Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 80261 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80261 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Hayes town was about forty-five minutes from mine. It was yet another reason why I chose his bar. It was far enough to where I wouldn’t have to worry about running into anyone I knew and getting back to my family.
I answered Cove. “I’m not so sure anymore.”
“I’m sorry about Hayes, Haven.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“Doesn’t feel that way to me. If it weren’t for me dragging you there than you would have never met him and felt this way.”
“Yeah…” I agreed jokingly. “It’s kind of your fault.”
She frowned.
“I’m kidding.” Changing the subject, I asked, “What’s going on with you and that guy you keep seeing there?”
“Meh.”
“He seems really into you.”
“He’s all right.”
“You’re not into him?”
“I like him enough to keep him on the sidelines. You know how I like to change out my roster.”
I laughed. “You’re horrible.”
“I know.” She smirked. “You know, I’m a little jealous of what you have with Hayes.”
“What? I don’t have anything with him.”
“You can’t seriously believe that.”
“How can I not?”
“Ummm… The man literally beat someone senseless for you.”
“That’s because he’s on this crusade to keep me safe.”
“Exactly. You have this guy that’s willing and able to kill for you. That’s damn sexy.”
“Are you deluded?”
“I wish I had someone who’d kill for me. It’s like the ultimate sign of devotion.”
“You’re reading why too many romance books.”
“I can’t help that I like the anti-hero.”
“Isn’t that the villain?”
“Depends on who you’re asking.”
“I honestly don’t understand him, Cove. He’s the most confusing man on the planet.”
“Hate to break it to you, Haven, but most men are.”
“Is this why my brothers don’t date? Maybe they’re onto something?”
“Talk about a shot to the heart,” Adam, the quarterback at our school chimed in, bringing our attention over to him. “Don’t tell me I lost my chance with Hayes Beckham?”
I rolled my eyes at him.
He was a relentless flirt.
“But I’d settle for Cove Noel. Or better yet, how about the both of you at the same time?”
“Wow,” she breathed out. “Like we haven’t heard that one before.”
“I’m sure you hear it several times a day, but it doesn’t make it any less true.”
Cove shrieked when one of the linebackers, Rob, threw her over his shoulder.
My hands instinctively went out in front of me. However, it didn’t matter. Adam tossed me over his shoulder too.
“I always wanted your ass in my face.”
“Adam! You’re shameless! Put me down!”
He did, backing me into his car to cage me in with his arms. “Damn, you smell good. This uniform on you, Haven. It’s everything.”
“Okay, Casanova. You’re drunk.”
“You’re captain, I’m captain. We should do something about that.”
“You’re not driving home, right?”
“I can drive.”
“No, you can’t. You need to call an Uber.”
“Why don’t you drive me home?”
I sighed, looking around the parking lot. It seemed like everyone was drinking.
“You owe me.”
“I can’t wait to pay up, baby.”
“Cove!” I shouted. “I’m going to drive drunkity home! I’ll call you tomorrow!”
“Okay!” she yelled, dancing around with Rob.
It didn’t take longer than five minutes for Adam to pass out in the passenger seat of my car. Now getting him out of it was a different story. That shit took forever. I was finally able to get him to stand after ten minutes of him trying to touch my ass.
On my way home, I realized I left a notebook I needed for class on Hayes’s desk. He was the last person I wanted to see. Especially after we left things. After he once again treated me like shit, I left. I was tired of fighting for someone who wasn’t mine to begin with.
Since the bar was packed to the brim with people, I used the side entrance, running into Mark on the way to his office.
“I wouldn’t go in there if I were you.”
My heart immediately dropped to the floor, thinking he was with another woman.
“He’s in a shit mood. Even for him.”
I breathed out a sigh of relief.
“Don’t count your blessings, Haven. I’m serious. Steer clear of him.”
“But my notebook is in there.”
“Well shit. Good luck then.”
“Great…”
Feeling like I was about to enter a war zone, I prepared for battle and knocked on his door.
“Fuck off!” he roared on the other side.
With wide eyes, I opened the door.
“What part of fuck off did not—”
His glare landed on me and for some reason, I innocently smiled.
“Hi.”
Narrowing his venomous stare that quickly turned predatory, he took in my cheerleading uniform I was still wearing. It was the first time he’d seen me in it.
There was something about the way he was openly gawking at me and didn’t say one word.
Not one fucking word.
That had me witnessing this torment in his usual dark, callused glare. The internal conflict he was showcasing was a silent battle in a matter of seconds.
For some reason, I wanted to stay lost in his eyes at that moment, savoring the way he was openly looking at me. The way he pulled every sentiment from my body as if it belonged to him. Especially the way I was making him feel.