Page 28 of Rivals

“Rathe has been guarding you like you’re his shiny new toy.”

I shake my head and roll my eyes. “He has not.”

Trevor scoffs. “He has and you know it. I can understand and respect it. This group of guys can be questionable at times, especially when a beautiful woman is around. Plus, you're his teammate so of course he’s going to look out for you. That’s something I'm sure he learned from Chris.”

“So, are you saying that you aren’t like the rest of the guys in this room?” I question him.

“On many levels I am but not when it comes to women.” Trevor and I talk for a good while, until my feet begin to ache from the heels I’m wearing. It’s then that I realize Rathe has never returned and the worry starts to set in. I scan the club below, like I could possibly find him in the sea of bodies in the darkened room.

I abruptly cut Trevor off. “I’m sorry, I need to go down to the ladies’ room.”

“No problem. Do you know where it is?” he asks.

I lie and say I do. Let’s be honest Trevor is a nice guy, but I don’t trust him, and I don’t want him following me. Even if I really did need to use the restroom, I’m sure I could find it on my own. I turn on my heels and leave the VIP area. Once I reach the main floor I begin to search. At the end of the bar, I catch a glimpse of a familiar shirt and I sigh in relief. However, my relief is short lived because as I get closer, I notice the girl sitting beside him with her hand resting on top of his. Some model type with a pixie haircut and a too lean body. Instantly, I feel embarrassed for being worried about him and coming to look for him. I knew better. I dig my phone from my clutch with the intention of calling Evanna, but the time quickly stops me. There’s a chance that she could be in bed, fast asleep, even though it’s still early in California. Besides, she can’t tell me something that I already know. I look back at Rathe and model girl one more time, burning and committing it to my memory before I turn around in search of the bathroom. It looks like I need some room to breathe after all.

Twenty-Nine

Rathe

I don’t know what causes me to look up towards the balcony as I leave the restroom. Maybe, because my body seems to be so attuned with Sutton’s. It’s almost as if I’m subconsciously seeking her out at all times. It gets frustrating now that I realize what I’m doing. Before I kissed her, I had no clue, it was easy to ignore the gnawing in the back of my brain telling me I was actually wanting her. After I kissed her, there’s a constant reminder that I can’t shake. My mind stays wrapped up in her. It’s distracting. So, when I looked up to the balcony and saw Sutton standing there with one of Burnout executive douche bags, that little green monster called jealousy reared its ugly head.

I spin around and stalk towards the bar. I need a damn drink and Revv-It doesn’t like us to drink too much at events which I understand but these are unusual circumstances for me. The bartender quickly pours my double shot of whiskey which I down in two gulps. My intention is to return back to the VIP room, but a woman who is nothing like Sutton comes up to me. By most standards, she’d be pretty, maybe even gorgeous but right now to me, she’s nothing. Nothing compares to the dark haired, blue gray eyed beauty currently standing upstairs flirting with some wannabe big shot.

The immature, prideful part of me wants to make her feel the jealousy I’m currently feeling in my veins. Sarah, the girl who came up to me, is a model and will do the job just fine. We quickly find a seat at the corner of the bar, tucked away from most wandering eyes. I keep an easy eye on Sutton from my seat on the stool. So, the moment she steps away from the balcony I expect to see her come downstairs. I’ve been gone long enough to make her wonder but there’s a second there that I think she might not be coming down. Maybe, she isn’t as concerned about me as I am with her. Maybe, it’s completely one sided. Then I think back to the kiss we had just a few hours ago and I know better. I know it’s not one sided, it’s just not allowed.

Sutton is easy to spot, even in the darkened sea of people as she enters the main part of the nightclub. My eyes are instantly drawn to her, but the moment she starts to scan the area I advert my eyes to Sarah. If she notices my quick change in demeanor she doesn’t let on. If anything, it encourages her. It never fails to shock me, even if it shouldn’t, how quick the opposite sex will jump once they recognize you. This girl for instance is so desperate for my attention she’s willing to settle for me when clearly my mind is somewhere else. It wouldn’t take a detective to figure that out. All she would have to do is stop throwing herself at me and pay attention to what my actions are saying. She’d quickly follow my line of sight and see that I’m following Sutton’s every move. However, Sarah doesn’t care.

