Page 69 of Reverse Pass

“I don’t know. Is that how you drink with your friends, Ben?” Her tone says she is not amused.

I give her a look, begging her silently for some mercy.

“You staying at her house tonight? Because you’re not bringing her home. Not if you want your balls attached in the morning.”

“Joss, dearest. Please, let’s go.” Violet has suddenly appeared next to her, trying to coax her away.

“No, I’m working right now.”

Despite the fact that I do actually fear physical harm from Joss, my gaze still goes to Violet. Trying to search her face but she’s pretending I don’t exist. Her hands wrapped around her friend’s arm, trying to talk quietly to her.

“Seems like your friend wants to take you home. Maybe that’s a good idea. No need to be this excited.” Colton suggests to Joss, and I could have told him that was a big fucking mistake, but I have no way to warn him right now.

Joss’s head snaps over to him. “You don’t think so? Maybe you should come home with me. I can whip you into shape. That would be exciting, wouldn’t it?”

The whole table erupts into whistles and oohs, and I can’t help but laugh. He walked straight into that one. But then I remember myself again, my mind going back to Violet whose eyes are on me, clearly displeased.

“Is this funny to you?” she snaps at me from behind Joss’s back.

“No.”

“Then you could help instead of egging her on? I’m the one trying to keep her from inserting her heel into your eyeball, you know.”

“I can take it.”

“I’m sure you can.” Violet’s eyes dart over to where Mia had been standing and back to me, hurt crossing over her features before it’s replaced again with disdain.

I feel the hot zing of irritation as she does it. Like she gets to be hurt over this when she had been hanging out with other guys tonight. And there’d been more just a few nights ago. Cameron before that.

“Can we talk?” I ask tersely.

Her eyes flick over me.

“I just need to get Joss out of here.” She ignores the request.

The two guys they’d been with all night were sauntering up behind them, and the last thing I needed was for any of the guys to get into it with a couple of grad students.

“Joss?” I call her name softly and she looks at me.

“Yes?” Her eyes narrow, her brow creases.

“Why don’t you ask if your friend can get you some water and have a glass before you leave? And I’m gonna talk to Violet, okay?”

“We’re not talking,” Violet says sharply.

“You are talking.” Joss looks down at her, her brows raising in a threat, and she is clearly pissed at both of us tonight, but just more willing to hurt me, apparently.

Violet shuts her mouth, her jaw clenching as she stares off into the distance.

“Let’s just talk for a few minutes and put this whole fire out, okay?” I ask quietly.

“I’m not doing it out here in front of everyone.”

“Follow me.”

This bar is a team favorite, and I know there’s a back hallway that’s usually pretty empty. She trails behind me, clearly annoyed at the entire scene that’s played out, and she won’t even look at me as we step into the quiet little alcove off the hallway.

“Youwouldknow this was here,” she spits out, crossing her arms over her chest.