Page 141 of Blackwood

“Oh yeah?”Knox comes back, amused.“You’ve been staring at her for exactly three minutes without blinking, and I just watched you grip your glass so hard I’m surprised it’s not sand.”

Across the pool, Bella tosses her head back and laughs at something Callum says.

“Motherfucker is not that funny,” I mumble.“Knox,ifyou let him touch her, I’m swimming across this pool like Poseidon and ending his quarterback career tonight.”

Knox sighs.“Lex, you’re on comm. I can play that audio back for her later.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“Try me.”

Knox’s voice shifts from private to public. No longer in my ear and now booming across The Row through the main speakers.

“Yo, Wexley!” His voice slides through, slick with energy. “It’s officially time to get this party started.”

The crowd erupts. Girls scream. Guys howl. Phones light up everywhere.

I glance across the pool again just in time to see it. Callum. Sliding his arm along the back of Bella’s waist like he owns the air she’s breathing. He leans in, says something I can’t hear, and then guides her behind the stage setup like it’s just part of the plan.

My grip tightens on my glass. The comm crackles in my ear, but it’s background noise now. My blood’s already humming. She’s walking with him. In those fucking heels. In that red bikini.

It’s all an act, dude. Calm the fuck down.

“Wexley Wolves, alumni, degenerates, and everyone watching on live stream…”Knox’s voice rolls over like smoke. “You’ve been waiting for this all week. And tonight, we kick things off the way we always do here at The Row…”

I stand up. I can’t sit still anymore.

“…with the sexiest girls on the East fucking Coast..” The bass drops behind Knox’s voice like a countdown. “Nah. Fuck that.” Knox laughs into the mic.“Sexiest girls in the whole damn world.”

I already know what’s coming next. “Make some noise for the one, the only TRIFECTA!”

Lights cut. Music slams into the first beat. And I swear to God, if Callum so much as brushes her thigh during this performance.

Spotlights hit the stage. Smoke machines kick in like we’re about to launch a goddamn concert.

Knox’s voice booms through the mic, full hype mode, “First up… she’s sweet, she’s savage, and she’s smarter than all of you fuckers… Wexley’s golden girl, make some noise forEllie Whitmore!”

Ellie steps out through the curtain, high ponytail bouncing, bright yellow and pink two-piece clinging like it’s stitched to her body. She does a perfect spin and gives a little pageant wave.

“Hi babes! Thanks for coming. We’ve got a lot of heat for you tonight, hope you’re ready to melt.”

“Next up… she’s the fire you wish you could handle, and the reason your boyfriend’s been hitting the gym. Give it up for my girl, Haley Rosethorne!”

Haley steps through the curtain in an emerald green one piece with a plunging neckline so deep you can see her fucking navel. Her long legs and red hair a damn weapon under the lights. When she stops center stage, she flips her hair and blows a kiss right at Knox.

“Save me a drink, baby,”she purrs, voice low and hot. “I’ll be back to blow your… let’s just say mind after I blow theirs.” She winks at him.

Knox fumbles the mic for a second, then lets out a choked laugh over the speakers. “Damn, baby.”

Everyone’s howling now, guys pounding the air, girls screaming her name. Even I have to admit it, that was pretty hot.

Good for you, Bestie.

“And last but absolutely not least,” he turns the dial to switch the lighting to red. “The center of the storm and the reason The Row hasn’t slept in weeks. Make some noise for my Bestie’s girl,Bella Blackwood!”

Red heels. Red lips. That fucking red bikini top that’s one string away from driving me insane. Her unbuttoned denim shorts ride low and tight.

My cock twitches.