Page 25 of Breakout (Walker University #3)

eighteen

B ass thumps through the speakers as more bodies filter into the house.

This is insane.

Parties at the hockey house are always crowded, but tonight it’s next level.

“Is it just me, or is it a little too crowded?” Cora asks when I come to a stop next to her.

“It’s not just you. I was just thinking the same thing,” I admit.

“How have you been, roomie?” She leans on the counter next to me as we look out the back door at all the bodies.

“I’ve been all right. You? I haven’t seen you very much lately.”

She winces as a look of guilt covers her face. “Sorry about that, I’ve been spending more time over at Kellan’s.”

“Hey, no reason to be guilty. I get it. It’s all still new. The honeymoon phase is no joke. You should have seen Grace with Clay. Speaking of, have you seen Grace?”

“Right here,” she says as she comes up beside us. “Sorry I’m late, although by the looks of things, I’d rather be anywhere else.”

“Should we head outside?” I ask.

“It’s a little cold, but it would be better than in here,” Cora says.

“I don’t know. Seems like there’re quite a few people braving the cold,” I say.

“Worth a shot. It’s quieter at least.” Cora straightens from the counter.

The three of us link hands, and Cora leads us out the back door. As soon as the door shuts behind us, the loudness from inside muffles.

“Much better.” Grace sighs as she sits down on the back stairs.

Cora and I follow, sitting on the stairs as well. It will suck when someone wants to go inside or come out, but that’s a problem for later. Some guys cheer, and I look up. There is a table set up in the yard, and a group of guys are playing beer pong.

“I’m really bad at that game,” Cora muses.

“Isn’t that how you met Kellan? You needed a partner for beer pong?” Grace asks.

Cora smiles. “Yep.”

“I’m pretty sure everyone is bad at it if they are drunk enough,” I tell her.

“I’ve never tried,” Grace says.

“Seriously? Are you sure you didn’t live under a rock before me?” I tease.

She shrugs but smiles. “Are we due for a girls’ night soon?”

“That sounds glorious,” Cora groans.

“I’d be game.”

A night with just the girls sounds nice. Hell, maybe I could tell them about some of the things going on in my life. Not the marriage thing. Or anything going on with Beck, but maybe a little bit about finding out I have a whole family out there? At least a cousin who wants to murder me.

Who knows, maybe our next girls’ night could be held at my house and away from all things college. I wonder how the girls would react to that.

“I’m just ready for school to be over.” Cora sighs.

Recently Cora decided to drop out at the end of the school year to start working full time. She’s happy with the work she is doing, but she doesn’t want to waste the courses she already paid for, so she’s stuck with us until further notice.

“Yeah, you’re excited to leave me. I get it,” I tease.

She frowns. “No way. We are getting an apartment this summer. It will be all three of us together for once.”

This is usually when I would decline for free housing in the dorms, but I don’t. Instead, I smile. “That sounds amazing. Then we wouldn’t have to arrange to spend time together all the time.”

Grace widens her eyes. “Wait, you will willingly get one with us?”

“Of course. It makes sense. We just need to find one in my price range.”

I might be rich by the summer, but I won’t abuse it. I still want to find one that will be affordable with my job. Well, that and the savings I started freshman year.

“Fuck yes. This is going to be amazing.” Cora pumps her arm in the air.

“I was already excited, but even more so now. I’m so happy you gave in willingly. We were coming up with ways to get you there,” Grace says right as a group of people comes outside, laughing and falling over each other.

“Let’s get out of the way,” I mutter as I stand.

“Should we head back inside?” Cora asks.

“We could head upstairs. Hang out in Clay’s and my room,” Grace offers.

“Sounds good.”

As soon as we step back inside, music assaults my ears.

I know the moment Cora spots Kellan because she lights up like a firework on the Fourth of July and beelines straight to him.

“Ladies, I was wondering where you ran off to,” Kellan says as he pulls Cora into his arms.

He leans down and kisses her. A small part of me is jealous watching them together.

What would it be like to be out in the open with Beckett like them? Would he pull me into his arms and kiss me the way Kellan kisses Cora?

“We escaped for a little peace and quiet for a minute,” she tells him when he pulls away.

