Page 55 of Pucking Around

“How the hell did she even get up here?” Jake growls. He’s surging forward, ready to go drop her over the side of the balcony.

I grab his arm. “Hey—wait—” My mind is spinning out an idea and I slowly smile.

He turns around, glaring at me. “What?”

“Let me deal with her,” I say. For a month I’ve been waiting for the chance to right the epically unbalanced cosmic scales between Caleb and me. This seems like the perfect opportunity. Low-hanging fruit, really. I can banish groupies in my sleep.

“What are you gonna do?” Jake says with a raised brow.

I take a sip of my mojito. “Just a simple bunny extraction.” I hold out my mojito. “Langley, hold my drink.”

“Oh, shit,” he says, taking the mojito with a wide, boyish grin. “No way am I missing this.”

Jake’s eyes flash with such a look of hunger that I swear I’m probably pregnant now. Yeah, I thought he’d like me sticking up for his best friend.

“Watch and learn, boys,” I say, sauntering off.

“Don’t hurt ‘em, Doc!” Langley calls after me.

As I approach, Bunny Barbie leans down and brushes her hand over Caleb’s shoulder. I watch him flinch, his face a tight grimace. He’s so uncomfortable it makes my heart hurt. He clearly just wants her to leave him alone.

Enter Rachel.

28

Aspen Fucking Albright. As if this night can’t get any goddamn worse. I didn’t even want to come out tonight. I’m exhausted and I hate big crowds. Jake made me come, and then the asshole abandoned me the second Hurricane came waltzing out of that elevator.

Fuck, that outfit she’s wearing should be illegal. I mean, I guess it covers everything. It’s more fabric than most of the bunnies’ entire wardrobes. And yet it leaves nothing to the imagination. Her body is dynamite. I’m not surprised Jake was all but tripping over himself to get to be the one to take her arm.

They’ve got great chemistry and they’re not even trying to hide it. They’re like a pair of magnets. He moves when she moves. I’m happy for him if chasing Rachel means he’ll move on from his Seattle Girl. I don’t want him hung up waiting for a ghost.

And yet, I can’t help the feeling of jealousy growing in the pit of my stomach. He could have picked anyone. Why did it have to be Hurricane? I watch them down on the dance floor all but fuck with their clothes on. They’re hypnotic. I can’t look away.

I don’t know what the fuck is happening to me. Rachel Price is so far out of my league. Girls like her don’t fall for sulking, washed up, former pro athletes with bad knees and a drinking problem. No, she falls for guys like Jake. All-American hockey stars at the top of their game, rolling in the money and the accolades.

Power couple; that’s the term, right?

I’ve drained my glass of club soda twice, praying it might miraculously turn to vodka. And then Aspen flounces up.

I can’t believe I wasted a year of my life on her. Jake tried to warn me, but I was a stupid kid. I was so busy with hockey and going to class that I missed all the signs…or I just chose not to see them. We never had much in common, honestly. She was extroverted and fun and so damn sexy. Not to mention she sucked my cock like a hoover vacuum. What else could a nineteen-year-old kid want?

“What are you doing here, Aspen?” I mutter, pulling my gaze away from Rachel and Jake. My hard-on is shriveling up like a worm on a hot sidewalk now that Aspen’s blocking my view.

“I can’t believe you’re here, Cay. You work with the Rays now? How are you?” She’s talking so damn loud.

“Tired.”

“You’re such an old grandpa, Cay,” she teases. “Hey, you wanna dance?”

“I’m good,” I say, swirling the ice in my drink.

I hate that she’s using my nickname. We’re not dating anymore. We’re not even friends. We’re nothing. I don’t want her saying it.

She flicks her ponytail over her shoulder again. “So, why don’t you introduce me to your friends?”

I glare up at her. “I’m good.”

Before she can reply, a new voice has us both turning. “Thereyou are! God, I’ve been looking everywhere for you, baby.”