Almost thereWe’re just looking for parking! —Gabby
I can’t wait to see you. —Hunter
Same—Gabby
Eventually, the boys and I left the girls to their own devices and walked over to the bar with our drinks, where athletes from Vesta University’s football and hockey team were congregated. I barely paid attention to the ongoing conversations, my thoughts on Gabriela…before my attention veered towards Josh.
My best friend appeared on edge.
When he threw back three shots in succession, I grasped his shoulder and leaned close so no one else heard me. “You okay, man? Something wrong?”
It wasn’t like Josh to brood. I was smart enough to know his sunshine persona was sometimes a way to hide the miscreant underneath. He rarely showed his dark side, a wolf in sheep’s skin, but tonight he looked on the verge of unleashing it.
“Layla,” was his clipped response before he downed another shot.
Ah, that explained his demeanour. I spoke to him yesterday in between classes and he said she wouldn’t be staying in their shared home for the foreseeable future—a fact that pissed him off. Something about Layla’s dad being suspicious and her wanting to lie low until his overbearing attitude blew over. I was certain Josh understood her reasoning, but it still hurt him.
My best friend deserved to be loved in the light, not hidden away in the shadows. Even though Layla treated him like the apple of her eye, Josh probably ached at the thought that she wasn’t able to claim him in front of the whole world.
“It’s going to be okay, Josh.” I wished I could offer him more concrete reassurances. “Give it a few days and she’ll return home. Things will go back to normal.”
He scoffed, brushing a frustrated hand through his dark brown hair. “I doubt it, Hunt.”
As if he manifested his beloved, she walked into the club at that exact moment with Anna by her side.
Josh stared at Layla, brown eyes glimmering. He made no advances, wanting her to make the first move. Dared her, even, as he took a languid sip of vodka straight from a bottle, never glancing away from her.
Layla puffed out a breath and whispered something to Anna. They both sauntered in our general direction.
We weren’t the only ones watching their approach. Cory, one of the guys on the hockey team—who was clearly drunk out of his mind—made a show of leaning back to leer at Layla, catcalling, “What I wouldn’t give to tap that ass every single night.”
He said it loud enough for everyone in our vicinity to hear.
Including Josh.
Layla paled and Anna threw Cory a scathing look. The boys in our circle all paused, shocked at the hockey player’s audacity and—quite frankly—temporary insanity. Everyone knew Layla was Josh’s girl. I was about to smack some sense into Cory before Josh drained the bottle, dropped it on the bar top with a decisive thud, and met the offender’s eyes with murder in his own.
We only had seconds to brace ourselves before chaos ensued.
That infamous Remington temper surfaced and Josh lunged for Cory.
He slammed him face-first onto the bar, disorienting him before dragging his head up with a handful of his hair and introducing his fist to his nose. His jaw. His cheeks. Anywhere he could reach. “Talk about my girl like that again.”Smack. “I dare you.”Smack. “I’ll make you regret ever existing, you goddamn waste of space.”
The clubgoers around us gasped and screamed, scampering away as the fight broke out. The music was loud, the bass thumping, yet none of it hid the sound of glass shattering when Josh smashed the bottle against Cory’s head, pieces flying like shrapnel.
Along with the other boys, I jumped in to stop the situation before blood spilled all over the floors. But our attempts were half-hearted, knowing Cory had it coming. Josh was like a man possessed, successfully pummeling the hockey player into a whole new realm. By the time Nico and Nate pulled away a bleeding Cory, and Shaun and I tore away a heaving Josh, Cade had ushered over two bouncers. They picked up a slack Cory and dragged him out.
The party resumed as if nothing had occurred, the DJ jesting with the crowd and proceeding to put on a few throwback tunes.
Blood streaked Josh’s right temple and a few speckles had landed on his white dress shirt. He looked unhinged. Like a beast. Breathing unevenly and head swivelling around in search of Layla.
Sam had been holding back both girls to stop them from getting hurt in the brawl. The turn of events visibly shook them.
Wordlessly, Josh snatched Layla’s hand and started dragging her to the second floor of the club, away from everyone’s prying eyes.
Anna made a move to follow her, but Layla cast her a meaningful expression, mouthing, “I’ll be fine.”
“Are you okay?” Sam leaned down to murmur in Anna’s ear.
