Page 69 of Reconciling With the Rival

“Yup,” he tells me as he takes another sip, his eyes drifting to the girls behind me. I can tell when he notices Paige, because his eyes soften the tiniest bit.

Disgusting.

“She judged me before she knew me,” I tell him.

“Really?” He looks surprised. “That’s not like her. Usually, she judges you after she knows you.”

I laugh at that, because I’ve seen it happen in real time. Ella had one conversation with this new coordinator at work and put him on her shit-list immediately. According to Adam, he made some sort of sexist comment.

That got him onmyshit-list too.

“Yeah. Day one of our internship, she hated me as soon as I walked in the door. I have no explanation about it either.” And I don’t want one. If she made her decision in a split-second about who I was, then I don’t care to change her fucking mind.

“Huh,” is all Oliver says.

Grant returns as he says that, and as soon as he puts the drinks on our small table, Ella and my sister slide in, take one of the shots from him, and head back to the dance floor.

Typical fucking Ella.

“I can go get some more,” Grant offers as he looks at my face—clearly being able to sense my annoyance.

I take one, loving the burn that coats my throat before I turn and look at where Ella’s dancing. “It’s fine, Grant.”

“So, did Oliver tell you about the time he was arrested?”

I spin around. “What?”

“I’m going to the bathroom,” Oliver says as he downs his water. “Make sure no creepy guys touch Paige. You’re dead if someone does, Grant.”

“On it! Although, you should really stop saying things like that because of your record— And he’s walking away.” He turns to me. “It’s a great story.”

The song changes toThe Wallsby Chase Atlantic as Grant starts telling me the story of how Paige and Oliver ended up in the middle of an active murder investigation during their senior year.

But I’m not paying attention to him—a really fit guy is dancing with Ella, and as if she can sense me staring, she turns her head ever so slightly so my eyes now lock with hers.

It just got a thousand degrees hotter here. She may be dancing with some prick, their bodies pressed together, but her eyes are onme.

And that’s all that fucking matters.

Is she doing this to get my attention?There’s no fucking way. She’s trying to mess with my fucking head or something, and I hate to say that it’s working. If I had less self-control, I’d be on that dance floor, picking her up, spanking her in front of everybody, and taking her somewhere where I could fuck her out of my system one more time.

The guitar solo starts to play, and suddenly, all I can think about is Ella underneath me. She looked fucking fantastic with my cock in her mouth, and I wouldn't say no to it happening again.

No. I need to get it together.

But our eye contact isn't helping, and I won’t look away first. God knows Ella would hold that over my head too.

I take another shot as Grant finishes his story and Oliver gets back to the table.

“Excuse me, gentlemen.” I don’t bother waiting to hear what they say as I head toward Ella. She split off from the other girls, so it’s her and this prick in the corner of the floor.

“Leave,” I say as I reach them.

“Leo—” Ella’s voice is laced with annoyance.

“Now,” is all I say as I stare at the guy. He looks between the two of us, shakes his head, and walks away.

“That was rude. I was getting somewhere with him.” She looks up at me as if she didn't want me to come over here. Her eyes were practically fucking me, and I know she wants me to dance with her, even if she would never outright ask.

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