“Please.” He pulled out his wallet, bruised knuckles catching the light as he plucked a crisp bill from the billfold.
The bands around her chest tightened. “Rough game last night?” She took the money and rubbed at the knot building behind her sternum.
He kneaded the back of his injured hand. “This is from a few days ago.” He met her eyes with a pointed stare, his dark gaze saying everything his words weren’t. He was the one who’d punched Johnny. “It’s on the mend. Linc’s look worse.”
Her eyes widened before darting to Molly, who shifted in her seat.
“What happened to Linc’s knuckles?”
Austin’s eyes narrowed. “Got thrown out of the game for fighting.” He glanced at Molly before raising his eyebrows. “I figured you’d know already.”
Cleo pulled her lip between her teeth and gnawed on it before shaking her head. “Who?”
He flexed his hand. “Johnny.”
A hand fluttered to her open mouth. “So when you say thrown out, you mean…”
“Coach sent him home for laying into one of his own, yeah. Asshole deserved it though.” Whatever Austin saw pass over her face made him hurry to follow up. “He didn’t say anything about you this time. Took a shot at Linc about his art or some shit.” He chuckled. “Seems Johnny was the last to know about Linc’s skills.”
“You knew?”
“A bunch of us did. Kinda hard to keep a secret when you’re part of a team as close-knit as ours. Linc seemed bent out of shape about it though, so we played dumb, let him think he was Hermione Grangering the shit out of his year with that time turner thing they gave her. At least we did, until Johnny opened his damn mouth. Dude has a death wish – sooner he’s out of here the better.”
Cleo let his words seep into her brain for a moment.
“Are the rumors true then?” Molly’s eyes twitched with anticipation. She sucked at hiding her excitement when she got wind of a story.
“Seems that way. He’s on the move, 50:50 says whether it’s ‘Bama or Chi-town. Either way, we’ll be glad to see the back of him. He’s wet rot. And no…” He pointed a finger at her. “You can’t quote me on that.”
“Is Linc okay?” Cleo handed him the drink.
Austin shrugged. “Doubt it.” He turned toward the door.
“Austin?”
He paused, glancing over his shoulder.
“Why’d you do it?” She gestured at his hand.
“I fight. It’s what I do.”
Cleo laughed despite the apprehension stirring in her stomach. “You don’t just go around punching randos, Austin.”
He pursed his lips and took a sip from the to-go cup. “It’s a family thing.”
She wanted to press him further, but the door opened and he made a swift exit. A woman walked in holding a superhero gift bag.
“Hey, if it isn’t romance novel girl!” Molly’s eyes brightened with recognition.
“Ah! The romance cynic. I’m Sabrina.”
“Molly, and that’s Cleo.” She jerked her chin over her shoulder.
Sabrina laughed, a belly laugh that shook her whole body. “I know who you both are – ha! That sounds kinda stalker-creepy, doesn’t it? I don’t mean it like that. I met Cleo at the blackout party.”
Cleo scrunched her face up, trying to place the woman. “Spin the bottle?”
Sabrina nodded. “Yeah. What is it about college parties that turns fully grown adults into kids again?” She snorted. “Spin the bottle. I didn’t even play it as a child, but gimme a few red solo cups full of liquor of questionable origin and I’m buzzing with the thrill of having to mack on a complete stranger.”
