Page 39 of Spin The Bottle
“What?” she asks, lifting her head.
“I wasn’t drunk,” I clarify.
She laughs, pressing her hand against my chest. I feel her fingerprints for only a second before she removes them again, replacing the warmth of her touch with the coldness of her words. “Right,” she says not believing me.
“I didn’t have a lick of alcohol, Leila.”
She shakes her head. “You don’t need to lie to me, Aiden.”
“I don’t drink.” Her eyes narrow as she looks for any disbelief in my expression. She doesn’t find it though because I’m not lying.
“But… you work in a bar.”
My shoulders lift. “It pays well.” And it was the only job willing to accept me. “And you weren’t drunk either. You had one beer.”
“How did you—?” she asks, shaking her head. “How did you know that?”
My lips twitch. “Because I was looking at you all night,” I admit. “Couldn’t take my eyes off you.”
She gulps again, her eyes softening before she sets them back in place, giving me a look of indifference. “That doesn’t change anything,” she says. “I’m still not going to sleep with you again.”
I look down at her, wondering if it was all one-sided. Did she really not feel anything? “That’s it?” I ask her. “This is enough for you? One night and nothing more?”
She’s lying. She’s lying before she even speaks. But I see the resigned decision settle in her features, and she outright lies to me when she says, “Yes.”
“Well damn.” I take a step back from her, very aware of how little clothing I have on. “Then I guess you got what you wanted.” I hold the door open for her, watching as she turns back one last time before leaving my room. I push the door closed and blow out a breath.
This was good. This was a good thing. A smart decision. I can’t let myself get sidetracked by anything else. I got what I needed. She got what she wanted. And now we’re done with each other.
As it should be.
14
Bar fights and catcalls
The bar is packed.
My teammates are surrounded by drinks and girls—while I wish I was home. I need to be out here with them, celebrating, making sure the team is strong because, if not, then none of them will respect me.
“Want one?” I turn my head to Jordan, holding out his empty beer glass. “Lacy here was just about to order another round.”
I swallow, staring at the drink in front of me. “I’m good.”
“You never drink, Cap,” he says, the girl on his lap snickering into his neck. “What’s up with that?”
My shoulders lift in a shrug, avoiding his eyes and the girl laughing along. “We have a game next week.”
Ethan scoffs, and I twist my head towards him. “Such a pussy,” he murmurs. “You need to loosen up.”
My jaw clenches when the rest of the team quietens, all looking back at me. I knew I shouldn’t have come here. Today is my day off. The one day I don’t have to work at The Barrel Room and they drag me to another bar instead. Most of Redfield usually hang out at Murphy’s which is closer to campus and packed with athletes every night.
Seeing as I had to work pretty much every night, they started to get suspicious about my whereabouts, wondering why I would never go out with them, so here I am, hanging out in a bar with drunk girls and horny guys and I fucking hate it.
I grab my glass of Coke and lift it to my mouth. “I’m captain. I need to keep a clear head.”
Carter nudges me on the arm. “You good?” he asks.
“Fine.” My hands clutch the glass, taking another sip. “Just tired.”
