Page 9 of The Break Out (Denver Dragons #3)

9

I say goodnight to Audrey and Charlie not long after the run in with Colton. I’m tired and didn’t want to run the risk of him trying to shoot his shot again. Turning him down is annoying and I know that’s probably his goal, to just wear me down, but it won’t work.

“You’re my new going out buddy since Chandler had to go get knocked up,” Audrey jokes as we are parting.

“As long as you don’t ditch me by doing the same.” I wave as my ride-share pulls up.

“Not a problem here. No babies will be had, we just enjoy practicing making them.”

I choke out a laugh. She’s not shy about anything in regard to sex, being a cam girl. Charlie just shakes his head, accepting his girlfriend announcing that, loudly, on the streets of downtown Denver.

I climb into the car and right before he pulls away from the curb the back door opposite to the one I got in swings open. I gasp loudly, terrified some random person is going to reach in and snatch me or something while I try to crowd myself against the other door.

The fear turns into annoyance instantly when I meet the blazing blue eyes of my nemesis.

“What are you doing?” I snap.

“Do you know him?” the driver asks.

“No.”

“Yes.”

We answer at the same time, and Colton climbs into the car without an invitation.

“I need a ride,” he says calmly.

“That sucks. Go get your own ride, this one is going to my house.”

“Perfect. That’s where I was needing a ride to.”

“Get out.” I push at his chest.

The driver looks in the rearview mirror, clearly confused as to what is happening and what he should do.

“We got into a fight earlier, you’re good to go,” Colton tells him, to which the guy just shrugs and starts to drive.

I stare at him, extremely concerned for any woman who gets into his car in the future. “You could be assisting in a murder right now, you know? Or some other horrible crime. I said I don’t know him.”

“Pretty sure you’d be screaming and jumping out of the car if that was true,” the driver retorts.

My eyes narrow at him. “This isn’t safe.”

“Come on, Princess, I’m sorry for what happened back there, no need to harass the nice man.” Colton pulls me back against him and I scramble away, pressing myself as tightly as I can on the opposite side of the car.

“Hope you enjoy the ride, as soon as we get there, you’re ordering your own car to take you back to your house,” I demand, facing the window, refusing to look at him.

He just chuckles like I’m the one being ridiculous right now.

Neither of us say anything the rest of the way back to my apartment and as soon as the car stops, I’m rushing out, holding my tongue because I want to yell at the guy that he’s not getting a tip. My desire to get away from Colton wins as I rush toward my building. Colton is clearly taking his time because I hear the car door shut while I’m almost to the door. I debate taking the stairs, even though it’s going to suck going up the five flights.

Somehow, Colton catches up to me before I make it to the door, and I know I can’t lead him right to my actual apartment. Spinning around to face him, I fold my arms across my chest. “What do you think you’re doing?” I snap.

“Walking you to your door like a gentleman,” he replies, calmly .

“No.”

“No?”

“I. Said. No.”

“It’s about safety, Baby Collee.”

“What can I do to make you go away?”

He smirks, his eyes trail my body and I roll mine at his blatant perusal. I’m not wearing anything revealing so he can enjoy his fill of my jeans and Dragons sweatshirt with my last name on it. His captain’s last name on it.

“Go out with me.”

“No.”

“You seem to like that word, don’t you?”

“With you? Yes.”

“Look at that, you know another word.”

I groan, throwing my hands up in the air. “I’m not going out with you. Give it up.”

“One date.”

“No.”

“What if I say please?”

“No.”

“Is there anything–”

“No.”

“What if–”

“No.”

“Baby–”

“No.”

“Brynn–”

“You do know my name. Oh my God, I assumed you thought my first name was baby.”

He laughs and I scowl.

“Fine, I’ll leave on one condition.”

“What?” I ask, exasperated by this entire exchange.

“You let me know you made it home okay.”

I roll my eyes, “I’m home now.”

“Into your apartment,” he smirks.

“Yeah, fine, sure, bye.”

I press the button for the elevator and hope he won’t try following me, completely over this entire interaction. He’s exhausting and I can’t stand him. Good on any woman who chooses to put up with him because he would drive me insane. Luckily, he stays outside the elevator as the doors close in his face.

