Clipped by Love (Bellevue Bullies #2) (38 page)

But like my momma said, I won’t be a doormat.

She knows what I want—the puck’s in her zone, there are thirty seconds left on the clock, and it’s her play to make.

I’m just hoping I’m the winning goal.

“I heard you and Mom talking.”

Looking from my bunk, I watch as Jace puts his clothes away, and for a second I think I heard him wrong. “What?”

“When you were talking to Mom about Baylor,” he says, looking back at me. “She’s right. Don’t be a doormat.”

My brows come together as I look at him, confused. I don’t like that he heard me talking to my mom about a private situation. “Didn’t plan on it.”

“I don’t know. I think she’s got you all kinds of fucked up, and you still feel bad for what you said about her mom not wanting her, and now, with you beating her.”

Leaning my shoulder to the bar of my bed, I shrug. “Maybe so, but I’m not gonna beg her to be with me, if that’s what you’re worried about. I have my pride, Jace.”

He scoffs as he shakes his head. “I just think that maybe you should let it be, ya know? There are plenty of girls out there. The dance tryouts are coming up, and I bet you can bag one of those girls. You’re not ugly.”

Laughing, I say, “Well, thanks.”

He smirks as he shrugs. “I’m just saying that she’s not worth it, you know?”

I completely disagree, though.

Glaring at him, I ask, “Why does it matter to you?”

“Because you’re Mom with a dick, dude, and it kills me to watch her be sad over Dad,” he says softly. “I just can’t do you too. It’s hard enough watching Lucy and Mom be heartbroken. It makes me not even want to fool with being with anyone.”

“Don’t worry about me, Jace,” I say softly. “I know what I’m doing.”

“Does anyone know what they are doing when it comes to loving someone? I mean, really, look at Jude. Manwhore turned one-woman dude picking out curtains. Love is scary.”

“Yeah, it is,” I agree. “But believe me, I got a hold on this Baylor thing.”

“You don’t have a hold on anything. That chick is like a bear. She isn’t sure if she wants to cuddle or if she wants to rip your face off.”

Scoffing, I nod my head as I come off the bed to reach for my bag so I can put my clothes away. “While you are completely right, I got it.”

“I hope you’re right,” he says, and then he reaches for the beanie that’s on the dresser. I know at first glance it’s Jude’s, and I reach for it. “Hey!”

“Hey nothing, that’s Jude’s good luck beanie. He wore it the day we won the Cup last year. He left it for the next captain.”

“That’s not fair! I want it,” Jace complains, but I stick my tongue out at him.

“Don’t care,” I say back just as the door opens and Markus pops his head in.

“Yo, we’re going out, you guys down?”

“Where?” Jace asks as I pull the beanie down on my head. I already feel luckier. “And who’s going?”

“The Gilroy,” he says and then starts naming off names. When he says Baylor’s, I look up. I really didn’t feel like going anywhere, but I haven’t seen Baylor since she walked away from me earlier this morning.

“Baylor is going?” I ask, and he nods.

“Yeah, surprising, right?”

“I heard that, asshole,” she says then punches him in the arm.

“Hey, just saying. And also, it’s good she’s going. She can supply the booze.”

“’Cause I want to go to jail,” she says, rolling her eyes. She has her leather jacket hanging loosely over her arm. And I’m thanking the heavens because it makes it easy to see her low-cut tank that shows off the sides of her breasts and her black bra in a very punk-rock way. Her jeans hang low on her waist; her lips are red and glossy, and her hair’s up in a high bun. The smile on her face is forced, and when she looks at me, her eyes don’t meet mine but go above my head. Rolling my eyes, I look away as she asks, “You guys coming?”

“Yeah, I’m down,” Jace says, throwing his clothes on the bed. “I’ll put these away later.” He then looks back at me. “You wanna go, Jayden?”

Watching her, I wait to answer until finally she meets my gaze. Biting into her bottom lip, her cheeks redden as she shrugs and she says, “It’ll be fun, but I understand if you’re too tired from all the strenuous activity you did today.”

Scoffing, I shake my head. “Don’t worry, princess. I could go for way more strenuous activity.”

Heat fills her eyes as a slow grin curves her lips. Arching her back, she holds my gaze, and I don’t know how to read that. I want to take it as her telling me to come get some, but that would only apply to normal-girl body language. Baylor’s body language is completely different; she could be teasing me for all I know. In all reality, she probably is, and when I get close enough, she’ll punch me.

Violent one, that one is.

“Yeah, this is weird,” Jace says then, but I’m not looking away until she does.

“Yeah, are you sure they’re not doing it?” Markus asks.

“He told me no. I don’t know though,” Jace answers, and I can feel them staring at us. “If they are, they need to tone it down before other people find out.”

