Page 27 of Catch Me

It strikes me then that no matter where the parties are at, they’re the same thing over and over again. People stick with who they know, talking, drinking, and dancing all night. People rarely intersect with another group, and when they do, it’s a shock. Or they’re drunk out of their minds.

Reid holds me close to his side. Being near him helps soothe me, especially when we’re here. This house reminds me so much of the type of person Sasha is. It’s like it holds monstrous, terrible secrets. Sure, it’s pretty on the outside, and the facade of the interior is made up like a showroom, but that’s all it is. A giant, designer piece to hide the ugly.

Unlike other parties, our first stop isn’t where the alcohol is. Reid’s not allowed to have any alcoholic drinks right now, so the rest of us abstain for other reasons. Me? I want to be sharp tonight. Make sure I’ll see Sasha coming if she does.

“I think I’m usually drunk at these,” Jules grumbles as we all hide out in a corner.

I laugh. She’s so right. This is a whole different lens to see things through.

“I’ll make sure you’re okay if you want to drink,” Cade says. He holds up his hand like he’s giving scout’s honor.

All of us look at him. I start to smirk, but there’s not a hint of insincerity in his words.

“Thanks,” Jules says. “But, I’m good.”

Cade looks away, watching everyone around us. I follow his gaze. A lot of the football guys are really partying it up tonight. The last few weeks without Reid were a bummer, or so I’ve learned. Now that they have a halfway decent quarterback back in the lineup, the mood is a lot happier. I turn to look at Reid, hoping being here around everyone celebrating the win he wasn’t a part of isn’t bothering him when from the corner of the dance floor, I see Oscar lead a stumbling Sasha to the center. She does one of her sexy tease dances, which looks a lot less polished than I’m sure she thinks it does due to her inebriated state. I look away, rolling my eyes. Oscar seems to be only half paying attention to her, but apparently, he finds something more interesting over in our group.

She follows his stare, and before I know it, a high-pitched, shriek cuts through the air. “What are you doing here?”

I close my eyes and breathe out. I don’t even need to look to know they’re coming this way. I was expecting this to happen. When I open my eyes, it’s not exactly all of us she’s looking at, it’s me. And maybe Reid.

“This is a football after party,” she sneers. Her gaze tracks up the arm Reid has around my waist, following it up to his face. “And you don’t even play football anymore.”

My blood boils. She can do what she wants to me, but not Reid. I step forward, and Reid’s hand tightens around me, but it turns out, I don’t even get to say anything.

“I invited them,” Oscar says, his voice cutting through the crowd. “Parker’s still on the team, Sash.”

Sash? Ugh. Pet names for someone like her are just gross.

“For now,” Sasha says, her scowl turning into a smile. Her lips lift too high at the corners so that she looks like a Cheshire cat.

I pull my hand from Reid’s grip and move forward, shoving Sasha hard. She stumbles back into Oscar’s chest. His hands go around her to keep her from falling, but I’m right in her face. “Hurt him again, and see what happens,” I threaten. My hands turn to fists. I’m not a violent person usually, but maybe the guys are rubbing off on me.

Sasha starts to struggle out of Oscar’s grip, but he holds on. When I look at him, his eyes are shining in excitement. “That was hot,” he mouths.

A hand falls on my shoulder. Oscar looks up, narrows his eyes, and then drags Sasha away. I lean into the hand, but when I turn, I realize it was Lex who followed after me. I pull away slightly and look at him.

He lifts his hand from my shoulder, and I return to the group, each of them standing there with their eyebrows raised. Reid’s eyeing Lex though, the area between his eyes pulling together in concentration as Jules gives me a beaming smile. “I like feisty Briar. She’s fun, and that was long overdue.”

“Feisty Briar’s got balls,” Cade agrees, raising his hand to give me a high five.

I reluctantly give him one even though my face warms in embarrassment and probably a bit of pride.

After he pulls away, his eyes round. “Holy. Shit,” he growls.

I turn to follow his stare and immediately recognize who’s stumbling through the party right now. My stomach bottoms out.

“Where’s Sasha?” the guy calls out, voice slurring. “I need to find her.”

I’ve seen him both in and out of his football pads, and each time, he looks like a piece of shit. The kind of guy who would take someone out for money or sex or any other damn thing Sasha promised him.

“That mother fucker,” Lex says.

Reid looks on. He doesn’t immediately get who it is, but I happen to look when it clicks into place. “That’s him?” When no one answers, he looks at me and asks again with murder is in his eyes.

13

“Sasha!” Richards yells again.

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