Chapter 7 #2
The girly rhinestone encrusted phone cover looks comical in his big, work-weathered hands. He puts in his number and hands it back to me. “Here you go.”
Sparks fly when our fingers brush.
Thane clears his throat and nods at me. “You wear a lot of short dresses like that?”
Of all the things he could have asked me, this is it?
Frustration rises in me like a tidal wave. I want to tell him that he has no right to ask about my outfit when he spent days ignoring my presence like a pesky fly. But I don’t say that.
My toes curl when he rakes his eyes across my body again, mentally undressing me. “Why?” My voice is sultry. Unrecognizable. “You got a problem with my dress, Coach Thane?”
Do I need to remind him that I came to him, wearing an even shorter babydoll that was practically transparent?
“Nah. You look beautiful. Except the thought of you going to a party where a bunch of guys will salivate over you and there’s nothing I can do to fend them off?” He grunts. “Yeah, that fucks me up.”
I hate that joy balloons in my chest at his words. They imply that he’s territorial about me—that maybe he cares for me beyond that hookup. But maybe it’s my mind, begging for crumbs, that’s trying to convince me that he could want me beyond one-night.
He doesn’t and I doubt he’ll change his mind.
So I square my shoulders and paste a saucy smile that showcases more bravado than I actually feel.
“Well, I’m not sure how that concerns you, since last time was a one-off, Thane.
And I only wear short dresses like these when I want to get laid,” I lie and his eyes widen a fraction.
I blow him a kiss, spinning on my heels. “Have fun at the bar.”
I’m out the door before he can get another word in, joining Michaela and Addie.
* * *
One hour into the party, I’m reminded why I don’t like attending them.
The music and chatter is too loud. The place smells like cheap alcohol. The air is warm, almost suffocating, and I resist the urge to run away when a linebacker sinks his big body next to mine on the sofa. Now I’m squished between him and another football player on my other side.
I’m miserable.
Somehow, I got roped into joining a game of spin the bottle. I thought we stopped playing this after middle school—high school, at the latest? My cheer mates and the guys from the football team, all gathered in a circle around a spinning beer bottle, seem to be having the time of their life.
Addie is somewhere to my far left. She’s not playing this game, too occupied exchanging spits with a fellow music student, grinding away in his lap like they’re seconds from actually screwing.
Michaela and Brayden—another football player—just finished spending seven minutes in heaven, except they’ve come out looking frustrated at each other.
I don’t like the expression that my best friend is sporting. I start to get up to follow after her when people around me start to laugh. “Marlow and Hank! Your turn!”
I freeze.
The two ends of the beer bottle landed on me and Hank, a wide receiver on the team. He shoots me a wink. I practically curdle. It’s not that Hank is unattractive or a jackass…it’s just…I like his coach. His older, hotter, dirty-mouthed coach.
I should have never sat down in this circle despite their insistence. I should have never come to this party, period. On top of being miserable, now I’m uncomfortable. I don’t want to be stuck in a closet with Hank for seven minutes. I don’t want to kiss or talk to him.
I spring up from my seat like my butt caught fire. “S-Sorry, guys. I don’t feel like playing anymore.”
Their disappointing calls follow me as I skirt out of the expansive living room and head towards the hallway where I saw Michaela and Brayden heading.
There’s a lot of people present tonight. I push past a few gyrating bodies dancing to the beat before spotting the tail end of Michaela’s lilac skirt…
As she and Brayden head up the staircase?
“Michaela!” I holler, fastening on them. “Wait up!”
My best friend startles and whirls around to stare at me, surprised and face flush. Her lip-gloss is smeared at the edges of her mouth, letting me know her and Brayden did in fact kiss. Huh. Interesting considering I thought these two couldn’t stand each other.
Michaela swallows nervously and darts a glance at Brayden, who’s already stepped up the staircase. He hangs back patiently, shoving his hands in his varsity jacket, his gaze cool and pinned on my best friend.
“Hey, Marlow,” she says. “What’s up?”
I pause when I reach her. “Are you okay?”
“Y-Yeah.” She darts another glance at Brayden and blushes even more. “We were just going upstairs to, um, talk some more.”
Ah. They were planning on hooking up and I’m essentially cock-blocking them. “Oh, I see.” I inhale sharply. “Listen, I think I’m going to leave.”
She sputters, swaying towards me. “Wait, what? Already?”
“Yeah.” I shrug to appear casual. “I’m not really feeling it and I’d rather just head back to yours.
” So I grab my belongings, find a motel to stay, and finish off the night with herbal tea and reruns of Gilmore Girls.
I ignore the sliver of guilt at the thought of leaving Thane and Michaela’s home without at least telling her, but it overrides all the emotions I’m currently experiencing.
“Addie’s busy and well, you also look like you’re, uh—” My gaze bounces between her and Brayden.
“—going to be busy so yeah. I’m just going to leave. ”
Michaela’s face falls. “Okay. I’ll come with you.”
“No!” I rush out. “You don’t have to leave with me. Please stay. I know you want to.” Michaela and Brayden exchange another glance and it’s clear they both have plans. “Look, I’ll just catch a cab and see you back at your place later, all right?”
That seems to pacify her. “Okay, but instead of a cab, please call Thane.”
Yeah, that’s not happening.
