Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 162138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
“You play that one too?” Mason asked, propping a foot on the iron fence behind us and nodding at the Stack Cup game.
“I used to,” I said. “I don’t really party anymore.”
“I’ve noticed, but I’ve seen you at parties and events these last couple of weeks.”
“The semester’s almost over. I figured I’d go out with a bang.” I looked up at him. “And it’s Marissa’s birthday. We have a deal that’s kind of set in stone.”
“Oh?” He let his eyes rake over me. “A deal where you let us admire how hot as fuck you are?”
I bit my tongue.
“Sorry,” he said quickly.
I smiled. “Don’t apologize for giving me a compliment.”
He grinned. “I think this is the most we’ve ever spoken.”
“Don’t get used to it.” I crossed my arms. “Tomorrow, I’ll probably go back to the same ol’ boring Lyla.”
“Why?” He frowned.
I shook my head. “If I get into it, I’ll start sulking, and that’s against the rules tonight.”
“No questions, then.” Mason did a little salute like we were soldiers. “Actually, I have one.”
“Let’s hear it.” I shifted my body, so I was facing him. We weren't uncomfortably close, but we'd be within kissing range if we took one more step. “Is anything going on with you and Lach?”
“Oh, God.” I let out a short laugh and shook my head. “Next question.”
“I need to know.” He shifted closer to me. “Is that a yes or a no?”
My stomach tightened as I became aware of what he might do if I said no or didn’t move away and put an end to the situation. Maybe it was the alcohol or the fact that if he tried anything I disapproved of, a ton of people would witness and stop him, but I stayed put. He stepped closer and closer until he was just a breath away. My eyes shut on their own accord, a habit that had developed from years of kissing. When his lips didn’t touch mine, I opened my eyes and gasped as Mason stumbled back a few steps. For a moment, I thought one of the drunken Stack Cup people lost their balance and bumped into him, but then I looked up and saw Lachlan glowering.
“Dude, what the fuck?” Mason stood straighter, suddenly in fight mode as he walked forward.
My mouth hung open for a second. The alcohol was making my brain a little slow to process the situation. Lach was standing so close to me that I could feel the anger radiating off of him. His glare was so intense that I thought, for a moment, Mason might burst into flames. What just happened repeated itself in my head, and finally, I snapped out of my reverie.
“What the hell, Lachlan?” I grabbed his left arm. He narrowed his eyes at me, my hand, and back at his teammate.
“Seriously, dude,” Mason tacked on.
“You know exactly what. Don’t act like you don’t,” Lachlan growled, taking a step forward, jaw grinding, angry eyes locked on Mason. I squeezed his arm and tried to pull him, even though there was no way in hell I’d be able to hold him back.
“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” Mason’s eyes went wide for a fraction of a second before he shook his head and laughed lightly. “Is this because you called dibs? We didn’t agree on it. Prescott wouldn’t even appro. . .”
“She’s not Prescott’s,” Lach shouted.
“So what, she’s yours?” Mason arched an eyebrow when Lach didn’t respond. “What if I call dibs right now?”
“Mase, I love you, you’re my boy, but I swear on fucking everything. If you don’t back off, this won’t end well.” Lach took another step forward. My nails were short, but I dug the tips of my fingers into his arm. He didn’t even flinch.
Mason’s gaze swung from me to Lachlan. “We’ve been hanging out all night.”
Lachlan’s jaw ticked. He took one more step forward. One more, and he’d be in Mason’s face. A series of things ran through my mind in sequence: the dibs comment, Mason and Lachlan were going to fight and ruin Marissa’s birthday party, and holy shit, I’d never had two guys fight over me. Those thoughts were quickly followed by: What the actual fuck was happening? This was the first time in a long time that I’d fully participated in a party in two years, and this asshole was about to ruin it over some archaic bullshit that privileged jocks made up a hundred years ago? That was the thought that made me snap. I dropped my hand and took a step between the two of them. Even wearing heels, I was sure I looked like an ant between two giants.
“I can’t freaking believe you right now.” I turned my back on Mason to glare at Lachlan because, ultimately, all of this was his fault. “I’m not something you ‘call dibs’ on. I’m a human being. I’m not the front seat of a fucking car.” I stabbed his hard chest with my pointer finger and narrowed my eyes a little more as I stepped forward. His jaw ticked. “You do not get to ruin my best friend’s party, and you do not get to tell me who I can and can’t speak to. What happened to Mandy Roberts? Was she not doing it for you, or did you finish with her and decide to come find me because you were bored and needed some entertainment?”