Page 79 of Keep Me
“I think you know.”
“Do I?”
“Yes. I want Britt, and you’re standing in the way.”
Well, I couldn’t fault a guy for being so up front about it. Too bad he had no chance with her. I didn’t clam up, which was good, but it was probably also because I had bigger things to worry about. Like telling her the truth about our Vegas wedding.
“Am I? Why’s that? Are you trying to date her?”
“Would it bother you if I was?”
“Yes. Very much so.” I wasn’t in the mood for any bullshit, and this idiot was getting on my nerves.
Erik leaned back, taking me in with raised brows. “Wow… You two are more fucked up than I thought.”
“What are you talking about?” I was ready to push my chair back and throw a punch. I’d had enough of this shit, and this night, for that matter.
He let out a low whistle before turning his attention to my wife. Still so lost in her own world, she hadn’t noticed the two men who were obsessed with her sitting next to each other and watching her. “You and Britt. I don’t know what kind of star-crossed lovers bullshit you’ve got going on, but I’m here to tell you man-to-man that putting a girl like that on the shelf is a bitch move.”
He was so direct. I kind of liked it. Not that I’d let him know that.
I rolled my eyes. “I think you’ll find she’s the one that’s put herself on the shelf.”
Erik’s smile grew into a grin. “Because she thinks you’re in love with someone else. Now, personally, I think you’re an asshole for leading two girls on at the same time, but who am I to judge. I have a different girl in my bed every week, but at least I’m honest about who I am. You’re an ass because you put on this innocent-beta-boy persona when really, you’re just as much of an asshole as the rest of us.”
“I’m not leading two girls on.”
“Sure,” he drawled out. “That’s why you came to Covey’s Cantina with one girl and tried to leave with another.”
“That’s not what happened. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He raised his hands and let out another sarcastic chuckle. “All I’m saying is, if you want a girl like Britt, you’ve got to man up and be somebody.” His lip curled as he looked at me one more time. “I mean, look at you. How much have you drunk tonight? You’re supposed to be representing the best of the best at Covey U, and you smell awful. You look like you haven’t slept in days.”
To be fair, I hadn’t. Seeing my father and being blackmailed kind of did that to a person. Not to mention the guilt I was putting myself through for not dealing with the Vegas situation sooner.
“Britt’s a smart girl, and clearly, you’ve said something to make her think you’re worth sticking around for, but all I’m saying is, that won’t last for long. There will be another guy just begging for her attention, ready to worship the ground she walks on, and you know what will happen? She’ll completely forget about you.”
I nodded. He was right. Britt was worth so much more than I’d been able to offer her so far, but he didn’t know the full story. Britt wasn’tlettingme be with her.
“All I’m saying is, you need to either man up and be with her or let her go to get on with her life. She doesn’t deserve to be friend zoned, waiting to be called upon whenever you’re bored.”
“Do you want me to let her go so she can date someone like you?”
He let out a low laugh and shook his head. “Let’s be honest, she’s going to figure out sooner or later you’ve got nothing to offer. Then I’ll be right by her side, ready to pick up the pieces.”
My fingers gripped the beer bottle, and I was ready to swing it in his face. Like he said, I knew I couldn’t do a damn thing about Britt tonight because I didn’t want to make a scene in front of all these people. I needed to speak to her in private. Getting her alone, however, seemed to be the problem.
“Anyway, I better get going. Sienna and Britt are interviewing me soon.” He leaned in, and his face split into an almost sinister smile. “So, if you don’t mind, I’m going to go and spend some time with our girl.”
Erik winked, and that was it. Without a second glance, he was off, leaving me to contemplate my next move while he hung out with the only person I wanted to be with, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.
Not just yet.
Chapter 17
“I’m very excited at the prospect of playing for the Covey Crushers for another season. We’ve developed and learned so much that I think we’ve got a great shot at getting a place in the Frozen Four again next year.” Scotty Hendricks smiled brightly at Sienna. I didn’t know how to explain it, but Scotty had an aura about him, and over the past few weeks, I’d learned he was good at getting people on his side. He had a way of making you think he was hanging on your every word, and I couldn’t tell if it was because he’d been trained so well in how to handle the media from his father or if he was genuinely interested.
Sienna was smiling, bobbing her head so earnestly that I made a note on my phone to tell her she needed to work on it. She was looking like one of my brother’s bobbleheads.
