Page 81 of Tempting the Player
He’s annoyed, I think, but I don’t totally understand why, and I don’t want to fight with him.
Before I can get in the truck, he blocks me by putting his body between me and the open door. “Tell me you weren’t seriously thinking about going home with that dickwad. What if something happened?” He keeps his voice low. “What if it is Cam?”
Could Cam be the one who sent me that email? I shake my head. “It’s not Cam. And you don’t really believe that either or you wouldn’t have let me hang out with him all night.”
His jaw tightens. “You can do way better than that guy. Way fucking better.”
“Maybe you didn’t hear me when I told him no?” I say in a sassy voice as I cross my arms over my chest. “And don’t give me the whole ‘you can do way better’ speech. I know exactly who Cam is and what he wants from me. So what? Who says that isn’t exactly what I’m looking for? You don’t know everything there is to know about me, Hendrick Holland.” I shout the words at him. God, he can rile me up. Dammit. I’m tired and angry and sad this night is over. It was fun and I forgot how much I enjoyed being out with my friends.
“Bullshit, that isn’t what you want.”
“How would you know? Did our one make-out session make you an expert on my sex life?”
His dark eyes bore into me and his jaw flexes, but he’s silent. Maybe I stunned him or maybe he’s mulling over more angry words to yell at me, but it doesn’t matter because I’m just drunk enough to say exactly what I’m feeling.
“I want to be kissed and pushed up against the wall. I want my clothes to be torn from my body and I want multiple orgasms and I want my life not to be so damn complicated. Ever since I became Ivy again, guys treat me weird. I know Cam does too, but at least he’s transparent about what he wants from me. So even if it’s bullshit, sometimes it’s fun to be wanted like a normal college girl.”
“Don’t be stupid, Jane. Lots of people wantyou.” He seems as annoyed by that as by the thought of me having sex with Cam.
“Oh, really?” I step closer to him. “People like you?”
He says nothing, but his throat works as he swallows.
“Exactly. So don’t give me this caveman bullshit. You missed your shot, buddy.”
Crap. I shouldn’t have said that last part. His face twists into a regretful expression. “Jane—”
“Save it. I don’t need another ‘I can’t protect you if we’re sleeping together’ lecture. Can we just drop it?”
The air is thick between us as I wait for his reply that doesn’t come.
“Please, Hendrick? Just take me home.”
26
HENDRICK
The house isquiet when we get back. Both Flynn and Knox’s doors are closed, and all the lights are out. The only sound is soft music coming from Flynn’s room. He sleeps with it on, at a much more reasonable volume than he keeps it at during the day.
I follow Jane into my bedroom. She didn’t say a word on the drive back. Neither did I. There’s too much to say and not enough words.
She kicks off her shoes and then falls onto the mattress and curls into herself on top of the covers.
“Do you want me to grab something for you to change into?” I ask, hovering in the doorway.
“There are two of you.” She stares up at me through half-closed lids. “Is your twin nicer?”
Despite everything that’s happened tonight, I find myself chuckling. “No, he’s an asshole just like me.”
“You’re not really an asshole.” Her lashes flutter closed. “I wish you were. I’d like you a lot less.”
“I’ll let you get changed. I’m going to grab some water and Advil.”
Brogan and Archer are coming in as I fill a glass for Jane.
“Hey,” Archer says, a drunk smile on his face. He goes to the fridge and pulls out two beers. “Want one?”
“Nah, I’m good.”