“Please, Marlow. I’ll feel better knowing you’re going home with him than a random cab driver at this time of the night.” She fumbles with her phone. “Here, let me give you his number—”
“No need,” I interject swiftly, waving my own cell. “He gave me his number before we left.”
She gives me a quizzical look.
“I’ll call him,” I lie. Thane said he’s going to a bar and by now, he’s probably found himself a woman for the night. I have no intentions of cockblocking him either. “Go.” I jerk my head towards an awaiting Brayden, hedging her a smile. “Have fun. I’ll talk to you later?”
Michaela gives me a big hug, whispering in my ear, “I have so much to tell you.”
I bet she does.
I hug her back and then she’s gone, bounding up the stairs to join Brayden. He extends his hand for her discreetly and she wraps their fingers together.
With a deep breath, I veer towards the front door, shouldering my way through the crowd.
The moment I step outside, I suck in a large gulp of fresh air, feeling like I can finally breathe for the first time since arriving at the party.
There’s no loud chatter or music. Everything fades away into the background.
The front lawn of the home is littered with red Solo cups and there’s no one out here.
I’m about to phone a cab when I hear my name being called out in a loud, exasperated voice, “Marlow!”
I peer over my shoulder.
Hank.
What is he doing here? Did he follow me out?
“I can’t believe you ditched me like that!” Annoyance flickers in his eyes despite the nonchalant smile he’s trying to feign as he nears. “How rude.”
I frown. My heart starts to beat fast. Something doesn’t feel right.
Not in his gait or the leering way he stares at me.
Hank, out of all the boys, was consuming the most alcohol and drugs.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he was extremely high and drunk.
“It’s not rude, Hank. I didn’t want to stay at the party so I left. ”
“Just tell the truth: you didn’t want to kiss me in that closet.”
I have zero fucks to give now. “Okay. I didn’t want to kiss you in that closet.”
His face scrunches up. Stepping closer until we’re toe-to-toe, I realize he’s fuming. “You think you’re too good for me?”
Well, Hank, I’m still obsessed with your Coach and unfortunately no one else will do it for me. But I don’t say that. “Yeah, I do think so.”
Wrong thing to say. Hank’s face gets redder, angrier.
He barks a bitter laugh and his alcohol-laced breath practically slaps me across the face.
I hate the scent of it. I back a few steps on the pathway, almost toppling over in my heels when his hand jerks out and gropes my ass, squeezing hard.
I gasp. “Well, maybe I’ll change your mind with a kiss. ”
“Don’t touch me!” I glare at him, batting his hand away.
Except he wraps his arms around me before I can escape and yanks me into his chest. A strangled noise leaves me. “Come here, Marlow, and let me—”
Twack.
Out of nowhere, a strong fist sails forth and smacks against Hank’s face, whipping his entire body sideways and disengaging the hold he has on me.
I almost tumble and face-plant next to him.
But a familiar inked arm snakes around my waist and draws me upright. I don’t even have to turn my neck to see who it is. I just know, based on the cologne, the harsh breathing, and the muscular planes of his body.
Thane.
Still, I glance over my shoulder and my throat tightens.
Turbulent green eyes lock on mine.
“W-What are you doing here?” I ask the only thing I’m able to, shell-shocked.
Thane grinds out, “I was parked along the street.”
“Why?”
Shouldn’t he be at a bar with his buddies? Shouldn’t he be with another woman, getting laid? Why in the world was he here? My mind races with questions.
“I was waiting for you girls. Was going to trail behind Addie’s car when you left the party until you all got home safely.”
My heart beats hard with the revelation. That’s so incredibly…sweet and thoughtful. I soften even further for this man and I despise it because I want him, I want him, I want him.
Thane must see my desire for him. His green eyes drop to my lips with pure, unadulterated hunger. “Marlow–”
Thane’s voice is drowned out by the piercing groan echoing from Hank.
We both snap back to reality and stare at the limp figure on the ground. His eyes are half-mast and he’s cradling his face in pain, too drunk and too high to realize his Coach is the one who put his hands on him.
Shit, shit, shit.
Thane just punched a drunk asshole—one of his football players—for me. He can get in serious trouble. If we don’t leave now, I fear there’ll be repercussions. “Thane, let’s go.”
He shakes his head, angrily staring down at Hank like he’s the scum at the bottom of his shoes. “Let me talk to him. He had no business putting his hand on you like that—”
I shake my head frantically and press my hand onto his shoulder, redirecting his attention to me.
“Thane, you just assaulted one of your players,” I whisper-shout.
“He can press charges. He’s too inebriated to realize it’s you, so please leave while you can,” I beg and palm his cheek.
His anger deflates under my touch. “You gave him a dose of his own medicine. It’s over. I’m fine. Now go.”
“I’m not leaving without you.” Thane grabs my waist and pulls me closer to him, eyes flashing with possession.
His body is trembling with adrenaline. I run my hands over his broad shoulders soothingly.
“I can’t. I’m so fucked up over you and seeing him forcing himself onto you?
It’s going to take forever to erase that image from my head, baby. ”
It seems counterintuitive to leave with him when I vowed to myself that tonight, I was leaving his home and trying to move on from him.
But seeing him in the flesh, appearing so tortured and shaking with the same need that I am, I foolishly give in to my heart’s desire by uttering, “Yes.”