“True, do you think they’re listening?” Markus asks.

I scoff before running my tongue along my lips in the slowest and most sexual way. Her grin grows as her eyes darken to a brownish color, heat creeping down her throat.

“I think he’s doing the mating call of his people,” Jace observes.

“Yeah, she’ll be humping his leg soon. Even I’m turned on by that,” Markus says and I can’t help it, I burst out laughing.

“Fuck off, Markus. I don’t hump legs,” she snaps, smacking his arm again.

“Sure, you don’t,” he says, rubbing his arm as she turns.

But then she pauses, giving me one last look before walking down the hall.

“Y’all are dicks,” I say, grabbing my coat. “Let’s go.”

“We weren’t the ones having mental sex with each other!” Jace says to my back.

“Yeah, get a room next time,” Markus calls at me, and I just grin.

That’s my plan.

I’
m having a blast.

I usually don’t go to bars like the Gilroy. Back in Arkansas, Delanie and I would go to frat parties since they didn’t have a place like this on campus. But I’ve decided that all campuses need a place like the Gilroy. It’s amazing, and I can’t wait to take Delanie and Mandie here when they come to visit. Which isn’t for another couple weeks, but until then, I’ve decided that I’m going to try to make friends with my teammates. It’s what’s best for me and will make me a better person, I feel. The guys are great too, well, except McCarthy, but as long as I ignore him, I’m good.

But it’s hard to ignore Jayden.

And that whole thing is still up in the air.

He looks scrumptious tonight, but then he always looks great. I think it’s because I slept with him though that he looks extra hot. He’s wearing a thin teal tee with a pair of khaki shorts, looking like he stepped right off the beach, minus the black beanie he wears. Not sure what is up with that thing, but it’s funny because the last time I had this much fun was when we were in Florida, playing beer pong. I don’t know what it is, but every time I’m around this guy, I’m smiling.

And it isn’t a fake smile.

That should tell me something, but still, I’m not sure. I keep going back and forth with the whole thing. Do I really want to get involved with someone when my future is so up in the air? Do I want to risk being with someone when I have no clue how it could turn out? So many questions, but every time I look at him… Gah, I just want him. But that worries me. Is it just sex that I want? I have no clue, and I am convinced that there is something wrong with me. Why can’t I just let go? Why can’t I just trust my heart?

Oh yeah, I did that and was burned.

I don’t know, it’s confusing and scary, but the whole getting to know my team thing and making friends is actually easier than I thought. The guys are pretty cool and very inviting. Especially Markus and Jace. The whole time we’ve been here they’ve treated me like a little sister. Showing me the ropes, dancing with me—but not too close—while making sure that no one got near me, and just being sweet. It’s nice.

Jayden hasn’t said much, though. He’s been nursing a beer and chatting with everyone, but mostly, he just been listening. It’s funny that I never noticed how he watches situations before joining in. I always thought he just jumped in, but I think he analyzes everything before he does it. The way his mind works is quite intriguing and I really want to be in it, but the best part is being under his green-eyed gaze. It’s like having a warm blanket wrapped around me. And I like it a lot.

“Jay, it’s your buy,” Jace says, and I look across the table at him.

“You can buy?”

He grins as he stands. “I’m twenty-one here,” he says with a wink.

A sexy, dirty wink that has me hot all over.

Leaning toward me, Jace whispers, “He has a fake ID.”

“Thanks for clearing that up for me, Sinclair,” I say, pushing him away with a grin. Looking back at the bar, I say, “I’m gonna help him.” I’m sure he can handle it, but I kinda want to talk to him.

“Because he needs help with four drinks!”

Ignoring Jace, I head toward the bar where he is, but as I reach him, so does another girl. A very pretty girl who’s built like a wrestler with long brown hair and killer brown eyes. Her body is sick, and if I were a dude, I’d do her.

“Jayden!” she squeals, hugging him tightly before kissing him dead on the lips.

Whoa, what the hell?

With my brows to my hairline, I stand there shocked as he grins back down at her. “Skylar, where have you been? I haven’t seen you at all this year!”

Their body language is insane. It’s obvious they have history, and of course, I instantly hate her.

“Dude, I’m doing a lot more online classes since I’m working so much for Reese,” she says before moving her finger along his hairline, brushing a stray piece to the side, and he lets her.

And I want to break each of her fingers.

“Awesome, are you doing the dance team this year?” he asks, and she nods.

“Yeah, I got your vote, right?”

He nods before giving her a wink. “Tens all the way, baby.”

Baby? What. The. Ever. Loving. Fuck!

Kissing him again, this time on the jaw, she grins at him before starting to walk away. “Look for me later, a dance, maybe? Or even more?” she adds with a wink.