“Do you girls need drinks?” he asks, looking between the three of us.

“Yes, please,” Grace and Cora say in unison.

“Why not?” I add.

“All right, I got you. Stay right here, I’ll be right back,” he says as he steps away.

“I hope she has someone watching out for her,” Grace says.

Cora and I turn to follow her line of sight. There is a girl leaning against the wall who looks like she’s about to go down.

“I don’t know if she’s a freshman, she doesn’t look familiar,” Cora says.

“I’ve never seen her either,” I add.

I go to take a step toward her when I hear my name.

“Peyton!”

I look over and see Gabe walking toward me and can’t help but frown. What is he doing here? I remember him specifically bringing up how he hates parties because they are overcrowded, and people act like children.

I look back to the girl, relief filling me when I see two girls helping her toward the front door.

Turning back to Gabe, I force a smile.“Hi?”

“I thought I’d find you here.” He smiles as he comes to a stop next to me.

“You did?”

“Yeah, you’re friends with all these guys, right?”

“I am.”

An awkward silence falls over us, and I look back at the girls. Cora looks like she’s about to burst out laughing, and Grace’s eyes couldn’t possibly get any wider.

“So, how have you been?” he asks.

“Good.”

I know the polite thing would be to ask him how he is, but I honestly don’t care. We aren’t friends.

“Here you ladies go,” Kellan says as he comes back with drinks.

“Thank you,” I say as I take one from him.

“Should you take that from him? It’s open,” Gabe points out.

“Uh, I don’t know you. I’m Kellan.” He holds his hand out.

“Gabe,” he says, avoiding Kellan’s hand.

Kellan awkwardly lowers his hand.

“How do you know our girl Peyton?” Kellan asks, slinging his arm over me protectively.

“Oh, we were part of the same study group last year and hit it off,” Gabe tells him.

“Really?” Kellan raises a brow.

“Yeah, she’s the best. Now if only I could convince her to go out with me.” Gabe winks.

I bring the drink up to my mouth and take a big drink.

Gabe looks over and frowns. “Seriously, though, Peyton. Don’t you know it’s dangerous to take drinks from people when they are already opened? He could have done something to it, and you would have never known until it’s too late.”

“Now wait a minute, I know you didn’t just accuse me of drugging one of my friends,” Kellan says, dropping his arm from around me as he shifts forward, moving toward Gabe.

“I’m not worried about a drink from Kellan. He’s a friend, and he would never do anything to put me in danger,” I tell him.

Gabe raises his hands. “Okay, sorry. It’s just that you can never be too careful.”

Once again an uncomfortable silence falls over us. How does one nicely tell someone to get lost and that they aren’t interested?

“So would you like to go out sometime?”

I bite back a groan.

Seriously, when is enough, enough?

When I saw Peyton tonight, I started moving toward her immediately. As I got closer, I noticed Kellan with his arm over her, but it didn’t bother me. I didn’t even question it until I saw the guy standing in front of them.

I frown as I notice Kellan’s posture. I play hockey with the guy, and I trust him with my life. I can tell when something is off.

Watching him move forward, pushing Peyton behind him a little, I move closer just in time to hear the fucker in front of them ask Peyton out.

I don’t know who this motherfucker is asking my wife out, but it’s taking everything in me not to knock his lights out. I know violence shouldn’t be my first answer, but something about this guy sets my teeth on edge.

Or maybe it’s the fact that no one knows she’s taken.

Either way, he needs to know that my girl isn’t available.

“Gabe, I’ve told you before, but I’ll say it again: I’m not interested. I’m flattered, really, but it’s not going to happen,” she says gently.

Who is this asshole, and why isn’t he taking no for an answer? Better yet, why is this the first I’m hearing about it?

I watch as his shoulders tense up. Before he can respond, I walk past him and drop my arm over her shoulders.

“Hey, baby.” I lean down and kiss the top of her head. “Thanks for waiting for me.”

“You’re welcome,” she says as she leans into my touch.

I look over at Kellan and see that he’s laughing silently. The dude knows how hard it is to want someone but not be able to be with them. Cora is Clay’s sister, which meant she was off-limits to the entire team, including Kellan. He didn’t let that stop him, though.

“Thanks for keeping an eye on my girl,” I tell him.

