"Let's just go someplace else." Ash's "date" rose from her knees and grabbed his arm.
Ash shoved her away. He advanced toward me. My fingers clutched the sleeve of Maddox's T-shirt as I tried to gulp down air.
"What the hell are you?—"
Maddox stepped forward, directly into his path. Ash froze, frowned at him, then looked back at me. Red streaked his face. "So, what, you’re fuckinghim? He's practically practice squad, a fucking nobody. Are you serious right now?" He reached for me. Maddox's arm pressed me behind him.
"Get away from me," I hissed. "I told you, we’re done. I don’t care what—or who—you do. Not anymore."
Maddox glanced at me out of the side of his eye. His jaw tight, a scowl on his features. A sick feeling pulled at my stomach.I'm sorry,I wanted to say. I hoped he could see it in my eyes.
"This doesn't concern you." Ash moved to step around the brick wall of Marine, but Maddox pivoted again.
"She said to leave her alone." His voice was quiet, steady.
Ash stilled. He swept blond hair from his eyes and glared at Maddox. A moment passed and then Ash's shoulders lifted; he took a step back, arms wide like he expected a hug. "Bree,baby, this isn’t a big deal." He forced a chuckle from his lips. "Just doing a little celebrating. I told you, you have nothing to worry about. You’re the one I chose to come with me."
He gave me his stupid, fake, megawatt smile. It was all I could do not to kick him in the balls.
"And I told you no."
The smile faded. "You’d think you’d be grateful."
Red hazed over my vision, and I considered shoving Maddox aside so I could punch Ash in the nose. "Grateful? Uh yeah, I'm done with this."
I spun away from Maddox and found the door on the opposite side of the greenhouse with my eyes. I moved, heels clicking rapid-fire as I power walked out of this nightmare. Rage burned and seethed beneath my skin.I’m such an idiot.
I shoved the glass door aside, but before I could escape, a hand clawed at my arm.
"You don't get to walk away from me."
Three Days Earlier
Lloyd Commons Residence
“There’s my special girl.” Ash’s arm around my shoulder didn’t feel warm as he pulled me close—just awkward and bulky. The minty apple smell of his aftershave assaulted my nose.
"You're in a good mood." I tried to shift away, but he held tight. My insides squirmed. "Must've gone well."
"It was awesome, Bree."
I cringed and ground my teeth together. I pulled out of his grip.
"The competition, the lights. So many of those dudes were wicked salty of all the attention I was getting." He settled his arms around me again. Bleary green eyes met mine and he pecked my lips with whiskey-flavored breath.
My heart sunk and took my stomach with it. “You’ve been drinking.” I pushed him away.
“Just a little celebrating. I’m gonna be in the first round of the draft! Can you believe it?” He threw his head back and laughed. “The mother fucking AFL, babe. It’s what we’ve dreamed of!”
We?The room squeezed a few inches smaller. I shifted toward the door. “I think you should lay off?—"
“I even got you something. So you could celebrate too.” He dug into his jacket pocket and those hazy eyes finally relented.
Still feels distant, even when he's here.I sighed.How long has it been this way?
“God, you’re fucking gorgeous. With that red hair that just drives me wild.”
I swallowed against the burning lump in my throat. The hair on the back of my neck rose and a shiver ranthrough me.This doesn't have to be a thing. He's moving on. I'm on the road for softball season…
