I don’t get myself wrapped up with his shit. Why does he feel like he has the right to mess with mine?
“Go away, heathen. I’m dancing,” I bite out. Holland gives me a challenging look, begging me to fight with him.
“Not anymore, you’re not. Come on, we’re all leaving,” he tells me, grabbing my elbow and pulling me toward him and away from Colton who looks a bit too stunned to speak.
Yanking my arm out of his grasp, I dig my heals in, not allowing him to pull me any further.
No one around us sees what’s happening. They’re all too drunk and preoccupied to pay any attention, which is good because I might commit murder right now. Ellie might be a little upset at first, but she’ll get over it.
“I’m not going anywhere, Holland. You’re not my keeper,” I yell at him. His eyes flare with anger, but it doesn’t affect me in the slightest.
“Let’s go, Barkley. I won’t say it again.”
What is he, my dad? Giving him a look of pure hatred, I take a step closer to him, getting in his face. Well, as much as I can considering my face is at his chest.
“What are you going to do if don’t, Monroe? Make me?” I wish I was as intimidating as I feel right now, but I know I’m not.
Holland gives me a devilish smirk, and I glower at him, daring him to try something.
“Damn right, I will.”
“Listen, I-” Colton, who I forgot was even here, starts.
Holland’s head snaps to him. “I thought I told you to go,” he seethes. What is his issue tonight?
Colton holds his hands up in surrender, blowing out an exasperated breath before backing away and disappearing into the crowd.
Looking at Holland in disbelief, he peers down at me again. We’re standing so close now that I can feel his heat. My irritation grows as he stands here, glaring at me as if I’ve done something wrong.
So much for having a good distraction. The alcohol in my system might as well have evaporated because I feel nothing but annoyance at this moment.
My head turns toward the table my friends are sitting at, and they’re all so deep in conversation that they’re not even looking at us. I was hoping one of them would come get this man away from me before I wrangle his neck.
“Are you ready to stop being a brat?” Holland asks, crossing his very large, very sculpted arms across his chest. Tearing my eyes away from the veins stick out along his forearms, I life my gaze to his face.
Holland clenches his jaw, and I can’t help but find this a bit entertaining. One of my favorite pastimes is pissing him off.
“Fuck you,” I say, and a smirk crosses his lips.
“You want to?” he inquires. My body stiffens slightly at the thought of his body and mine pressed together, him rocking into me, him on top of me.
No, Lainey. You cannot go there. You don’t want to go there, not with him.
“You wish, you cretin.”
Holland’s eyes fill with heat, and I can tell he’s having the same thoughts I’m having as his eyes shamelessly roam over my body. My cheeks heat, but I keep my gaze locked on his face.
“Well, now that you’ve ruined my night, I’m leaving,” I tell him, sidestepping and moving toward our friends.
For a few long minutes, I really thought Holland was going to throw me over his shoulder to get me out of there. I was hell bent on staying right where I was just to piss him off, but since Colton left, there’s no point. It isn’t a fun game anymore.
All of a sudden, I feel hot and lightheaded. The room feels like it’s spinning, and my heart is racing. I don’t know if it’s from the alcohol or the adrenaline from getting a rise out of Holland, but I have to get out of here.
When I reach the table, I bend in between Gwen and Ellie to let them know I’m leaving.
“Are you okay? Do you want us to come with you?” Gwen asks, her eyes full of worry. I shake my head, not wanting to ruin their night.
“No, I’m a big girl. I’ll be fine,” I tell her. “I’ll see you guys later. You’re staying with us tonight, right?”
