Page 89 of What Are the Chances
Parker had arranged to meet Ryan at Lastlings to celebrate the win. I'd told myself I was here because Parker had invited me, but in reality, I wasn't here for her.
In the warm bar Will was in a plain tee and jeans. He clutched a beer with his tattooed arm.
I was at a loss about what we were doing. While we’d told ourselves it was just sex, I wasn’t sure that was true. At least not for me. I couldn’t differentiate that and feelings at the best of time, let alone with Will.
The pull between us had always been strong. That’s why we’d ended in such a terrible way. If things had been amicable and we’d stayed friends or in each other’s lives, we would’ve relapsed. I knew that.
Was that simply what this was? Had we relapsed because we couldn’t fight the pull that existed when we were together? If I was to bail on Richard Donohue and stop assessing Will, would things fizzle out again?
“What’s going on between you and Ryan Murphy?” Beth asked Parker, her painted lips wrapping around the straw in her drink.
Parker coyly stirred the ice in her vodka soda. Mine was a plain soda. I’d driven here and planned to drive home.
“Nothing serious. We’re just having fun.”
Beth smiled seductively. “Fun?”
“Funfun,” Parker clarified. “We haven’t slept together, but we’ve done everything else. I can’t believe you were holding out on me, Riley.”
I jerked to attention. I’d only half been listening. Summer Spritz, Phil-U’s cheerleading captain, was now talking to Will. She rested a pool cue against her breasts as she giggled.
Summer was insanely attractive – it was undeniable. She was currently wearing high-waisted black jeans and a crop that was more like a bralette. Even from across the dark room, I could make out the lines of her abs.Ugh.I swung my gaze away.
“Holding out?” I clarified.
“About hockey players. Those guys know what they’re doing in the sheets.”
Beth arched an eyebrow sceptically. “You’vebeen with a hockey player?”
Parker answered on my behalf. “She used to date Will Caufield.”
Beth fell back in her seat, holding her hand over her chest in disbelief. “No way.”
I didn’t jump in to defend myself. I didn’t need to prove anything to Beth.
“Yes way, babe,” Parker confirmed. “But it all kind of makes sense to me. Will Caufield and his insane body ruined my girl for every other man.”
I rolled my eyes. “He didn’t ruin me.”
The words didn’t sound overly convincing to me. Hopefully with a few vodka sodas pumping through Parker and Beth, I’d managed to convince them.
“Parker,” Ryan called out. He was at the bar with Tripp. “Come do a shot with us.”
Slipping from the booth, Parker reached for Beth and me. Though unlike Beth who jumped up enthusiastically, I pulled my hand away.
“I’m going to go,” I said.
Parker pouted, the same pout she gave me whenever I bailed early. She’d bounce back though. By the time she reached the bar, she would’ve forgotten I was even here to begin with.
“Be safe,” I told her. “And call me if you need a lift.”
She placed a sloppy kiss on my cheek. “Love you.”
With her hand clutching Beth’s, she happily skipped to the bar.
Chancing one last look Will’s way on my way out was a mistake. He was still in a conversation with Summer, though she was no longer holding the pool cue. Instead her palm rested on Will’s tattooed forearm as she dutifully fluttered her long eyelashes at him.
I’d be lying if I didn’t admit seeing him with another girl caused my stomach to knot. It was too close to home. Is this how he’d flirted with the girl he’d then taken up to his room? Had she giggled at everything he said before getting on her knees in front of him?
