Page 38 of The Comeback Pact

She squeals. “Oh my God, that was so much fun!” She leaps into my embrace and hugs me tight.

“You killed it!” I tell her, strands of her wig getting caught on my lips. She smells like berry bubblegum.

Another excited screech empties from her mouth while she peels away. Immediately, she side-eyes the stage, though. “Have you checked out the competition?”

“What competition?”

Her lips curve into a smile, and she nods slowly. “Exactly what I wanted to hear.”

“Great job, Syd,” Aidan speaks up from behind her. He has a gorgeous smirk on his face, and his eyes are practically twinkling as he ogles her.

She turns toward him, placing her hands on her hips. He swishes his pom-poms, and they eye each other while his grin widens. The air between them crackles. Something will most definitely go down between these two. They both have that carefree spirit, but it makes me nervous for Sydney. Aidan is the quarterback of the football team. I’ve already expressed my reservations to her, but she dismissed it, saying, “If you get to have your hottie football player, I do, too.”

West places his arm around my back, startling me from my thoughts. He leans over and whispers, “I think we might have to make ourselves scarce tonight.”

My heart thumps wildly. His touch, his voice…God. It’s a lethal weapon. Every nerve ending is firing in my body, especially the ones between my legs. Being this close to him makes all those feelings more adamant.

“You think so?” I ask, leaning closer because I just can’t help myself.

His arm around me tightens. “I’ve seen that look on Aidan’s face before.”

“He won’t hurt her, though, will he?” I bite my lip, worry trying to edge through.

West pulls away, face tense. “Hell no. He’s one of the best guys I know. If he’s just looking for a hookup, he’ll tell her. If he wants more, he’ll tell her that, too.”

His stare makes me weak in the knees.

“Do you…do that?” I ask, suddenly needing to know. I don’t want to get hurt either.

He’s silent for a long time, jaw tensing and relaxing in increments. Over the last few weeks, I feel like I’ve gotten a good read on him. He’s calculated. He mulls his thoughts over, and I suspect he’s doing so now.

I just don’t know what the outcome will be.

My mom always said good things come to those who wait, and she’s right.

When West Brooks, star fucking player for the Warner Bulldogs, finally answers, I almost cream my panties. “If you’re wondering what I want from you, it’s everything. I want to date you. I want you in my bed. I want you at my games in my jersey.” His chest rises like he’s attempting to calm himself.

I need some of that, too, because I’m firing on all cylinders. He makes me feel like I’m staring down at the pool from the highest platform. In that moment, right before it becomes routine, my body is doused with adrenaline and my mind tells me that this is nuts. I’m surely going to hurt myself.

But here with West, I think the jump might be worth the risk.

“I…I like that,” I tell him, peering up to meet his intense green eyes.

His widen for a split second, but then his fingers tense around me again. He moves closer. We’re inches away, his hot breath fanning over my lips like the perfect precursor to a kiss. I close my eyes—

Aidan claps West on the back, making him lurch toward me until our noses bump. “What are we going to do next?” he asks with the worst timing in the fucking world.

I chuckle, leaning forward until I rest my head on West’s shoulder.

“I’m going to kill him,” he whispers.

“Get in line,” I mumble. My hands clench into fists, and I straighten them out to relieve the tension. This close. This fucking close to feeling West Brooks’s lips. To kissing him.

Another act starts up on the stage, pounding out a Lizzo tune.

“Well, I’m staying here to eyeball the competition,” Sydney says. Under her pink glitter eyeshadow, her eyes keep sliding to the stage.

Aidan throws his arm around her, looking chummy. “I’ll stay with you. You two?” he asks, turning his head over his shoulder to look at us.

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