I would’ve laughed at him if my heart wasn’t pounding with worry. Aaron had retreated into the bathroom and Tanner had never come back with a broom. Something had happened and I needed to know. They were my twoamigosand now they had gotten all weird.Fuck that noise.“I’m going to head into the bathroom to see if Aaron’s okay.”
“Knock first. I can’t have anyone call you a perv.”
“No one is going to call me a damn perv, Clyde the Ride.” I made the short walk to the men’s bathroom and pushed open the door. Aaron stood at the sink, his back toward me. He met my eyes in the mirror but remained silent.
The muscles in his back tensed with each step I took. “Aaron.”
“What, Greta?”
Oh, it was Greta now. Okay. Cool.I masked my hurt expression and continued toward him. The blood flowed from his hand into the drain and I felt the tension coming off him, like waves of heat and hurt. Why, I had no idea. “How’s your hand?”
“Cut up.”
He wanted to play it that way, fine. I sighed, pinching my brow where a light pounding had begun minutes ago. “I’ll get the first aid kit.”
“No. I have one in my car.”
“Then let’s go. I’ll help you.” I went to grab his forearm but he pulled it out of my reach.
“I don’t need your help,” he snapped, his jaw tensing. His steel eyes narrowed in my direction. I bit the inside of my cheek and crossed my arms.
“Too fucking bad, Aaron.” My anger crept up my throat and came out full force. “I don’t know why you’re being a dick right now. I don’t care. I want to help you. You hurt yourself. Friends help each other.”
“Friends,” he sneered, looking back into the mirror. His stiff shoulders slumped and he turned off the water. “Fine.”
I took that as my cue and I grabbed his arm. I knew I couldn’t possibly drag him due to his being a sasquatch in size, but he let me lead him. We left the bar without a backward glance and I marched right up to his SUV. “Where’s the kit?”
“Under the passenger seat.” He unlocked the car and I gently shoved him into the trunk once the hatch went up. He obliged and I gave him a look that said,don’t fucking move.
I found the red box and rifled through the shit in it. He needed tweezers, anti-bacterial stuff and bandages. I sent a quick prayer he could still throw. He had a major tournament in two days.
“Let me see it,” I demanded before straddling his leg. I had to. It was the only way I could get a good look at his hand. “Hold up your phone flashlight, please.”
He did and became stiff as a board again. I wanted to punch him for being a dick, but I didn’t. He could be panicking about not being able to throw and I felt like a schmuck.Thatwas why he was in such a foul mood. That made sense. “Okay, big guy. I’m going to grab the piece of glass stuck in your palm.”
He grunted and I bent low. My hair fell onto his chest and I took my time, pinching the little clear piece wedged in his skin. I pulled and he sucked in a quick breath. I waited about five seconds and repeated the action. This time, it budged. “Almost done.”
His response was something like a grunt. I tried one more time, removed the piece of glass and threw it to the ground. “Finished.”
I sprayed all the wounds and wrapped them in a bandage. He blinked rapidly at me while I finished taping him up. It wasn’t the best, but it would do. He ran his clear hand down his pant leg and grazed my thigh in the process. I jumped, my pulse pounding into every limb I had. He caught me before I fell and I made the mistake of looking into his soulful eyes.Fuck me.
“Thank you.” He pushed a strand of my hair behind my ear, slowly moving his fingers down my neck.
“You’re welcome,” I whispered. The air seemed to crackle between us. Real or fake, I cared about him. I cared about his well-being and hisstupidhand. I wanted to ease his hurt and make him laugh. “I, uh,” I stuttered when his hand rested on my waist. His grip was firm but not painful. It was possessive. It was predatory and my heart skipped a beat. Then someone giggled behind us and Aaron’s gaze moved from me to over my shoulder. Then he pressed a light kiss on my forehead, confirming it was for show. My lungs constricted with unease until I remembered my place—helping him and his reputation. That was the goal. I cleared my throat, hoping to get my bearings, and said, “I heard you played well today.”
“Sure did.” His teeth grazed over his bottom lip and he pressed his fingers into my skin. I scooted closer, wrapping my arms around his neck. His eyes heated, his nostrils flared and I forgot everything.
He brought his lips to my ear and my head fell back. He took the small lobe between his teeth and pressed down. I didn’t give a flying fuck and I moaned, “Fucking hell.”
He did it again, bringing his fingers dangerously close to my ass. He used his tongue to tease my neck but then he stopped without warning. His eyes became like ice and he let go of me. “They’re gone.”
They who? Oh. The girls. That’s right. Fake. Fake. Fake.
“Nice thinking,” I said with a dry throat. “Well, I’m ready to head back. Can you drive?”
“Yeah. I’ll take you home.”
Aaron drove in silence, the only sound him moving around uncomfortably in the seat. It was ten minutes of hell. The silence built, each second without talking like a stab in the heart. I was restless. I had no nails left to bite and they began to hurt.
