“Don’t be a tease, sweetheart. What time does your shift end?” Ken reached back, resting his arm along the top of the booth.
“Ease up on that glass, man.” Shaw smirked. “What’s got you rattled?” He surveyed the room.
“Fuck off,” I muttered.
Last thing I needed was for anyone here to catch on to me and thestrong feelingsI had for the beauty in those sexy-as-fuck glasses. But my patience was wearing, and I was getting more agitated the longer the night went on. Maybe this was a mistake.
“Need another?” Landry asked.
Her blonde hair was piled on top of her head with a glittery pink flower square in the center. She was the total opposite of Trinity, but I was glad she had a friend. Landry was from a good family, and J.C. was lucky she tolerated his ass.
“Nah, I’m good.” I kept my eyes on Trinity as she told the table she would bring their check.
Thank God.
“We’re good, darlin’,” Shaw answered.
When Landry walked away, Trinity returned to her table with the check. She leaned over, dropping the ticket to one of the customers when I saw it. It was in tortuous slow motion.
Red-hot fury exploded in my veins asKenreached up and planted his palm on the globe of her round ass.
I was out of my chair before I could rationalize the thought, the legs scraping against the floor, causing it to topple over. I took three strides and my hand wrapped around his wrist.
“Get your fucking hands off her.” My voice was lethal.
The low warning caused Trinity to suck in a sharp breath, her eyes widening when he stood from his chair.
“What’s your problem, man?” He pushed my chest. “She’s been flashing her ass to me all night.” He swiped at his mouth before looking over my shoulder at Trinity. “Ain’t that right, baby?”
My hands moved on their own, gripping the collar of his shirt. “Stop talking.”
He grinned. “I think she liked it.”
“This is your final warning to stop fucking talking.” My hold tightened, lifting him from the floor as the table erupted in panic.
I felt Theo at my back, his hand on my shoulder.
“Preston,” he warned. “Drop him.”
“She your girl or something?” Ken’s smile widened. “Oh shit, she is?”
I didn’t deny it.
“What she is, is a human being. Not something for you to grope or manhandle.” I shoved him backward. “Get your drunk ass out of here.”
Just as he stumbled against the table, Landry showed up. “Let’s go. You’re out of here.”
I flexed my hands, turning to face Theo and Shaw. They both eyed me but didn’t dare ask. I swiveled my head, searching for Trinity, but she was nowhere to be seen. She was gone.
40
Trinity
I leaned against the brick of the building at the back of the bar, my hand to my chest. I was shocked from that creep and panicked at Preston’s outburst. Sure, it could have looked like he was just stepping in when a customer was getting handsy. I was a part of the team. People knew that. But the look on Theo’s and Shaw’s faces had my stomach twisting. They knew Preston better than anyone, and I could tell they were concerned about his reaction.In front of half of the students at Canyon U.I scrubbed my hands over my face.
“No one suspects anything, Trinity. You’re tired and paranoid,” I told myself as I straightened my apron.
The more time we spent together, the more I was aware of how damning the consequences were. Not just for our reputations, but my heart. I also knew that a reputable NFL player that the school needed was much more valuable than a transfer graduate student. They would drop me before they would drop him, right? Or would it be the scandal of the year? Would it rock the collegefootball world and scar this school forever? Shred any chance I had at a respectable career in college sports.
