When I glance over to where Bree’s standing with the others, my gaze collides with hers. She’s watching me with a puzzled expression on her face, making me wonder if she overheard me. I’m glad Luke cut me off before I revealed my secret. That would have created an even bigger mess than I’m in right now.
I don a grin for her benefit. She returns the gesture before diverting her attention back to the group of women surrounding her.
She looks comfortable standing there with them, like she belongs. Like a vise, the pressure in my chest tightens a littlemore at the sight, and my head and my heart are having a full-blown argument at this point.
“Pierce!” Luke’s growl yanks me back to what he’s saying.
“What?”
He blows out a breath and rolls his eyes—something I know he’s picked up from Sophie. “If you keep looking at your girl like that, she’s going to figure it out.”
“She hasn’t so far. I might as well be a pane of glass.” Sarcasm drips from my tone like a leaky faucet.
He knits his brows together.
“She looks right through me.” Pains me to say it, but it’s the truth. Always has been.
Understanding dawns in his eyes. “Do you want to know what Sophie found out or not?”
I take a minute to think about it because a part of me feels like I’m crossing a boundary or entering Peeping-Tom territory. “Do you believe this information is helpful?”
“Yes.”
“Then shoot.” I lean forward, resting my forearms on my knees, preparing myself for the worst.
“There was an unconfirmed rumor that she was secretly dating one of the players.”
That would explain her evasive answers whenever I asked about her boyfriend. “Unconfirmed?”
He nods. “Yeah, some guy named Langston.”
“Chase Langston?” I bite out.
Something deep inside me snaps at hearing the name. I know her choosing to date him isn’t a rejection of me, but it sure feels that way.
“You know him?”
“Yeah, I know him.” The bane of my existence during junior league, I once told him when he expressed interest in Bree, that she was off limits.
Clearly, the jerk didn’t get the message. And knowing Chase, there’s a good chance he did it to piss me off. He’s lucky Texas isn’t a short drive. Otherwise, I’d be grabbing my keys right about now and most likely spending the night in jail.
Instead, I do the next ridiculous thing—aka stupid. I push out of my chair and head straight for Bree. The heat simmering in my chest feels like a volcano about to erupt without warning, but there’s no stopping it.
“Pierce!” Luke’s bark grabs the attention of the knuckleheads playing video games, but does nothing to slow my stride.
Maxwell tries to step in front of me, but I shove him aside.
Bree’s back is to me, but the other three? The closer I come, the more their eyes widen, so my face must be broadcasting my rage. As I reach Bree, I resist the urge to grab her wrist and drag her into a private place to talk. Instead, I tap her shoulder.
She spins around, all smiles, until she looks at me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her smile disappear so fast.
I unclench my jaw enough to force my words out. “Can we talk?”
She makes eye contact with Mia, Lily, and then Sophie before landing back on me. “Sure.”
I’m almost positive Sophie just figured me out, judging by the way her brows lifted and her eyes sought out Luke. So much for keeping my secret from her. My reaction probably confirms what she already suspected.
But I don’t care at this point. I take—not grab—Bree’s wrist and tug—not drag—her into the bedroom. At least I’m using some restraint. And I’ll be honest. I’ve imagined this many a time in the past, but never like this.
