He lets out a low whistle, dragging a hand over his chin as a slow grin spreads across his face. “Damn. She’s hot.”
He’s not wrong—sheishot. But she’s more than that. She’s beautiful in a way that knocks the air out of my lungs. Has a laugh that I can’t get out of my head. Scrunches her nose when she’s uncomfortable. She’s smart, funny as hell, and one day, she’s going to own every room she walks into, whether it’s as a sports analyst, or running a team from behind the scenes.
But none of that matters to him. He doesn’t see her like I do. Doesn’tknowher. And he sure as hell doesn’t deserve to want her the way I fucking do.
You had her In your arms, and you fucked it up.
Yeah, I fucking know.
Before I can react, Dylan’s already making a beeline for her.
And I just stand here… watching.
My stomach twists with every step he takes until he’s right in front of her. He’s smooth, I’ll give him that. Wears that cocky grin like armor, and somehow, she smiles back.At him.
The same smile that used to be mine.
My jaw tightens. My fingers clench around the red solo cup until the plastic creaks. Every word they trade, every laugh she lets slip, every time he leans in like he belongs there. It’s like watching a car crash in slow motion, and I can’t look away.
She’s right there. Right fucking there. And I’m just standing here, watching her slip through my fingers while he makes it look easy. Like he doesn’t even have to try.
And it’s driving me insane.
I watch, like a glutton for punishment, as Dylan slides his hand around her waist and leans in to whisper something in her ear. She nods. Then lets him take her hand, following him toward the stairs like it’s nothing.
Blood floods my head, a roar building in my ears. The world blurs at the edges. My fists clench, muscles coiled so tight they might snap.
No.Fuck no.
She’s not going upstairs with him. I won’t let that happen.
I move before I can think. Shoving through the crowd, shouldering past bodies and brushing off whatever noise or looks I get. I don’t care. I don’t give a shit about the consequences anymore.
I just know I can’t lose her.
I take the stairs two at a time, and there she is—just reaching for the bathroom door.
Before she can disappear inside, I catch her wrist.
And without a word, I pull her into the nearest empty bedroom and shut the door behind us.
She whips around, eyes wide, breath catching in her throat when she finally looks at me.
“Ryan?”she breathes.
God, the way she says my name…
It’s been too damn long since I heard her voice, since we laughed, since I had my fingers tangled in her curls, teasing her like it was second nature.
I miss it.
I missher.
I swallow hard, my hand tightening around the doorknob. “What the fuck were you doing with Dylan?”
Her expression shifts, hardens like steel. “You have no right to ask me that,” she snaps, narrowing her eyes at me. “Youmade it clear you regretted what happened.” She glances away, shrugs like it doesn’t cut deep. “And I told you I wanted a rebound.”
The words hit like a gut punch.
