Page 15 of Calm Before the Score

I tilt my head back into his chest and let my body move with the music. My body responds to his touch and makes every decision for me. It’s not lost on me that everyone without a few feet shamelessly stare at Ryan and I. I’m not thinking about the consequences of the night or how he humiliated me with that text. Liza’s in front of me, giving the most embarrassing gestures of approval. She’s dancing with a group of girls I recognize from the back-to-school bash.

At the end of the song, his husky voice is in my ear again, “Come with me.”

He grabs my hand and firmly leads me off the dance floor to a less crowded area of the bar. I’m stumbling, and the room is spinning.I’m drunker than I thought.When we reach a place where I can hear him better, Ryan demands, “I need to know why you’re in that jersey, Violet.”

“Why do you care whose jersey I’m wearing?” I sass. I’m genuinely confused as to why this is the main topic of discussion tonight. Can he just stop talking and go back to holding me?

“It bothers me,” he says.

“Does it only bother you that it’s Locke’s jersey?”

“Yes.”

Between this jersey situation and truth or dare, I’m tired of getting in the middle of whatever issue Ryan has with Locke. His emotional whiplash is exhausting.

“Liza and I switched, ok? It’s not a big deal,” I answer.

“It’s a big deal to me.”

“Ok. Then give me a reason not to wear it.”Violet Evans, is that you or the liquor talking?

“Because Locke doesn’t deserve to have you wear his number, but keep it on if you want,” he says with a hint of anger and possessiveness in his voice.

My stomach flutters without permission. I turn to walk away because I’m beyond confused by his back and forth. I’m wasted and want to dance with my friend. I should have never danced with him or walked away from Liza. He took an ego hit when he saw me in Locke’s jersey and not his, the same way he intercepted our kiss at the party. If this is a point he needs to prove to himself that he can beat Locke, I won’t be the one he uses to prove it, nor will I be used by either of those two to assert their dominance over one another. I faintly hear him calling my name, butRaise Your Glassby P!nk just started, and I’m ready to dance.

14

Ryan

She’s the hottest girl alive, but she’s also got me ready to punch a hole through the wall. I was elusive, but what else was I supposed to tell her?

It bothers me because I only want to see you with my number on your back, and if I could rip that one off of you right now, I would. I felt better than ever having you in the stands with your eyes locked in on me.

That would have gone over well. Not to mention that we’re talking about my teammate’s honorary little sister. I already groped her on the dance floor. I need to screw my head back on, stat, but instead, I’m chasing her back onto the part of this place that I hate the most. I can’t stand to watch another guy dance on her. I know she can hear me calling her name, and she’s ignoring me.

She weaves through the crowd effortlessly while I shove people around to get closer. I’m close enough to see her with Liza and Hartley. Liza screams the words to this obnoxious song loud and proud. They’re all wasted, and I know this is going to become my responsibility sooner or later. Hartley is tongue-deep in the girl who was sitting on my lap an hour ago. Isn’t he supposed to be babysitting Violet? This isn’t my job, but I can’t walk away from her.

I swear to God, if any…just as the murderous thought enters my head, Mason swoops in and laces his fingers in Violet’s. Their faces are so close that they’ll kiss if he leans in more. Where’s Liza? I scan the bar to find her also tongue-deep with Locke.Typical.He’s too close. My breathing gets heavy, and the room blurs. I dart into the chaos and scoop Violet into my arms.

“We’re leaving.” Before she can answer, I have her wrapped around me in a bear hug. I head straight for the exit. Mason isn’t leaving with her tonight.I am.

“PUT ME DOWN! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO TAKE ME AWAY FROM THE PARTY! I DON’T WANT TO GO HOME!”

She’s trying to draw as much attention to us as possible outside of this bar. I need her to stop talking and get in my car. The last thing I need is Mason making a move on her. She’s wasted and more than willing to engage with his flirting, and Hartley is preoccupied.

“I’m taking you home. You’re drunk, and your two best friends have their tongues down other people’s throats at the moment.” Her small feet are kicking me now.

“I don’t care! That hot guy could have taken me home.”

“You want another football player to take you home? That sounds like an awesome idea. Hartley wouldn’t kill me or anything.” I never thought I would be someone who got into a screaming match outside of the bar, but here we are.

“This has nothing to do with Hartley, and you know it!” She can barely stand without stumbling. I need to take a different approach to get her in this car.

“Violet, please just get in the car. I want to make sure you’re safe and don’t do anything you’ll regret. That’s all.”

“I’m only getting in if you stop for snacks.” She crosses her arms over her chest and shoots me a pouty look.

I exhale a long breath, raking my fingers through my sweaty hair. “Fine.”

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