Page 108 of Text Me Baby One More Time

She’sgorgeous—stunning, even. Her photos on social media don’t do her justice. Her dark hair is pulled into a messy braid that’s sitting on her shoulder, and her green eyes are so much brighter than I could have imagined.

I shake myself from my stupor and fix my eyes on Allie, willing myself not to glance at Denny again.

“What are you doing here?”

I know what the fuck she’s doing here. I’m just biding my time, making this last as long as possible because apparently I love to torture myself.

She just stares at me, so I step aside, waving them in. “He’s in the back.”

I don’t miss the look Allie gives Denny, or the one Denny gives her before she tries to catch my eye.

I don’t let it happen because I know I’ll break if it does.

With a sigh, Denny grabs Allie’s outstretched hand and lets her best friend drag her through the mass of bodies.

I let them disappear into the crowd, watching her as she’s swallowed up by the crowd.

I need a moment. I need to think. I need to make sure.

No. No thinking. Just do it.

I march toward the back room, determined. The guys in the room eye her, and I want to punch every fucking single one of them.

Instead I lean against the doorframe, my arms crossed over my chest so my fists don’t snake out on their own.

“Who you here with, doll?”

Doll—ugh. Fucking pet names.

“I’m with—”

“She came with Allie,” I interrupt.

I don’t know why I say it, but I can’t take it back now, especially not since I can see the hurt in Denny’s eyes.

She doesn’t like that I didn’t say she’s here with me. In fact, she hates it.

Good. Maybe I can make her hate me too. That’ll make this easier.

“Yep.” She points a shaky finger at Allie. “I’m here with her—onlyher.”

Her words sting, but I don’t let it show.

I can’t. Ihaveto walk away now. I don’t have a choice. It’s either break it off now or go down in flames, and I’ve never been one to play with fire.

“Since you’re free, you want to dance?”

She glances to me again.

I don’t back down.

“Sure. I’d love to,” she says, a cheery fake smile on her lips.

He pulls himself from the chair. “I’m Cade.”

She slides her hand into his extended one, and the contact makes me reel. It’s even worse when he pulls her toward him and she crashes against his chest.

He grins. “Just thought we’d get that out of the way before we go make sweet love on the dance floor.”

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