43
Trent
“We should get out of here. I’m sure there’s lots of fun we could be having… on our own… wearing less clothes.” Mel whispers against my ear, her breath hot and unwanted as she leans in like she owns the right.
I stiffen, biting back the urge to shove her off me.
I’ve been fending her off all damn night—the arm touches, the hand sliding up my thigh, and now she’s practically nibbling on my damn earlobe—while the woman I’m completely obsessed with sits across the room, her back to me, laughing with Cameron and Justin, who walked in thirty minutes ago and took up seats with them.
“That’s not going to happen,” I mutter, pushing Mel away and forcing some space between us.
Kade, Brandon, and Clay are deep in some loud, animated conversation, oblivious to the fact that I’m basically fighting for my damn life over here trying to dodge Mel’s advances.
“Oh, come on.” Mel drags a manicured finger down my arm, her voice dropping into a low, sultry purr. “I remember exactly how you like it. Me on top… riding you hard and fast.”
Her words make my skin crawl.
I grit my teeth. I don’t remember that night with Mel. I barely remember most of the nights I’ve had with women—because none of them ever mattered. None of them ever stuck.
The only woman I’ve ever remembered—ever craved—is Aubrey.
A sudden pressure jerks me back to the present.
Mel’s palm presses directly over the front of my jeans, right over my dick, bold and shameless.
“What the fuck” I snap, reaching down and gripping her wrist harder than I should. “I said I’m not fucking interested.”
Her eyes widen at my tone. “Jesus, okay.” She snatches her hand back, her expression twisting with offense.
“No, it’s not okay.” My voice drops low, edged with steel, and Mel’s smug expression falters.
I lean in—not to get close, but to make sure every word hits its mark.
“Because let’s be very fucking clear about something: you don’t just get to put your hands on someone without asking.
I don’t care what’s happened between us before—that doesn’t give you the right to touch me whenever you feel like it. ”
Her eyes widen, but I don’t stop.
“If I did that to you—if I kept touching you like that when you hadn’t asked for it—how do you think you’d feel? Uncomfortable? Angry?” I hold her gaze. “Because that’s exactly what I’m feeling right now.”
“I haven’t given you a single sign I’d be okay with that. Not a look, not a word, not a goddamn thing.” I sit back, jaw clenched, voice steady. “So let me make this crystal fucking clear. I’m not now, nor will I ever be, interested in anything with you. I barely remember the first time.”
Mel jerks back as if I physically shoved her. Her chair screeches across the floor as she stands abruptly.
“You’re unbelievable,” she snaps, voice trembling with equal parts fury and embarrassment. She shoots me one last glare—one that would probably make another guy shrink—but I just stare back, unbothered.
With a dramatic huff, she spins on her heel and storms off, pushing through bodies and muttering under her breath until she disappears into the crowd.
Good.
About damn time.
The air around me finally feels like it belongs to me again. The pressure in my chest eases—but only for a second. Because even with Mel gone, my gaze drifts across the room… straight to Aubrey.
And the second I find her, everything in me settles—and ignites all at once.
She’s laughing at something Justin says, head tipped slightly, hair falling over her shoulder in a way that wrecks me. She hasn’t looked at me once since he’s been there. Not once.
“Cameron fucking Hollis. I hate that guy,” Kade says suddenly, cutting right through the spiral in my head. “Well, not hate. You know what I mean.”
I tear my eyes away from her and turn toward Kade. “Why would you hate him?”
“He took Liv on a date when she first got here.” Kade shrugs, though irritation flickers in his eyes. “I mean, it was a shit one and Liv hated every minute of it, but that’s not the point. Doesn’t matter anyway. I got the girl in the end.”
His words hit harder than they should. I glance back toward Aubrey and Liv’s table—right as Justin leans in to say something to Aubrey, making her laugh again making my jaw clench hard enough to crack.
It kills me—actually physically hurts—that I can’t just go over there and pull her into my arms and make it obvious to everyone in this place that she’s mine.
“Come on, let’s go over there.” Kade stands, bee lining for Liv, and Clay and Brandon push back their chairs to follow.
I rise too, unable to stop myself from trailing after them.
“Ladies,” Kade says with a grin as he wraps an arm around Liv and pulls her into his side—staking his claim in front of Cameron without even needing to. He turns to the guys and nods. “Justin. Cameron.”
They nod back in greeting.
But my attention isn’t on them.
It’s locked on Aubrey.
She’s not looking at me. On purpose. Her gaze bounces between Liv, the drinks, the table—anywhere but me. Like avoiding my eyes is the only way to keep her walls up.
I’m desperate—aching—for her to look at me.
Just once, so I can read her, feel her, understand what’s going on in that beautiful, stubborn head of hers.
But she keeps her eyes everywhere else—everywhere but on me.
When Justin mentions he’s heading to the bar, Aubrey practically launches herself off her seat to follow him—like a damn shadow, glued to him.
Like a little sheep.
And it sets my blood on fucking fire.
I don’t wait. I don’t think. I push away from the table and head straight for the bar, the noise of Kade and the guys fading into nothing. All I can see—all I can focus on—is Aubrey’s figure at the counter, standing way too close to Justin.
Justin catches sight of me over Aubrey’s shoulder. His eyes go wide—full panic.
“Trent,” he blurts, swallowing hard.
I don’t answer. I don’t even blink at him. My entire body is locked at Aubrey’s back, her hair brushing down the spine I’ve kissed a hundred times.
Justin glances between the two of us, then wisely mutters, “I, uh… need the restroom,” before bolting away like the building’s on fire.
Good.
I wait a beat. Just one. Certain she’ll turn around now that we’re alone.
She doesn’t.
She stands there like I’m invisible.
My patience snaps.
“What the fuck is going on right now?” I growl as I step in close, leaning in beside her.
She pretends she doesn’t hear me.
“Aubrey.” I snap, louder than I should.
Her head whips around, eyes blazing. “What!”
My jaw clenches. “What the fuck is wrong with you right now? You’ve barely looked at me. You’re not talking to me.”
“I have nothing to say,” she fires back, her voice sharp enough to cut.
“Are you serious right now?”
Her gaze doesn’t waver. “Deadly.”
My chest tightens, frustration mixed with confusion clawing up my throat. “What’s happened between this morning and now? Because whatever the fuck it is, it would be a hell of a lot easier if you clued me in.”
She lets out a bitter laugh—no humor, just anger. “Why don’t you go cozy back up with Mel? I’m sure she’s missing your company.” She spits the words like venom.
Before I can get a single damn word out, Justin reappears beside her, his eyes bouncing between the two of us like he just walked into a live minefield.
“Everything okay here?” he asks carefully, brows raised.
“Everything’s fine,” Aubrey snaps before I can answer. She grabs a couple of the drinks off the bar with shaking hands and walks off—fast—putting distance between us like she needs it to breathe. Justin hovers for a beat, gives me this uneasy look, then follows after her.
And I’m left standing there.
Absolutely fucking reeling.
Because none of this makes sense—and all of it hurts like hell.