Page 35 of Play Fake
“So, what do you think? Wanna go upstairs, or we could go out to your truck, wherever you—“
A crash of something next to me distracts me for a flicker of a second before I refocus my attention on her.
Everything goes to war at once in my head and in my conscience. I’d hoped for months she’d break up with Ezra. Every little spat I’d heard them have had sickly gifted me with the hope this girl I’d been lusting after would come find me for a rebound. After our night out, I’d waited for her to ask for this, and hoped for her to see me as something more.
But knowing she’s far too drunk. Knowing she’d likely regret everything she just said first thing in the morning. Knowing she just sees me as a fuck that would erase her ex. I couldn’t.
Even if my pathetic little heart wanted what little she was willing to give because I know being used by her would be better than most of the sex I’ve had in my life.
Each second that ticks by makes her smile fade with doubt, and I can tell the silence is crushing her. So, I have to say something. Something honest even if I don’t want to. Rip off the Band-Aid before I do something stupid.
“I think it’s probably not a great idea, Mac.” It takes every ounce of decency in my body to say it.
“Wow,” she rears back like I’ve just slapped her.
“You’ve had a lot to drink,” I try to explain.
“When has that ever stopped you before? You hookup when you’re drinking all the time. I’ve seen it.” She crosses her arms over her chest.
Another crash beside us, and I am fairly certain Liam and the hockey player who was eyeing Olivia have smashed into a coffee table. As his bodyguard on and off the field, I really need to intervene before I have to explain how I let our star quarterback end up with a broken throwing hand. But I can’t stand the way she’s looking at me. Hurt and disappointment dancing behind her eyes like I’ve let her down. I hate it.
“They… they’re friends and we’ve discussed it when we’re both sober. It’s like a friend with benefits thing and…” I'm mumbling because I have no idea how to explain this to her. How they’re so much different from her.
“Uhhh Waylon,” I hear Ben next to me, his hand on my shoulder, trying to get my attention on the elephant in the room, the quarterback sized one smashing faces and coffee tables.
“Wow. And what I’m not good enough for friends with benefits then? Guess she was right after all.”
My eyes break with hers for just long enough to see Liam’s fist rear back and collide with the hockey player’s jaw. A jaw that looks sharp enough to break his hand, and our hopes for making it to the finals.
“I can explain in just a minute.” I look pleadingly at Ben, willing him silently to watch Mac, so I can get these two fuckers in separate penalty boxes.
“Hey Mac, how about we get you some water?” Ben asks helpfully from my side, hoping to pull her away, so I can break the insane fight that’s broken out in the living room.
“Sure,” she smiles at him briefly before her eyes flash back to me, hurt and anger written in every flicker of her eyelashes. “And don’t bother. I can find someone else.” She turns her back to me just as Liam and the hockey player stumble into me, knocking me off balance.
“ENOUGH!” I shout, loud enough to get their attention. I place myself between the two of them and put one hand on each of their chests to keep them separated.
“You both need to get a fucking grip. Whatever shit you’ve got going on, nothing is worth either of you being sidelined or benched for it. So, knock it the fuck off!” I bellow, knowing it’s the only way to get through to two guys who are this drunk and pissed off.
Liam and the hockey player glare at each other over my shoulders. Liam’s chest huffing and puffing as he tries to control whatever rage has bubbled up, and the hockey player wiping a streak of blood that’s come tumbling out of his nose.
“Seriously!” Olivia yells. “What the hell is wrong with you, Liam?”
Liam looks about as rough as I feel as his eyes meet with Olivia’s, and he shakes his head.
“Just listen to me—“ he starts.
“No! Leave us alone!” She shouts back, tucking an arm around the hockey player as she turns her attention to him. “Hey, let’s go get you some ice, okay? I am so sorry about that.”
They disappear from the room, and I glance back over my shoulder to look for Mac, who is currently talking sweetly to Ben, her hands wandering and her eyes sparkling with interest. The way she always looks at him. He’s trying to comfort her without hurting her feelings, gently putting distance between them.
In normal circumstances, Ben would probably play along enough to boost her ego. I’ve seen him do it a million times with other women. However, given his little act earlier, I’m pretty sure he realizes Mac has a vice grip on my heart and my balls. But she doesn’t know he’s being a damn good friend, and I can see the hurt flicker across Mac’s face as she’s rejected a second time in the same number of minutes. Even though I’m glad Ben is such a good fucking guy, I hate it hurts her.
Which is why I am completely blindsided when Liam pushes past me and grabs Mac by the waist and pulls her to him, slamming his mouth against hers. Her fingers splay across his chest, panic momentarily flickering across her face before she does the unthinkable and fucking kisses him back.
I freeze and just stare for a long minute, watching his hands roam her body and his mouth work over hers, before I can even think of reacting to it.
“Absolutely-fucking-not!” I roar before I can think of a better plan for breaking up whatever the fuck is playing out right now. No fucking way is this soap opera happening on my watch.
