Page 41 of Scoring Lessons

But there I was, forcing a grin that made my cheeks hurt. “You’re definitely buzzed, because I’m fine. Promise.” I wasn’t stupid enough to deny Owens’s allegations. He already caught me staring at her. I’d cross my fingers and hope he would forget, which seemed possible, considering everything he’d been going through with Valentina. He could deny it all he wanted, but I knew Owens. Seeing his best friend getting married to a man he didn’t deem worthy of her was slowly killing him. “I’m going to go get a drink. Want anything?”

His stare was scrutinizing, like he wasn’t sure if he could trust me. “I’m good. I’m going to head out.” He patted my back and disappeared through the crowd to look for Valentina.

I let out a sigh of relief once he was out of my sight. Instead of getting a drink, I looked around the dance floor once again. Valentina was nowhere to be found. Anderson and Kennedy were in their own little bubble. Knowing them, they were going to head out at any minute, which meant I could finally leave. Thank fuck.

Olivia appeared in my line of vision. “I thought you’d be all over the dance floor, eye-fucking someone across the room or whatever you manwhores love to do.”

I leaned back with a shrug then draped a hand over the back of the booth. “No player moves tonight. Sorry to disappoint.”

She let out a dramatic sigh as she took a seat next to me. “How will I ever learn if my professor is losing his edge?” She asked the question with a grin plastered on her face.

I huffed a laugh as my hand took a life of its own and grabbed a piece of her hair to twirl it around my finger. It was soft, like silk. For a moment, I imagined how it would feel wrapped around my hand.

Jesus Christ, Wesley, way to calm yourself down.

“I thought I told you to stop calling me that.” When my eyes landed on her face, her cheeks were flushed, probably from all the alcohol she’d been consuming. “But you just love being defiant, don’t you, Livvie girl?” My voice was low enough to keep the conversation between us.

“Busted.” Her lips turned up in a mischievous smile.

She looked more vibrant than ever. And that sent my heart ricocheting inside me like it didn’t know where to fucking land.

Shadows slid across her skin as the lights in the club flickered and shifted, mercifully dim. If they’d been any brighter, she might’ve caught the exact moment my thoughts derailed. Might’ve seen it written all over my face.

“Hey.” My best friend’s voice made me practically jump out of my skin and take a healthy distance from Olivia. thankfully, he was none the wiser. “Kennedy and I are going to head out. Can you make sure Olivia gets home safe?”

Olivia scoffed beside me. “I love it when you talk about me like I’m not even here.”

Anderson settled her with a deadpan look. “I’m too tired to fight with you.” He wrapped his arms around Kennedy and rested his chin on her shoulder. “Let’s go home?”

Kennedy nodded then looked at Olivia. “We have book club tomorrow at Aurora’s. Don’t forget!”

“Like I ever could.” Olivia wiggled her brows. “I can’t wait to talk about this book. Damon was⁠—”

“Okaaaaay, that’s enough for now. I don’t particularly care to listen to my sister and girlfriend fangirling over a fictional character.” Anderson grabbed Kennedy’s hand and practically dragged her out of the club.

I raised an eyebrow. “Now I’m curious. Who’s Damon?”

She laughed. “We read a mafia romance last month, and he was the perfect morally gray character.”

A bemused chuckle slipped out of me. “Mafia romance? Morally gray?” What the hell was she talking about?

She waved her hand in dismissal. “Too long to explain.” She sighed and rested her head against the booth. “I guess it’s only the two of us now.”

“Where’s Parker?” I asked.

“He left a while ago.”

“Alone?”

She shrugged. “Knowing him, probably not.”

Weird. He always texted me when he left with a girl.

I double-checked my phone just in case, but there was nothing from him.

“Want to go?” I asked, though knowing it was only the two of us now, extending the night as long as possible so I could spend some time with her wouldn’t have been the worst thing in the world.

Her lips pursed in doubt. “Maybe one more dance?”