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Eighteen

Colt

My legs were heavy as lead, and my shoulders and chest were already sore as hell, yet my mind just wouldn’t shut up.

As always after a game, I sat in an ice bath and went through my whole cool-down routine. Now I was lying on my bed in a compression shirt, some random show playing in the background, with a huge cup of water next to me on the nightstand.

Everything the same as always, but instead of passing out, I was wide awake and an annoying little voice in my head wouldn’t stop demanding that I text Hailey.

She might come over if you picked up your phone.

She could be right here next to you if you’d just pick up your phone.

If you would just move your goddamn hand to pick up your fucking phone.

Sighing, I closed my eyes and ran my hand through my still damp hair. I could use a trip to the barber.

Still torn, the decision was taken out of my hands. My phone vibrated, and I scrambled to grab it. No one ever texted me at this hour. Please let it be Hailey.

I collapsed as if the air had been let out of me when I saw it was a notification for Hailey’s stories.

Still, I tapped it eagerly, then froze.

Hailey was clutching a red Solo cup, which she was bumping against another held by a different female hand. The relief that coursed through was worrisome — there was no way I’d get out of this with my heart intact.

Scrubbing a hand down my face, I returned to the issue at hand. Hailey was at a party. Hailey was at her first college party, and I was in my fucking bed.

As if on cue, a message popped up.

Jax Handerson: Dude, you coming out tonight? Your girl’s here.

Why hadn’t she told me she was going out tonight? I ran my fingers through my hair again, frustrated and conflicted. Two sides were at war within me.

One side insisted that Hailey would’ve told me if she wanted me there and that I should stick to my guns and avoid parties. After all, I never went to any — not here, not in high school, not ever .

On the other hand, the thought of Hailey all dressed up at a party surrounded by countless guys who weren’t me, drove me insane.

I pounded my fist against my forehead, my eyes squeezed shut. Sleep was no longer an option, I was wired .

Wasn’t this what she had wanted me to do — keep the randos away from her? The whole reason she’d suggested this charade in the first place?

At this very moment, Hailey was mine, mine alone, and since I had every intention of keeping it that way, my mind was made up.

As if on autopilot, I rolled out of bed, stripped out of my compression shirt, threw an oversized shirt on, then slipped out of sweatpants and into a pair of jeans.

No time to do anything with my hair, so I shoved a baseball cap on my head backward, then a few spritzes of cologne, and off I went. Before I stomped down the stairs, I knocked on Hunter’s door and yelled, “Going out” before shooting Jax a text.

Me: Yeah, I’m on my way. See you soon.

Then I realized I had no idea where I was supposed to go. I came to a complete stop, unsure if I should go out on a limb and ask Jax, making it clear that my girlfriend hadn’t told me where she was.

I hurried back up the stairs and knocked on Hunter’s door again.

“What?” came his muffled response.

I pushed the door open a crack. It was pitch black, except for the glow of the huge screen on his desktop.

“Any idea where the other guys are tonight?”

Silence was follwed by a dark snicker. “Almost thought you’d blow it.”

I rolled my eyes. This fucking guy.

“So?” I shifted from one foot to the other .

“I’ll text you the address. You’d better hurry.”

“What the hell do you think I’m doing, bro?”

He snickered, and I turned on my heel. By the time I got in my truck, he had already texted me the address. Someday, I’d find out how he always knew everything.

Time for my first party, I guess.

***

It was a fucking madhouse.

I’d only taken five steps into the house and was already overstimulated. There were way too many people around me, and if I didn’t have a damn good reason to fight my way through this jungle, I probably would have turned right back around.

Luckily, I spotted Asher and Knox as soon as I walked in; even here, athletes stood out.

I lumbered over to them, sore as hell.

“Gotta say, never thought I’d see this happen.” Asher tapped Knox on the shoulder and pointed at me as I approached them.

“Michaels, dude, what’s up?” Knox whooped.

Asher had a sly smirk on his face. “Had a feeling you’d show up today.”

I shrugged, trying to act casual. “My girl’s here. Where she goes, I go.”

“Fucking A, brother.” Knox punched me in the shoulder.

“Smart man. Still something I never thought I’d see.” Asher chuckled.

Jax popped up next to us and greeted me exuberantly.

Kind of nice.

“Your girl’s over there. What took you so long? She’s been here a hot shminute.” Jax pointed over his shoulder with his thumb. Being a few inches taller than him, it wasn’t hard to spot Hailey. Even though she was tiny, there seemed to be this special energy about her that drew me in. Moth to a flame.

“Had some shit to take care of,” I grunted noncommittally as I scanned her immediate surroundings. Ella was standing right next to her, and a couple of frat boys were hanging around too close for my liking.

“Haulbrook already made a pass at her, but she shot him down.”

My eyes went to the slender guy in the classic frat boy uniform that reminded me a little too much of high school. Well, he could fuck right off. Over my fucking dead body.

“Been keeping an eye on her or something?”

“You bet.” Jax cracked his knuckles.

“Thanks, man. I trust her, but these idiots here are capable of anything — rich people don’t like to be told no.”

Knox snorted. “What the hell are you talkin’ about, you’re a rich boy.”

I flattened him with an unimpressed stare. “Funny. Look at them, and then look at me again. Notice anything?”

He shrugged. “Whatever.”

I didn’t give a shit what he thought. I knew better. After all, I’d grown up surrounded by elitist, preppy idiots. Almost all of them were the same, and I wouldn’t take any chances with Hailey.

