Page 80 of Forecheck
“Do you know who I am?”
“Unfortunately.”
“Why is that unfortunate?” he asked, stepping closer. I yielded ground until my lower back pressed against the edge of a table. Bobal reached for a lock of my hair, twirling it around a finger. “We could have a lot of fun together.”
“I think you’re a dirty player. You’re notorious for dangerous hits and getting away with them. And I wouldn’t ‘have fun’ with you if you paid me.”
His scornful laugh sent a chill down my spine. He moved fully into my personal space and dropped his voice to barely above a whisper. “I could show you dirty. Way better than pretty boy Brent Jean ever could. I bet you’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
My skin crawled, and before I did something reckless like punch him or throw my drink in his face, Brent came to my rescue.
“I don’t think she would, actually,” he said, materializing from behind Bobal. Reaching me in two long strides, he shoved Bobal out of the way and drew me protectively into his side. Without looking at me, he continued, “Hi, baby. Are you ready to go?”
“Yes, please,” I said.
For the record, I needed to state that I could take care of myself. I wasn’t some damsel in distress that needed saving. But the look in Bobal’s eyes…I was thankful Brent had been my knight in black Armani.
“Aww, come on,” Bobal said to our retreating backs. “Things were just getting interesting.”
“Ignore him,” Brent said under his breath. I wasn’t sure if he was saying it for my benefit or his own.
As we moved through the crowd toward the exit, I said, “Do you see Lexie?”
Brent’s head swiveled left and right before he said, “No.”
My phone buzzed with a text.
Lexie: I’m back in the room! Gonna FaceTime Mitch, so don’t hurry back ??
“Oh, that was her,” I said. “She’s back in the room, and told me not to hurry back.”
“That’s perfect,” Brent said, reaching down to lace our fingers together, “because I wasn’t planning on letting you out of my sight for the rest of tonight.”
My skin tingled in anticipation. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
My phone buzzed again.
Lexie: Actually, stay with your boy tonight. Mitch is here
Me: Like…in Vegas?
Lexie: Yes in Vegas ?? he surprised me.
“I guess I was going to have to stay with you tonight anyway,” I said, holding my phone out for Brent’s inspection.
“Damn,” Brent said. “Showing up unannounced? He totally stole my move.”
I rolled my eyes, but a laugh escaped me anyway. “I think it’s sweet.”
“Sweet?” Brent said with a raised brow. “Those two are an explosion waiting to happen.”
“You really think so?”
Brent nodded. “I realize I don’t know Lexie that well, but from what Idoknow, and given that Mitch is my best friend, I can tell you that’ll end one of two ways.”
“Okay, I’ll bite.”
“An epic breakup the shockwaves of which will be felt by anyone close to them—us included—or they’ll fall ass over head in love and gross us all out forever with how obsessed they are with each other.”
