Page 46 of IOU

She takes a long pull from her straw. “I am scarce.”

An incredulous snort escapes my lips. “The sidewalk is still in the complex.”

“You didn’t specify the parameters. You only said I needed to be out of the apartment.” She grins as if she’s won this debate and swipes a hand through the water before letting the droplets drip into her navel. “It looks to me like I’m outside of the apartment.”

My teeth grind, and the muscles in my jaw work to keep me from shouting at her. “You’re drawing a crowd,” I grit, enunciating each syllable.

“Am I?” She feigns concern, and my patience lowers to negative seven. “Well, we certainly can’t have that.” The water sloshes as she pulls herself up, her tits bouncing with the waves, and tosses the tumbler at my feet. My pants are doused with water. It’s not amusing. But then, she extends her hand, and like a fool, I take it, allowing her to pull me closer, nose to nose. “Tell me something, Maverick.” I hum out a nonanswer, trying to keep my eyes from drifting lower. “Look closely. Do you see two shits or a fuck anywhere in my eyes?”

I rear back at her words. Did she—

“I don’t give a shit that I’m drawing a crowd,” she lashes out, shoving me away. “This is my apartment”—she eyes the vacant spot next to my car—”and my complex. I am not moving just because your little friends can’t focus on their game of Go Fish.”

She wobbles on her float, and I realize she’s drunk. And not only that, she’s a mean drunk. “How much have you had to drink?”

I snatch my hand from hers and grab the now empty box of wine. No wonder she tossed the tumbler—she was out.

“Get up,” I growl.

Her pupils are wide, but her glare is firm. “No.”

This cannot be happening.

“Get up. I won’t ask you again.” I’m not known for my hospitality.

She laughs, a throaty sound that shoots straight to my dick.Now is not the time, dude.“You don’t scare me, Maverick. You men can’t hurt me anymore. I won’t let you!”

I’m going to carve my initials into Tucker’s skin until the only thing he sees in the mirror is the horror of my name.

“Is that what this is all about? Fucking Tucker?”

I can feel the weight of the stares on my back.

“Are you honestly drinking yourself into a stupor because cocksucker Tucker upset you? Again. What did he do this time?”

Her eyes turn glassy, and her lip begins to quiver.

“Don’t you fucking cry over that asshole,” I demand. “He’s not worth it.” And frankly, I can’t take much more crying. Never in my life have I lost so much sleep worrying over someone. And she’s only my roommate.

“He proposed to her,” she finally mumbles out through tears.

I release a harsh breath and run my fingers through my hair. The game is about to start.

“Get out of the pool, Ainsley.”

At my stern tone, she snaps out of her crying and levels me with a look. “No.”

I can’t very well leave her out here drunk and in a bikini. God only knows what would happen. College guys are creatures of convenience. A pretty girl, wet and crying? Yeah, she’s like a bloody heart tossed into a den of wolves. “I’m not going to ask you again.”

She turns her face away and slides her glasses back over her eyes. “Leave me alone, Maverick. Go back to your game.”

I hear chuckles above me.

That’s it. Fuck it. I asked her nicely and look at where that got me—pissed off.

I crack the bones in my neck and take a deep breath right before I stomp on the edge of the plastic pool, sending the water rushing through my legs.

“Are you fucking crazy?” Ainsley shrieks, trying to stop her float—and her body—from going with the current and right into my clenching hands.

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