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“Yeah, that’s Clarissa.” My stomach twists at the sound of her laugh and I really hope she has the common sense to not come over here. I haven’t seen her since the night at the bar where the boys had to physically intervene to keep her away. I don’t know what it is about me that makes her want to come back. I feel like I've humiliated her more than enough times. Got her banned from hockey events. Publicly rejected her. What else could I possibly do to get the word no through her head?
Torryn’s hand tightens around mine. “Hmm.”
My head snaps to the side, studying her. I don’t know that hmm. But I know that was not a good hmm. The less syllables she uses, the more pissed she is.
She releases my hand, patting the back of it before she stands. “What are you doing?” I ask, worried as I try to catch her hand back in mine. She pats me on the shoulder and I look to Isla for help but her face is already in her hands as she shakes her head. She makes no attempt to stop her best friend. Stop her from what? I’m not exactly sure yet. But I have the very distinct feeling I should be trying to stop whatever is about to happen.
“I’ll be right back,” she says instead of answering me.
“Trouble,” I warn, but it’s too late. She’s already walking away, an extra sway to her hips and I can’t help but let my eyes drift to her ass as she walks. Dammit. She did that on purpose to distract me.
“Where is she going?” Beau asks around a mouthful of fries.
Isla snickers, making the rest of us turn to her. “She really does not like that Clarissa chick,” she explains.
I groan. I had hoped I was wrong, but as my eyes flick back to Torryn, she is in fact walking up to the group Clarissa just walked in with.
“What is she going to do?” Wells whispers as Tor taps Clarissa on the shoulder and takes a step back.
All eyes are glued on the interaction and Isla just giggles. Not helpful, woman. Not helpful at all. Clarissa’s blonde hair flows around her as she turns toward Torryn, her lips already turned down in a sneer. There’s no chance to see anything else before Tor pulls her arm back and punches Clarissa in the face hard enough for her body to crumple where she stands.
My mouth drops open in shock, and I'm not the only one as the entire room holds their breath. Torryn leans down, grabbing her by the hair and lifting her to say something in the crying girl’s ear that we have no chance of hearing from across the room. Before anyone in her group has a chance to react, Torryn drops her grip and spins on her heel, heading back toward our table, a smug and satisfied smile in place.
Isla’s giggles make more sense now as she bursts out into laughter, wiping tears from her eyes. She knew exactly what was coming. “I told you, she really doesn’t like her.”
“Why?” Wells asks, finally shutting his mouth from where it was gaping at the scene that just unfolded. He looks at me with questions in his eyes as if he can’t quite believe I would have told her the truth.
I run my fingers through my hair one more time. “I may have told her about that night,” I confess.
Wells looks shocked, but doesn’t have a chance to say anything. “I think I’m in love with your girl,” Beau breathes, his mouth parted softly as we all watch Torryn walk our way.
“She’s not my girl,” I respond on instinct more than anything.
He arches a brow and gives a pointed look to the screaming girl across the room, now surrounded by her friends. “Then why is she defending your honor?”
thirty-two
FRIENDS LIKE THESE
Please don’t let me regret this.
The entire drive to my grandma’s house, that’s all I can think. With a healthy dose of questioning my sanity. What was I thinking inviting the guys home with us? I feel like a single mother of five kids.
Five.
Because even Isla has abandoned me for the chaos of the guys. Does that make her the absentee father that isn’t actually absent but only knows how to be the fun-time parent? Because she’s only encouraging their antics. The endless questions about where I grew up and what my grandma is like and what the kids like to do on top of all the jokes made at Baylor’s expense. The teasing about a relationship that doesn’t actually exist. For once, Baylor is actually the most calm one. Something I never thought I would see. But his sudden change of character is only fuel to the frenzy that is his best friends ragging on him, and by proxy, me.
I’m about to initiate the quiet game just to get a moment of peace. This damn drive has never taken so long. We’re almost there though. Just a few more minutes.
“Why are you stopping?” I ask as Baylor pulls into a parking lot. “If you tell me you have to pee again?—”
He cuts me off with a flustered huff. “I’m buying your grandma flowers.”
That’s actually kind of sweet, but I refuse to let it show in my expression.
“She’d rather you all walk in shirtless,” Isla pipes up from the back, getting them started all over again.
“Is that really an option?” Beau asks, far too much excitement in his voice. “I’m game. Your grandma will love my abs.”
