Page 11 of Striking Range

“You think I’m cool?” he purrs. I say nothing. “Say it again. Come on, Evie. Tell me how cool you think I am.”

Grabbing his bare thigh, I tug lightly. “I think you’re very cool, puppy. Now come down before I lose it. Please.”

Skylar rests his palm on the top of my head, his fingers wrapping around the various strands of my hair, laughing as he leans back up.

He’s shaking his head, looking so radiant and so fucking happy I can barely breathe.

“I am jumping,” he declares. “You can’t stop me! Now, move so I can dare someone to do something dirty.”

Alright, well now I’m not breathing at all. I choke on the remaining air in my lungs, staring up at him with wide, helpless eyes. In fact, I’m so startled that Kelly is able to grab my arm and pull me to the side.

Skylar turns and is on the ground a second later, having successfully completed his backflip before I could even register the situation unfolding around me.

Here’s the thing: Skylar doesn’t get sexual. Actually, he’s always said that no girl is good enough for him—that he doesn’t have desires the way other guys do. So, this? Well, it’s new.

“Damn!” Kelly yells, poking his leg from where she is sitting once again.

Skylar giggles, turning to place a hand over my heated cheek. “See, Evie? Super cool, right?”

I turn away from him and take my seat. I don’t think I’ve ever been so irritated with him, and whether it’s from the alcohol or the fact that he could have just broken his neck—or maybe that everyone is seeing him in his underwear—I don’t know.

I’m fucked up, and I’m concerned.

Skylar takes his place next to me, leaning into my space with probing eyes.

“What?” I snap.

“Stop being mad at me. You’re ruining my birthday.”

I internally sigh, reminding myself that he’s safe now and I can be as mad as I want tomorrow. “Fine. But you’re in trouble later.”

Once again, that grin, that evil, flirty little grin, appears on his lips. “Can’t wait.”

I force myself to look away.

A fun fact about me? I’ve always been into women. Really into women. Yet it appears that somewhere along the way, a perverted desire has appeared within me. But if I keep reminding myself of my normal attraction, if I keep picturing the consequences of acting on these urges I feel, then I can keep to my path in life.

The one I’ve been molded to follow; the only real option I have. Being attracted to Skylar is not a path I am able to take.

For me, it is wrong.

“Dante, truth or dare?” Skylar asks, pulling me away from the mental chastising I was stuck in.

“Truth.” It appears that Dante is playing it safe.

“When was the last time you had your dick sucked, and how long did you last?”

My eyes snap to Skylar, who is smirking at his teammate between sips from his cup. Dante is laughing, sure, but I’m sitting in a state of shock.

Who the fuck is sitting next to me, and what did he do with my little puppy?!

“This morning, and I’m not exactly sure how long, but she did complain about lockjaw,” Dante answers.

Cheers go up around the room at his bragging, and I’m trying to react, but I really can’t get my mind off Skylar’s sudden shift in behavior. Or the fact that he never put his pants back on and his bare thigh keeps brushing against my jean-covered one!

I’m going to die on Skylar’s birthday.

As it gets to Henry’s turn, he looks straight at me and asks, “Truth or dare, Everett?”