Page 62 of Keep Your Guard Up
I matched thunder with thunder, boom for boom. Over the laughter, the banter, and jokes happening in the other room.
You’re not what she wants, mate. Get over it.
So why the fuck couldn’t I?
Chapter 33
Mari
“He’s not usually so grouchy,” JJ said to Beau as we passed by the old church on the way to Rusty’s. “Someone just burnt his toast this morning.”
His eyes flicked over to me; I narrowed my own on his.
“What are you suggesting?”
“I did not say nor imply a thing,” he stated, turning his nose up and refusing to make eye contact.
“Ignore him,” I told Beau. “He has nothing going on in his life at the moment, so he feels the need to psychoanalyse others.”
“Not true! I have things happening!” JJ whined, while Beau choked on his own laughter.
“Such as?”
“Lynnie and Chance slept together!” he rushed out, eager to change the subject.
“I knew it! I knew you were behind some little stunt when you dragged me onto the dance floor last night!” Beau pumped his fist in the victory of putting two and two together.
“What stunt?” JJ asked.
“Trevvy here dragged my ass onto Moonies’ d-floor last night and a certainsomeonedid not seem very happy about it.” He smirked at me, sage green eyes alight with amusement.
I stiffened my face, hoping that I wasn’t wearing the sudden panic that rushed up my spine.
Shit.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Did he know? Did he see Chance follow me into the bathroom?
“Didshe now?!” JJ practically launched himself onto Beau’s shoulders in excitement. “No wonder he was a cranky bastard this morning.”
“Oh, great. Nice going, Trevvy. Now one of the top UFL stars hates me,” Beau whined.
“What?!” I gaped. “Why would he hate you? He doesn’t evenknowyou!”
“Doesn’t matter, Mari!” he groaned, giving a ‘silently cursing the world’ look to the sky. “I touched what’s his. I’m lucky he didn’t rip my hands off this morning!”
“I am not his!!” I screeched.
“Yeah, you’re lucky he just threw his little temper tantrum and went to hit the bag,” JJ said at the same time.
“Yeah, I could tell,” Beau replied. “That dude is seriously shitting-my-own-pants terrifying. There’s something in his eyes, I’m telling you. Like … like he looks straight through to your soul or something.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself. I’d drowned in those eyes numerous times already, and that was exactly what it felt like. When Chance’s eyes were on me, he wasn’t just looking at me. He was looking through me, straight into who I really was.
“You’ll be right, mate. He’s a big softie at heart. Besides, he wouldn’t doanythingto get into Lynnie’s bad books.”
JJ winced at the glare I shot him.
