Page 34 of Face Off
For a moment, jealousy flares sharp in my chest. That’s his world. I’m not invited in. Not really. Not with Murphy watching me like a hawk, not with the rest of them closing ranks.
I turn to leave, hugging my coat tighter. And then my phone buzzes.
Ollie: Look left.
I freeze. Slowly, I glance back, and there he is, at the pub door, grinning at me like he’s caught me spying.
I shake my head, flustered. Type back.
Me: Go inside, Taylor.
Ollie: Not without you.
My pulse stutters. He can’t mean it. He can’t.
Me: You’ll get yourself killed. Murphy will have my head.
Ollie: Worth it.
And just like that, I’m undone. Standing in the cold, heart racing, caught between sense and desire.
Because the truth is, I don’t want to walk away. Not anymore.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
OLLIE
The second Chloe says she won’t come inside, I feel my chest cave in just a little. She’s smiling, that careful, soft, guarded smile of hers, but her words sting.
“I can’t,” she says again, pulling her coat tighter around her. “Not tonight. Not with…all of them in there.”
I know exactly what she means. Murphy’s sharp tongue. Sophie’s judging glare. The team’s protectiveness. Chloe doesn’t stand a chance against the lot of them circling the wagons. And if I’m honest, I don’t want her to. Not yet.
“Wait here,” I tell her quickly, before she can disappear into the night again. “Just two minutes. Don’t move, promise?”
Her brows rise. “What are you doing?”
“Grabbing my coat. Saying goodbye to my favourite girl,” I wink, and her lips twitch despite the tension. “Back before you even miss me.”
“Your favourite girl?” she echoes, amused.
“Lila, obviously,” I say, all innocence. “Don’t go getting jealous.”
Her laugh follows me back inside, and it’s enough to make my chest unclench.
The pub is a riot of noise when I step back in. Laughter rolling over the clink of glasses, Murphy’s voice booming above everyone else’s, Lila shrieking with delight as Finn wriggles in her arms like a puppy desperate for escape. The warmth hits me like a wave after the chill outside.
I weave through the chaos, heading straight for my girl.
“There’s my favourite teammate,” I say, scooping Lila up into my arms before she can protest. She smells of juice and crisps and four-year-old chaos. “You been keeping Murphy in line for me?”
“Bear said I’m the boss,” she declares proudly, little hands fisting in my hoodie.
Jacko, sitting at the end of the table, smirks. “She’s not wrong.”
Murphy snorts. “She’s definitely more useful than you, Ol.”
“Jealousy’s not a good look, mate,” I shoot back, planting a loud smacking kiss on Lila’s cheek just to rile him further. She giggles and wipes her face.