I can almost feel the shock that comes off Sutton when she discovers I’m sitting here with another woman. At first, I mentally pat myself on the back for accomplishing what I wanted. I wanted to catch her off guard but sadly I can’t witness her reaction. I can’t see if she’s green with jealousy. However, when I look up and search out Sutton, I realize she’s gone. My eyes continue to wander around the club in search of her until Sarah runs her fake fingernails up my arm. I pull away and turn back to look at her. “I should get going.”

She gives me a coy smile and normally I would be overly excited about this but not tonight. “Where are you going? We’re just getting started.”

“Maybe you’re just getting started but I’m leaving.” I stand up and start to walk away when her hand wraps around the belt loop in the back of my pants, pulling me back towards her.

“Are you wanting to be chased? Is that the game you like?”

I shake her hand off and spin around to face her. She really thinks I’m trying to play with her right now. “I’m leaving. It’s not a game. It’s not a joke. It’s not anything except that this isn’t happening.”

She pouts her lips which are probably just as fake as she is. “Baby…”

I hold my hand up to silence her. “No, move along.” I stalk away from Sarah and head straight back to the VIP room. Jowanna is busy on her phone as always, but it’s Sutton that shocks me. She’s in the middle of the executives. The young one that she had been talking with at the balcony is sitting beside her, too close if you ask me. His hand on her knee. Laughing and carrying on a conversation. She’s clearly not nervous anymore. Jealousy surges through me once more.

As I look around it seems like maybe I made a fool out of myself by trying to protect her from the creepy man earlier. Maybe, I misread her reaction because she certainly seems comfortable now. I grab a beer and make my way over to them. I take a seat towards the outside of the group and Sutton smirks in my direction. Son of a bitch, I missed it all. She’s been up here winning over the executives of a tire company. Securing her spot in the Indy racing industry. She’s playing the role she gets paid for, while I’ve been running around trying to make her jealous, losing my chance to get the executives on my side. I can daydream about Sutton all day long, but at the end of it...she’s my rival.

****

The limo ride back to the hotel was quiet. It felt tense to me, but I doubt Jowanna noticed since she was busy on her phone the whole time. When we pull back up to the hotel Jowanna looks up. “You guys did great tonight. Don’t forget to set your alarm for tomorrow and memorize your script before you get there.”

Sutton and I both nod. Neither of us look at the other one. The three of us take an elevator up to our floor. Jowanna says good night as we pass by her and she ducks into her room. Sutton and I, alone in the hallway, however things are so different from where they were a few hours ago when I had her pressed against the door. My mouth molded to hers in a way that I’ve never experienced before. Now, there might as well be an entire ocean between us.

We reach Sutton’s door, and she slips her key in and waits for the light to flash. She looks over her shoulder. “Goodnight, Rathe.” She disappears inside and I’m left standing in the silent hallway, staring at the door that is currently keeping me from what I want. I pace the floor a few times before I cross the hallway and go into my own room. I need to get to my shit together and forget about these feelings I have developed towards Sutton. Standing under the scalding hot water of the shower I try to list the reasons why I need to forget about this attraction I have for Sutton. I stand there repeating the same few reasons over and over until the water runs cold. Finally, I step out and pull on a pair of clean gym shorts before heading to the king size bed.

As I pass the connecting door of our rooms I pause. If I could just explain to her why I’ve been so hot and cold maybe, then she’d at least understand, but would it really do any good? I run a hand through my damp hair. I swear I have never been this way over a girl before, not even when I was a teenager.

I’m standing there trying to decide what I should do when there’s a light tap on the door. So, light I wonder if I’ve imagined it. I move closer and wait to see if it happens again. A few seconds later another light tap. I unlock the door and open it.

Sutton stands there in a pair of tight red shorts, that cling to her body like a second skin and a black tank top. Her hair is still down but her makeup is gone. She looks even more beautiful than before if that’s possible. Her nose is currently buried in a stack of papers, so she hasn’t even looked up yet. I’m allowed a few moments to just study her. “How am I supposed to know which part I’m supposed to say tomorrow?” She looks up, a perplexed look on her face. Her eyes widen as she takes in my appearance. “Oh goodness, were you sleeping? I didn’t even think about that.”

I shake my head. “I wasn’t sleeping. I just got out of the shower. Is that tomorrow’s script?” She nods her head yes, her eyes still wide. “Your part should be highlighted.”

---