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When I remain silent, unsure what to say, she presses her palms against my chest and gives me a shove. Even though I’ve got muscle on top of muscle and weigh a solid seventy pounds more than she does, I fall back a step. The little bit of space she created is just enough for her to slip away.
Without another glance, she stalks toward the main area of the bar.
A potent concoction of desperation and jealousy spirals through me. It’s a lethal combination, and the only logical explanation for the reason I blurt, “Miles wouldn’t like it.”
She screeches to a halt as her shoulders stiffen. She throws an icy glare over her shoulder. “Miles isn’t here, now is he?”
Her words rob the air from my lungs. With that, she disappears around the corner.
No matter what I do or say, it’s always the wrong thing. I’m no closer to chipping away at the armor that protects her than I was a few weeks ago.
It’s so fucking tempting to smash my fist into the wall, but deep inside, I know it won’t do a damn bit of good.
It won’t change the past or anything between us.
Chapter 20
Fallyn
Four hours later and I’m still shaking with unspent anger.
How fucking dare he bring up Miles!
Even thinking about my brother is like a knife through the heart. That’s all it takes for pain to radiate throughout my entire being until it pulses with a life of its own. It’s impossible to imagine a time when that won’t be the case.
I avoid Wolf and the table of hockey players he’s parked with for the remainder of my shift and allow Erin to wait on them. From the corner of my eye, I watch a ridiculous number of girls buzz around him like drunken bees, trying to capture his attention. Maybe if they did, he’d stop staring at me like I’m the only thing he’s cognizant of. No matter where I go, his broody gaze is sure to follow.
It’s a relief when Sully flicks on the overhead lights and tells everyone that they don’t need to go home, but they can’t stay here. Just like all the other nights I’ve been working, everyone groans. I think it’s become more of a joke than anything else. A few guys mention an after party happening near campus and try to convince me to make an appearance. They joke about being the ones to serve me a beverage of my choice. Instead of giving them a flat-out refusal, I shrug and remain noncommittal.
After working a seven-hour shift, I have zero interest in hanging out or partying. I’m exhausted. What I’m looking forward to is taking a quick shower and falling face first into bed. The guy who was hitting on me earlier sidles up before glancing around.
“So…are you and Wolf a, you know, thing?”
I shake my head, wanting to quash that rumor that spread through the bar tonight like wildfire. “Nope.”
Skepticism fills his narrowed eyes. “Are you sure about that? Because it kind of seemed like?—”
“He’s a family friend and nothing more.”
With a nod, his muscles loosen. A small smile quirks the corners of his lips. “Okay, good. He’s not a guy I want to piss off, you know what I mean?”
“Yup, I do,” I say with an aggravated sigh.
Even though he’s kind of cute with blond hair that falls over his dark brown eyes, the way he’s been skulking about, glancing over my shoulder as if Wolf will pop up at any moment and take a chunk out of him with his teeth is enough to nip any possible interest I might have been feeling in the bud. Not that there was much to begin with.
He shifts from one foot to the other before raking one hand through his thick strands. “I was wondering if you might want to get together sometime. Maybe go to a hockey game or see a movie. Whatever you want.”
The muscles in my belly contract with dread.
“Umm…”
He’s not the first guy to ask me out tonight, and I’ve shot them all down with a pleasant smile pasted across my lips. “Thanks, but I’m taking a break from the dating scene.” I clear my throat when he continues to stare and force myself to add, “Bad breakup.”
He sidles closer and drops his voice. “We can just smash if that’s more your style. I don’t mind.”
Ewww.
I take a hasty step in retreat, wanting more distance between us. And even then, it’s not enough.
