“They’re all assholes. Especially Roman. I don’t want to see you get hurt. Those three can be cruel to girls after they get what they want from them.” He gives me a knowing look.
I can’t stop the heat I know is spreading across my cheeks, so I look away. Is that what’s going to happen? Is Roman going to move on now that he’s had his fun? If he does, it’s not like I should be surprised.
But I’m not looking for a relationship. I have too much baggage for something like that right now. I wanted fun, and last night I got that. Sure, this morning sucked and Roman is a complete asshole, but it’s not the end of the world either.
Aaron reaches out and tucks a strand of hair that escaped my braid behind my ear.
I still can’t see his eyes and have no idea what he’s thinking, so I go with my gut. “You don’t have to worry. We came here to have fun, right? You got laid. I got laid. Neither of us needs to make a big deal of it. Is what's-her-name you hooked up with the love of your life?”
He snorts.
“That’s what I thought. Let’s not make mountains out of molehills. How about we hang today? Just you and me and whatever friends you have here that you actually like? No Devils allowed.”
His smile widens, giving me a glimpse of dimples I hadn’t noticed before. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
SIXTEEN
Roman
She doesn’t look at me the rest of the weekend. I should have expected this. Calculated the risk. I know she’s not some meek little wallflower, no matter that she sometimes pretends to be. She’s punishing me for leaving her hanging and it’s fucking working. What was supposed to be a punishment forher, a reminder of who the fuck was in charge here, ended up backfiring on me and now I’m watching her like some lovesick dog without his bone.
I keep forgetting she isn’t like the rest of the girls here at Sun Valley High. She doesn’t give two shits who I am and she’s making that abundantly clear. She sticks close to Henderson all day Saturday, leaving me little room to swoop in and take her. Not unless I want to make a big show of it, and yeah, that’s not happening. So, I’m left to stew as she laughs with the motherfucker, drinks with him, lets him touch her. It’s not romantic. At least I don’t think it is for her. But every time that asshole throws an arm around her shoulders, I want to pummel his face in.
Allie Ramirez is mine. Mine to fuck. Mine to hurt. Mine to soothe, should I decide to. I’m itching to touch her and it’s doing things to my head I don’t like.
“Ro, what’s your deal, man?” Dom asks as I brood on the cabin porch sipping on a glass of water, nursing back a bit of a hangover from the night before. I don’t drink often. None of us do. Football is too important. But the few beers and the game of beer pong are leaving their mark today. “I figured you’d fuck the girl out of your system and walk away. What gives?”
I grunt. “Maybe I just want a few more fucks before I move along.”
Before I finish the sentence, he’s already shaking his head. “Nah. I’ve seen you with girls. This one is different. I get the whole mind-games shit you like to pull with chicks, but even that’s different with her. You cooked last night, and don’t try and bullshit me into believing that was for me or Emilio. You did that for her. Why?”
Emilio interrupts, stepping outside, still rocking that stupid bright ass bikini over his sweat pants. “I like Allie. Can we keep her?”
Dom and I both jerk our heads toward him. “What?” I ask, surprise coloring my voice.
“I said, can we keep her?”
"She’s not a puppy,” Dom chides, but his brows furrow like he’s wondering the same thing.
“Why?” I ask again.
Emilio rolls his eyes. “Hello, I just said because I like her. Are you even paying attention? What is up with you today, man?”
I turn to Dom but all he does is shrug and raise a brow as if to say,don’t ask me.Some help he is. I don’t get this side of Emilio. Sure, the guy’s nice to pretty much everyone, but only at face value. He doesn’t actually like people. I don’t even think he cares for Dom or I all that much and we’re his best fucking friends.
“What happened to you two fuckers saying I needed to focus on the field?”
“I changed my mind. I wanna keep her. If you’re not into her anymore now that you’ve had your fun just say the word. I don’t mind sloppy seconds. Based on the sounds I heard coming from your room last night, that girl is well worth the trouble.”
I stand and take a menacing step toward my best friend, ready to nail the asshole in the face with my fist when Dom steps between us. “What are you planning here?”
“To wipe that smug look off his face.” I point my water bottle right at Emilio and the fucker smiles at me.
Dom shakes his head. “Not with numb nuts over there. What are you planning with Allie?”
My jaw tightens and I glare at him. “I don’t have any plans,” I bite out, “Why the fuck are you two down my throat about her all of a sudden?”
