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“Yo, Beckworth,” someone yells, and we both look up to find Elliot at the end of the corridor. “Team meeting, let’s go.”
Oakley glances back at me, regret swirling in his eyes. He knows what he’s done, but it’s too late.
“Come, please. I need you there, Liv. I… fuck.” He walks off, punching the lockers as he goes.
The sound reverberates inside me, making me flinch, but I don’t regret telling him no.
Maybe now he’ll stay the hell out of my business.
* * *
Charli cancelled, so I’m stuck at home, by myself. Dad and Fiona are heading to the game straight from the office, which means the house is deathly silent as I make my way upstairs with a sandwich and glass of pop.
Even if I wanted to go to the game, I won’t on principle. Oak was out of line earlier. And Reese… he can rot in hell, for all I care.
After devouring my sandwich, I grab my AirPods and stuff them in my ears, cranking up my relaxation soundtrack. It’s probably a bad idea to exercise on a full stomach, but I need the distraction.
I need to get out of my head.
What did I really think would happen when I started fooling around with Reese? That he would fall for me? That he would denounce everything he’s ever known… for me?
I should have known better.
I’m a game to him.
A toy.
Reese Whitfield doesn’t have the capacity for emotions.
But I know that isn’t true. I’ve seen another side to him. A side not many people get to see.
Irritated with myself and my inability to stop thinking about him, I roll out my yoga mat and stand tall, inhaling a deep, calming breath. Over and over, I inhale and exhale, letting the oxygen flow through me and open up my lungs, centring myself.
On the next inhale, I bend at the waist, sliding my hands down my legs into a half fold, holding the tips of my toes for a count of eight. Then, I return to a mountain pose, inhale again and this time push myself into a forward fold, the stretch of my spine almost too much. But I manage to hold it, breathing into the pose. Moving back into the mountain pose, I ready myself to move into the downward dog, widening my stance and bending at the hips. Right as my door flies open.
“What the— Reese.” I whirl around on him. “What the hell are you doing?”
“You’ve been avoiding me.”
“Yes, that’s the whole point when you’re ignoring somebody.”
“I didn’t like it.”
“I didn’t like you going on a date with Darcie, but shit happens.”
“Jesus, woman. I already told—”
“And I don’t care,” I shriek. “Anyone. It could have been anyone but her.”
His eyes drop down my body, full of lust and hunger. “Those fucking leggings,” he murmurs.
“You need to leave.”
“I will. After you give me what I need.”
“What— oh my God, you’re serious. You think that I’m going to what, get on my knees and—”
Reese pounces, grabbing me and pushing me up against the wall. “I told you what would happen, sweet cheeks.”
