, I stuff my feet in my boots and grab my keys and coat and head out the door, barely remembering to lock it behind me in my hurry.

Dani’s ex is here? He came to see her? Jackson called him a stalker, but what if the real reason she didn’t want me to know he’s here is because she hasn’t actually gotten over him?

What if I was just a placeholder? Someone to fill in the gap until Luke decided he wanted her again?

Or worse, a way to get back at him since he brought his new girlfriend around at Christmas?

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