Once I’m inside my apartment, safe and sound with the door locked, I breathe out a sigh of relief. My exhaustion hits me like a ton of bricks, and I get ready to crawl into bed. While I’m brushing my teeth my phone goes off with a notification. I see it’s a message on social media and roll my eyes so hard I’m convinced they may get stuck.

Colton: You didn’t tell me you got home.

Brynn: I got home.

Colton: Too late, the deal is off, guess I won’t stop leaving you alone. Goodnight, Princess.

I toss my phone down before rinsing out my mouth. I don’t know who I pissed off in one of my lives to deserve this annoyance, but I’m sorry. I apologize to whoever it was, just please, please make this man go away.

And yet when I start to doze off to sleep the last thing I think about is how his body was pressed against mine and how in that moment, I didn’t entirely hate it.

The next day I go over to Spencer’s place because we have to talk about some things while she’s technically “off the grid” working on her next album. Jared and the team left for a weeklong road trip, and I’m thankful I get a week reprieve from Colton and his bullshit .

When Spencer answers the door in her sweatpants, tank top, and auburn hair in a messy bun she still looks very much like the rock star that she is.

“How’s it going?” I ask, as I walk into her huge house she shares with Jared.

“Good, I’ve got some songs I’m excited about and now going to have the emotions for sad ones while Jared is gone,” even though she says that she chuckles.

“Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out,” I tell her while sitting on her soft couch that threatens to suck me in. I may never leave.

“What about you? What’s new in my outside life?”

“Things have been surprisingly quiet since Kenneth pulled that BS on the last day of your tour,” I shrug.

She groans, dropping down onto the couch next to me. “I’m so glad Jared is understanding because I know not everyone is as lucky as I am when it comes to drama like this.”

I nod. “He’s amazing and you deserve it. I can’t believe you put up with Kenneth for two years.”

Cringing, she replies, “Don’t remind me.”

“The label is wanting a tentative date that you’ll be finished recording just as a heads up,” I tell her. I’m the only one from “work” she’s communicating with right now, so it all has to go through me .

“I gave them a tentative date; they are just hoping it’ll be sooner. You can tell them nothing has changed.”

“Sounds good, and of course I’m being hounded for interview requests for you but turning them all down.”

“Good, everyone can sweat it out for a bit. Or forget all about me so I can live in peace for the rest of my days.”

I furrow my eyebrows at her. “You really think you might want to retire?”

We’re only twenty-five, but she’s had enough success to never have to worry about anything again. I just figured she would want to do this for a long time, she worked hard to get where she is and I know it’s been insane these last couple of years, but I know she enjoys herself.

She waves me off. “No, not yet. The peace is nice, but I would miss performing. Don’t worry, your job is safe.”

I breathe out a laugh. “I wasn’t even worried about me. I know you would give me a killer recommendation for working with anyone else in the industry. I’ll never be unemployed again.”

She points a finger at me. “You’re not wrong. Now, I’ve heard things through the grapevine about a certain player bothering you.”

I roll my eyes. “Yeah, Colton getting traded here is horrible for everyone, honestly. He’s doubled his efforts to get into my pants.”

“Don’t do it! ”

“ Ew , never. You know how I feel about hockey players, and assholes. Since he’s both, there is zero concern to be had.” I’m reminded of the other night; how persistent he was. How I could feel how hard he was pressed against me. How big he felt… nope . Never going to happen.

“What does your brother say about it?”

I burst out laughing. “Brent only knows what I want him to know. Which is nothing.”

“I’m sure he knows more than you think,” she gives me a pointed look.

“He’s seen Colton try to hit on me, but he’s also seen that I can handle myself.”

“Oh, I know you can, but I also know that you’re his baby sister who he’s super protective of.”

I roll my eyes again. “Yeah, yeah. He needs to let me be free. Like a bird that’s flying away and trust that I am okay. Oh, there’s some inspiration for a song. You’re welcome.”

Spencer shakes her head at me. “Thank you. I will write a song called ‘my protective older brother needs to leave me alone.’”

“Perfect, I sense your next smash hit.”