Once again, I found myself at a crossroads, not knowing which way to go. My first priority had been to get here — I hadn’t thought about what I would do once I got here.

Watching Hailey from a distance was second nature to me; I’d had years of practice. Not to mention, I enjoyed it. I liked watching her do the most trivial things, liked seeing what made her tick, almost as much as I knew I would like watching her engage in all the depravity I dreamed of sullying her with.

I could just walk over, let her know I was here, and we could continue our charade.

Or … I could keep doing what I’ve always done — wait quietly on the sidelines. But this time I’d switch things up, see if I couldn’t push her just far enough to realize the decision had been made. The trap had snapped shut, the axe had fallen — and she’d walked straight into my waiting arms. Now, only the devil himself could pull her out of them.

“Is there anything to drink around here? I’m always parched after games.”

“Sure. Kitchen.” Knox pointed behind him with his thumb.

“Don’t you want to go say hi to your girl?” Asher asked.

“Nah. Not yet.” I shook my head, the corner of my mouth involuntarily tipping up.

“So you’re just going to watch her?”

“Yup. I like watching her.” That wasn’t a lie.

“Okay, TMI. Also — kinky. Wouldn’t have guessed that of you, Michaels.”

I snorted and shrugged, my eyes never leaving Hailey. This didn’t even scratch the surface of the things I wanted to do with Hailey Brentwood. Ever since I’d decided I wouldn’t let Hailey go, it felt like a different me was in the driver’s seat.

We got drinks, talked about tonight’s game, dealt with jersey chasers, some of whom surprisingly even made a pass at me. Considering my dick hadn’t gotten hard for anyone but Hailey in years and I had the physical specimen of my desires right in front of me, it was ridiculously easy to send them on their way.

With my gaze literally burning into Hailey and a group of guys our size, it was surprising they hadn’t noticed at least one of us. It appeared they were too deep in conversation with each other and a couple of other girls from the cheerleading squad.

I couldn’t resist so pulled my phone out of my pocket.

Me: What are you up to?

From across the room, I watched Hailey check her phone and slap Ella excitedly. Interesting.

Hailey: Party at Beta house, wondering where my boyfriend is.

Chuckling, I put my phone away. I could have given her a hint, but where was the fun in that?

Hailey was a little tipsy and let out a bark of laughter as she gestured so wildly that she almost knocked the drink out of the hand of the girl next to her. Ella put a hand on her shoulder, and they exchanged a few words, then disappeared into the back of the house together.

That wouldn’t do. I jerked my chin toward the boys and strode off.

“What the fuck? Where’s he going now?”

Jax snickered. “He’s not here for us. Like he said, where she goes, he goes. That’s him following through.”

Knox made a whipping sound behind me, and I raised my middle finger over my shoulder. Laughter followed, then I was out of earshot .

I quickly discovered an advantage to my stature that I had never known before — at packed parties, I could see over the crowd.

It should have been easy to keep an eye on her, but there were just too many fucking people here. I spotted Ella in the kitchen near a patio door talking to someone, but Hailey wasn’t anywhere near her.

I briefly considered pushing through to Ella and asking where Hailey had disappeared to, but my instincts told me she was outside. Hailey didn’t drink often, and I was almost certain she’d needed some fresh air.

The moment I ducked through the open sliding door, I knew I’d made the right decision. She was sitting on a large swing at the far end of the porch — and she had company. A distinctly male figure stood in front of her, almost blocking her from view.

I preferred not to announce my presence right away and stayed in the shadows.

“So, your first semester here?” The voice didn’t sound familiar.

“Yup. You’re one of the Betas?”

“You bet I am. We have the best parties, good thing you came here.”

“I wouldn’t know, this is my first party. But I’ll take your word for it.”

“Oh, really? I’d be happy to give you a tour.” The guy sounded like he had just hit the jackpot.

“That’s nice of you, but I’d rather stay out here.”

He changed tactics. “You’re right. I could use a little peace and quiet myself.”

Hailey stiffened as he leaned over her. “You don’t mind a little company, do you?” That dude was a major red flag.

“Honestly, I’d rather be alone for a while.”

“Oh, come on. What kind of host would I be if I left you out here all alone?”

She gave a forced laugh. I’d heard Hailey laugh enough to know the difference. This laugh had nothing in common with the bright, tinkling, real laugh. I would have liked to intervene, but I wanted to give her the chance to handle it herself.

“Actually, I’m here with my friend, she should be back any minute.”

“A friend?” He was still hovering over her. “Yeah, I’ve never heard that before.”

His hand moved to her thigh, and red seeped into my vision, fury engulfing me and gripping me in its unyielding claws.

“Look, dude. I don’t know you, and this is way too close. I need you to back off. I’m definitely not available, and if you don’t take a few steps back, we’re going to have an issue.” She slapped his hand away. Good girl.

He scoffed. “Not available? I don’t see a boyfriend. Who would let a hot little piece of ass like you go anywhere alone?”

My heavy footsteps vibrated through the wooden boards as I stalked across the porch. A few long strides and I was there, just as dickface turned around. I towered over him by a good five inches, and as I leveled him with a glare, the color drained from his face.

“That would be me. And if you put your filthy hand anywhere near my girlfriend again, you’ll find out why they call me the beast.”

I grabbed him by the back of the neck, harder than necessary, and flung him toward the door. Dickface stumbled, barely catching himself, then scurried inside like the little rat he was.

“Colt!” Hailey jumped up, apparently shocked, either because of my presence or because of what I’d done. My chest heaved, and I felt like a bull ready to charge, except I no longer had prey. So I went for the next best thing.