Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 149510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 748(@200wpm)___ 598(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 748(@200wpm)___ 598(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Scottie shoves out from under Dane’s arm and runs toward them. Dane follows, and against my better judgment, so do I.
“We told you not to drink so much, Nadine,” a girl I don’t know says to the blond flirter, who’s actively crying now and still holding her wrist. “What if it’s broken? What’s that going to do to our season?”
“I’m an alternate this year,” Nadine grits out. “Scottie has my position covered, remember? So, what’s it even matter?”
“Nadine, you know how important you are to the team,” Scottie consoles, which is more than I can say I would do, given the way she’s behaved every moment I’ve been around her.
“Ugh, this shit is so boring now,” Dane complains. He grabs Scottie’s arm forcefully then, dragging her in the direction of the door with no warning. Her face flinches, and I step forward without even thinking. Next thing I know, I’m right in the middle of their mess again. “What the fuck? You just about ripped her arm off.”
“She’s fine,” he says with lazy, bloodshot eyes. “And she’s my fucking girlfriend. Not yours. Lay off.”
A potent mix of anger and adrenaline dumps into my veins, and I clench my fists at my sides at his complete lack of remorse and concern. This motherfucker. He’s just as vile as my deadbeat dad.
My vision tunnels, homing in on his stupid face, but a gentle hand on my shoulder pulls me back before I can shove that anger straight between his eyes.
I don’t even realize it’s Ace until he steps in front of me. He’s lucky I didn’t turn and swing on him.
“I’m Ace Kelly,” my roommate says, introducing himself to Scottie’s boyfriend. “You’re Dane, right?” Sticking out his chest, Dane unwraps his arm from Scottie so he can shake Ace’s hand. Julia steps into the hole he left, carefully pulling Scottie back from the staggering asshole and over toward me.
“You okay?” I ask just as another guy takes a spot at my back and says the exact same thing. When I turn to look, I’m expecting anyone but Blake fucking Boden.
Scottie shakes her head once and then again before finally smiling at both of us.
“I’m okay,” she says then, but I know that face—I’ve fucking lived it.
She’s anything but.
Scottie
“Really,” I say again, willing myself to be more convincing. “I’m fine. It’s no big deal. Everyone’s just had too much to drink.”
“Not everyone,” Blake corrects, staring daggers at Dane. Nadine is still hysterical, while Kayla and Tonya try to do damage control.
“You don’t seem drunk at all,” Finn asserts, and I roll my lips into my mouth before explaining. It shouldn’t be embarrassing to be sober, but under the immense pressure of college eyes to “be cool,” it is.
“We’re not supposed to drink during the competition season, and I can’t jeopardize my scholarship.” I also have a lifetime of dealing with a drunk mother that’s tainted my view of alcohol, but that’s not the kind of thing I share with strangers.
Blake nods. “I’m not drinking either.”
“You’re not?” I ask, my voice a little relieved, even to my own ears.
He shakes his head. “Of course not. Coach would kick my ass.”
“Pussies,” Dane taunts, having overheard the conversation despite Ace Kelly actively talking to him to keep him busy. “It’s just a little booze. It’s no big deal.”
“It is a big deal,” Blake Boden challenges. “We’ve got one girl hurt and one who you practically yanked in half. It’s time to cool it.”
“Fuck off, Boden.”
I blush at how freaking embarrassing he’s being, and I shove through Tonya, Kayla, and Nadine to grab Dane’s hand. “Come on. It’s late anyway, and you have practice tomorrow morning. Let’s go sleep it off.”
Dane turns cocky then, trying to save face. “Come on, baby. You know we aren’t gonna sleep if you put me in a bed.”
“Dane!” I snap, really over his shit tonight. He’s lying to make himself look good, and I hate it. This is not the guy I’ve been with for the last two years. We haven’t even had sex because I’m not ready, but again, none of this is the kind of stuff we need to be telling strangers.
“All right, all right. Fuck. Les go, then.” It’s a slur of compliance, but compliance, nonetheless.
I glance back to Finn and Blake, mouthing an apology. Blake smiles and gives me a salute, but Finn stares me down so hard—his eyes an intense mix of concern and confusion—that I end up bumping into Dane. He laughs. “I may be drunk, but you’re the fuckin’ klutz,” he taunts.
“Dane, stop.”
“You fuckin’ stop, Scottie. You’re not my mom.” Dane is in my face now, the smell of booze emanating from his every pore and stinging my nostrils. “I wish you’d get the giant stick out of your ass and try to have some fucking fun.”