My eyes opened slowly.
Isa was standing at the edge of the hot tub in that same outfit from earlier, hair a little messy from the party, leg brace on full display. She looked tired. And pissed. And way too pretty for how much she was currently fucking with my head.
I let out a low, humorless laugh.
“Now?” I said, voice rough from the beer and the attitude I couldn’t seem to turn off. “Now you wanna talk? Can’t you see I’m busy?”
“Yeah, he’s busy,” the girl on my lap giggled, pressing closer.
Before I could say anything else, Isa moved.
Fast.
She reached in, grabbed the girl straddling me by the arm, and yanked her off my lap so hard the girl stumbled in the water with a surprised yelp. Then she shoved the other one away from my side for good measure.
I quirked a brow, watching her.
“Damn,” I muttered, swirling the beer in my cup. “Sorry, we’re on a break. Guess she still wants more.” A few gasps and whispers rippled through the people standing around the hot tub. I saw a couple phones come out.
Isa’s eyes flashed.
“Shut up,” she snapped.
I smirked, even though it didn’t reach my eyes.
“Fine.”
I glanced at the girl I’d had on my lap and gave her a lazy smile.
“Don’t leave, baby.”
But both girls were already climbing out of the hot tub, shooting Isa dirty looks as they grabbed their towels. Isa didn’teven flinch. She just lifted one of her crutches slightly, like she was seriously considering swatting one of them on the ass with it if they didn’t move fast enough.
The girl closest to her hurried up.
I let out a short laugh and shook my head, taking another long sip of my beer.
“Damn, Texas,” I said, voice low and mean. “You are mean tonight.”
The beers and the hot water were starting to hit me hard. Everything felt a little hazy around the edges, like the edges of my vision were softening. I was half-drunk, half-floating, when Isa let out a long sigh and sat down on the edge of the hot tub next to me, letting her good leg dangle in the water.
“The water’s really warm,” she said quietly.
“You should come in.” I turned my head to look at her. Slowly. My eyes dragged over her face, then lower, before I licked my bottom lip without thinking. She blushed instantly and looked away.
“No, thanks,” she muttered.
I smirked, even though it felt a little lazy from the alcohol.
“What do you want, Texas?”
She was quiet for a second, then said, “You told me you were done with me. I just… wanted to explain. The rumors.”
I let out a short laugh and took another sip of my beer.
“About you and Vale?” I said. “Yeah. The gold digger ones.”
Isa’s shoulders tensed.
