Page 61 of Shut Up and Score
I snort. “You practicing for your dating profile again?”
“Nope. Practicing for yours,” he shoots back, reaching to tug at my hoodie string. “Put ‘emotionally unavailable, but hot in the right lighting.’ You’ll rake in the lovers.”
I’m laughing despite myself. “You’re unhinged.”
“Obviously.” He leans closer, voice low. “But I’m fun. And hot. And I wouldn’t make you talk through feelings on an app like some emotionally constipated mystery man.”
He’s teasing. It’s safe. Light. But underneath it, there’s always the offer. A real one. Luke’s not just a flirt—he’s steady in a way most people aren’t. And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempted. But we're not compatible like that.
Before I can respond, I hear footsteps.
And then a shadow moves over us.
Colton.
He’s approaching with that casual confidence that used to make people shut up and shift over. But he’s quieter today. Tense around the eyes. Jaw tight.
He nods to Will and Ty, then glances at Luke and me. “Hey.”
Luke doesn’t move from his spot in front of me.
Will whistles. “Look who didn’t get murdered.”
Ty grins. “Did she let you live because you promised to cry about it on your insta?”
Colton glares at them but doesn’t deny it.
“She break up with you?” Will asks, as if he’s genuinely curious, or it’s asporthe’s placed a bet on.
“Didn’t know you were into public humiliation, Taylor,” Ty adds.
“I’m not,” Colton mutters.
Luke shifts on the wall, still straddling it, and leans in closer—his knees bracketing mine, one hand tugging gently on my hoodie string.
Colton’s eyes flick to the movement.
They drag over Luke’s hand, still holding onto me, then to the space—or lack of it—between us.
Something tightens in his jaw.
He doesn’t look away.
Good.
Let him stew. I lean into Luke’s warmth, and he grins as if he picks up on what I'm doing.
“You okay, Colton?” I ask sweetly. “You look like someone kicked your puppy.”
He levels me with a look. “Fine.”
Luke hums, still playing with the hoodie cord. “Fine as in emotionally devastated or fine as in you’re gonna cry in your Jeep listening to Drake?”
Will coughs on a laugh. Ty chokes on his Gatorade.
Colton doesn’t answer.
He just drops down onto the edge of the wall, pulling out his water bottle, jaw still locked.