“Hey, looking after my friends isn’t a hardship,” he tells me.

“Cora, Grace, beautiful as always. You ladies having a good time tonight?”

“Oh, it’s certainly looking up,” Cora quips.

“It’s a little much for my liking, but I’m definitely intrigued,” Grace tells me.

Movement out of the corner of my eye tells me that the stranger is starting to get antsy.

Perfect.

I look over at the guy who’s interested in my girl. “Who’s your friend, Pey?”

“This is Gabe. We were part of a study group last year. Gabe, this is my…Beckett.”

As fucked up as it is, it pleases me that she got hung up on my name. Was she about to call me her husband? Her boyfriend? Her fuck buddy? No matter what she was about to call me, it’s a step in the right direction. She is showing a claim. Using me to get rid of this guy.

It has me puffing my chest out.

“You like hockey, Gabe?”

The dude’s face scrunches up. “No, I have better things to do with my time than watch a bunch of dudes hit each other with pads on. Why do you ask?”

“Oh, I just assumed you were a fan when you’re at our house.”

Kellan laughs, failing to hide it behind a cough.

Gabe’s eyes narrow and move from me to my girl. “Well, Peyton, it was lovely as always to see you. Let me know when you change your mind about that date,” he tells her.

“I won’t,” she says immediately and with conviction.

The guy turns tail and heads straight to the door.

“Dude, when did you get a stalker?” Grace blurts out.

Peyton groans. “That was weird, right? Like it wasn’t just me.”

“No, that was uncomfortable for all of us,” Cora tells her.

“How many times has he asked you out?” Kellan asks.

Peyton scrunches her nose. “I think this was the third time? I don’t know, I could be wrong. It’s just so weird because he seemed so normal last year.”

“Maybe he had a girlfriend then,” Grace offers.

“I don’t know, maybe.”

I don’t like it. I know my girl is the fucking best, and everyone who doesn’t see it is blind, but the dude is coming on a little strong for my taste.

“You’ll let me know if he doesn’t back off,” I tell her.

I know I should be asking her to keep me informed, but this isn’t a request. This is something I need to know. Especially with everything else that’s going on.

Peyton runs her hand up and down my chest, trying to calm me down. I don’t even think she realizes that she’s doing it, but it doesn’t go unmissed by our friends.

“I will, promise. Now, can we change the subject, please? You guys know I hate being the center of attention.”

“Oh, there’s Clay.” Grace takes off through the crowd.

“We will give you guys a minute.” Cora winks as she drags Kellan behind her.

Peyton turns into me, and I wrap my arms around her. I should put some distance between us, but fuck it. Our friends can believe what they want. I’m not ready to let her go yet.

“You look beautiful tonight.”

“Really? Straight to flattery?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Did you really have to piss a circle around me, staking your claim?” she quips, her eyes dancing with humor.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I lie.

“Sure you don’t.”

I lean down and whisper, “Trust me, sweetheart. If I staked my claim, everyone in this room would know that you’re my wife and that I’m fucking crazy about you. All I did was make it known that I care about you and that I’m watching. That fucker will think twice before he asks you out again.”

Her breath catches. “Beckett…” she warns half-heartedly.

“Admit it, you like the idea of everyone knowing you’re my girl as much as I do.”

Her chin tips ever so slightly, and I decide to push it just a little bit more.

“Just picture it. I’d get everyone’s attention so all their eyes are on us.

Then I’d kiss the ever-living hell out of you, and just when it becomes a little too R-rated, we’d break apart, and I’d announce that we’re together.

Our friends would congratulate us, dudes would be green with envy, and the girls would be jealous, but we wouldn’t care because we would finally be out in the open.

Then I’d take you upstairs to my room and fuck you so hard there would be no doubt about whose name makes your voice hoarse every night. ”

“We can’t,” she says weakly.

“I know, baby, and I’ll keep playing by your rules, but the minute you change your mind, tell me, and I’ll let all these dickheads know what a lucky bastard I am and that I get to call you mine.”

“Beckett, Peyton, you two coming?” Brett yells.

“Our friends are waiting,” she says.

“Then we better go join them before they get suspicious then, huh?” I take her hand in mine and step back.