Page 15 of Scoring the Player
“I’m so glad you came out tonight.” Daisy leans her head on my shoulder and sways us to the beat of “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley. “I’ve missed you.”
“Mhmm. I bet it was just terrible without me,” I say dryly and glance toward Jordan’s hand. It hasn’t moved from her thigh since they sat down, and they kiss every few minutes.
She smiles. “Not terrible, but I did miss you.”
“Same.” And I did miss hanging out with them. Even being the fifth wheel isn’t so bad. I like both Jordan and Gavin, and I’m getting more comfortable around them. When Jordan first started coming over to our house, I couldn’t talk to him. Sadly, my ability to talk to guys isn’t that much better when I’m not interested in them. Though it’s certainly not as bad as trying to talk to someone like Felix, who makes me feel…everything.
By the time Jane takes her first break, The Hideout is packed like I expected it would be.
“You were incredible,” Violet tells her as Jane slumps into a seat at the end of our table.
She gulps down an entire glass of water before speaking. Her blonde hair is pulled up into a tight, high ponytail that makes all her sharp, angular features look amazing. “Thank you. Any more water? I’m dying. I should have hydrated better today.”
“Jane!” Eric motions for her to come over to where he’s standing next to their bassist.
She looks longingly toward her empty glass.
“I’ll get it. Go be a rock star.” I shoo her away and then stand to head for the bar.
“Thank you, groupie.” She kisses the air and turns on her very high, very expensive Jimmy Choo heels.
I momentarily forgot what a feat it’ll be to get to the bar now that more people are crammed into the space. Good thing I love her.
I push through the crowd to the far side of the bar. It’s quieter and darker and there’s an open spot just big enough that I can slide up to the front.
“Another Dr. Pepper?” The bartender looks up at me as he pours a row of shots.
I shake my head and then lean forward so he can hear me over the crowd. “Water, please.”
He nods and continues pouring his shots. I stand back to wait.
Then I notice a guy sitting at the bar a couple seats down is staring at me, I fidget and keep my gaze down, but it’s too late.
“Hey.” He juts his chin toward me. I want to ignore him, but then he waves his hand and makes it impossible to do so, without looking like I’m purposely snubbing him. Plus, the people between us are now looking at me too.
I glance up and smile timidly. He’s cute. Nice smile, light brown hair that has that whole styled-but-slightly-messy look. I can’t tell if he’s a Valley U student. He looks like he’s right at that graduate student age.
“Hi.” My voice wavers slightly, but I’m proud of myself for getting any sound out. Go me. I’m out of the house and I’m talking to a cute guy. Next up: world domination.
His handsome smile turns sly, and he glides his tongue over his bottom lip in what I think is supposed to be a seductive move, but I’m instantly grossed out. “I’m no Felix Walters, but I’d have sex with you.”
People nearby snicker. My whole body warms and I’m frozen in place. For a few seconds, I forgot about that stupid video, but this is exactly why I’ve avoided going out. Stupid guys who think I’m easy because of what I said to my friend in a private conversation (or what I thought was private). I want to run away, but I can’t make my legs work. The back of my eyes sting with the threat of tears. I cannot let this asshat see me cry.
Before I can force my stupid frozen body to turn away, another voice cuts through the laughter and chatter around us. “Hey, asshole. That’s my girlfriend you’re making a pass at, and trust me, you’d be so lucky.”
Felix steps so he’s in front of me, partially blocking me from the guy still smirking in my direction. A gray T-shirt stretches across his broad back, and he smells like soap and mint.
“Sorry, man. I didn’t know you two were a thing.” The guy clearly woke up today with a death wish because he cocks his head to the side and adds, “Can’t blame me for trying. I love a desperate chick. They’re the most giving in bed. Guess I don’t need to tell you.”
Felix lunges, and on instinct, I reach out and grab his bicep to stop him. Heat radiates off him. The muscles in his arms flex as he tightens his hands into fists.
My touch distracts him enough that he pauses and glances down to where my fingers are wrapped around his warm skin.
“Here’s that water,” the bartender says and sets the glass down in front of me. He eyes Felix and then the mouthy guy carefully, like he’s trying to communicate with his stern gaze to calm down or take it outside.
The idiot that was mouthing off is already standing and walking away. Maybe he doesn’t have a death wish after all.
“I should kick his ass,” Felix grumbles, watching the guy disappear into the crowd with his beer.
