Ignoring his low chuckle, I scroll through three movies before choosing one just to make him drop it. I don’t even know the name of it, only that once it starts, I’ll have an excuse to ignore him.
He’s still laughing when a flight attendant stops beside his seat. I look up and over, meeting her innocent, waiting gaze. She holds up a pair of headphones in a clear bag beside Beck’s head.
“Headphones, ma’am?”
I tap the earbud I stole from Beck. “Oh, thank you, but I don’t need those.”
“My apologies. I was instructed otherwise.” Her eyes flick to the back of the plane, and I lift my ass off the seat so I can follow them.
A wild drumbeat erupts in my chest when I see Roman watching, his fingers squeezing the life out of the headrest in front of him. He’s too far away for me to see much, but I’d recognize that scowl anywhere. Without looking away from him, I extend my hand to the flight attendant.
“On second thought, an extra pair wouldn’t hurt.”
She doesn’t say another word before carrying on down the aisle. I bring the headphones to my lap and inspect them. They’re the uncomfortable type, but that’s the last thing I care about right now since I won’t be wearing them.
No, they’re coming to my hotel room with me and then, with any luck, Roman’s.
20
BRIELLE
My dress tugsat my stomach as I try and push past the behemoth that is Kellan Pike in the tight confines of the party bus. His giant knees create a walking hazard due to his rather inappropriate manspreading, so I do the only thing I can think of and reach down to shove them out of my way.
The right fielder doesn’t so much as grunt when I grip his shoulder and climb over the first leg, glaring daggers at his dopey smile. My dress isn’t long enough to be doing this, and I’m already in a bad enough mood. At this rate, I’m going to wind up stabbing someone with my heel.
“It’s very obvious why none of you have girlfriends, by the way,” I announce to no one in particular when I make it over Kellan’s legs.
Aubrey’s falling onto the leather bench between Finn and Asher, so I aim for the gap beside the broody, quiet one. I won’t make the same mistake of sitting next to Beck this time and setting myself up for another few hours spent dodging his flirty comments and digs about my not-so-secret interest in his manager.
By the time the plane landed earlier today and we finally deboarded, I was contemplating whether I actually could last in prison.
I shared a ride to the hotel with Aubrey, Finn, and, unfortunately, Wes. He wouldn’t let me go without him, and thus the start of my really terrible mood. Not only did I just spend five hours dealing with Beck, but then another hour on the 401 with a driver who couldn’t pick a speed to save his life and a sulking older brother.
Even now, I can feel him staring at me with those innocent eyes and an annoying, dramatic pout. He’s too close for me to completely ignore, but too far to pick up a conversation with, at least. I’ll take a win, no matter how small.
“Manspreading is an epidemic,” Aubrey announces, pointing a finger at me.
I clap. “Thank you!”
“We’ve got goodies between our legs, ladies. It’s natural for us to want to create a bit of room for them,” Beck explains, sounding perfectly punchable.
Finn laughs while reaching for a bottle of champagne. I cock a brow at the group of alcoholic beverages stored in here for us, and for a second, wonder how much renting this giant bus cost. The thought bubble pops a beat later when I remember who I’m with.
Last year, Jett rented an entire movie theatre for his daughter Sara’s birthday party and had every player on the team invited to watch a special viewing of her favourite movie,Tangled. That included about twenty kids and extended family members, not to mention her classmates from school.
This bus is nothing.
“Goodies is generous,” Aubrey mutters.
My brother leans forward over his knees and grins. “Shit, Finn. Got anything to say for yourself?”
“Has he been disappointing you, Aubs? Because I, for one, would be happy to volunteer—fuck, Finn! Christ!”
Loud laughter breaks out when Finn reaches across the aisle and backhands the wide gap of space between Wes’ legs. My brother folds further forward with his hands between his legs, cupping his groin as he moans in pain.
“Yeah, goodieswasgenerous,” Finn mutters, shooting a final glare at Wes before kissing Aubrey’s temple.
Beck claps Finn on the back and starts barking. “Woof woof. Good boy.”
