Page 65 of Unforgettable Player

His eyes burn into me, and it’s like he’s superimposing all the images of us together into me. My whole body heats up when I think about the way he moans when I’m inside him, how he bites his lip and how his eyes roll when he comes.

I take a tentative step closer and stroke the side of his hand.

He shakes his head. “No, I don’t want to stop.”

I bring my other hand up to cup his face. Run my fingers through his hair like I’ve wanted to since the second I saw him walk in with that other guy. His eyelids flutter as my fingers tangle in his hair.

I can’t help myself any longer, I bend down enough to kiss him. He accepts it with a soft groan.

My hand still tangled in his hair, I press myself closer to him while I slip my tongue in his mouth, not caring that I’m hard as fuck and will need to calm down before I go back out there and face my sister and a bunch of strangers.

A noise forces us apart. When I turn around, Gabe is standing there, staring at us with wide eyes. He definitely just saw us making out.

He splutters something unintelligible before rushing out of the bathroom again.

“Shit,” Eli says, brushing past me to go after him.

I follow. I’m pretty sure this guy isn’t gonna hurt Eli, but I won’t take any chances. When I get out there, Gabe’s rejoined the group. I try to pull Eli aside, but before I can get to him, Scout's shouting, “Connor, Gabe challenges you to a dual.”

I turn to her, confused. “A what?”

“Air hockey, duh.”

I square my shoulders and step up to the machine. Gabe already has his paddle in hand and is staring me down. I’m in the wrong here, but every scrap of competitiveness in me rears its head and roars. Bring it on, Bookstore Jerk.

ELLIOT

Oh God, what is happening?

I try to blend into the group while Connor steps up to the machine and takes his paddle in hand. He and Gabe are glaring at each other over the table like they’re about to drop the paddles and start punching each other like it’s an actual hockey game.

Maybe I should be flattered that two guys are fighting over me, but I’m not. I just feel like a shitty person for leading Gabe on and hooking up with my best friend’s brother behind her back.

I want to run out of here and get far away from this battle, but me leaving would only draw attention.

Scout is loving this. She’s holding her Shirley Temple like it’s a margarita and is about one step away from shouting, Fight, fight, fight!

The game starts. Gabe and Connor smack the disc so hard the sound rings out over the noisy arcade machines. The look of concentration on Connor’s face tells me he’s desperate to beat Gabe at this.

He gives the disc a good whack and it flies into Gabe’s slot so fast he has no time to react.

“Yes!” Connor celebrates. I look away in case our eyes meet. I don’t think I like this competitive, asshole version of Connor. He kissed a guy Gabe was dating. Gabe is the one who has been led on. Yet Connor’s acting like a gladiator in the arena about to face down a lion with nothing more than a blunt spear?

When Connor looks over at me, he must see something in my expression, because his triumphant smile fades and his shoulders slump.

“Ready?” Gabe asks him.

Connor turns back to the game. “Huh? Oh, yeah.”

They go again. This time, Connor doesn’t have that crazed look in his eyes. He’s still matching Gabe shot for shot, but it’s less frenzied. That feral need to win isn’t present.

Gabe gets the disc in Connor’s slot and celebrates. I’m sure Connor’s disappointment is feigned.

They play on like this until Gabe takes the game. I lost track of the score at some point. I only know Gabe won because he’s celebrating.

I wait for that mask slip I saw in the kitchen. But he isn’t even listening to her. He’s watching me, uncertainty in his eyes.

Brad steps forward and slaps him on the shoulder in a conciliatory manner before offering to play the winner, but Gabe steps back from the table, offering his paddle to someone else. Scout steps up with a feral look in her eyes and grins menacingly at Brad. Poor Brad looks like he’s questioning his life choices.