Page 19 of The Illicit Play

The thought is a punch to the balls, and rather than lashing out the way I want to, I take another step back, sending the guy a silent warning:You fucking look after her.

He glares right back at me, and I can sense Teah’s discomfort, so I play the bigger man.

Flicking my gaze to hers, I softly mumble, “Have a good night,” before spinning away and stalking to the bar.

Fuck!

Fuck, fuck, FUCK!

I plunk onto one of the free stools and glare at the dance floor. Macalister is pulling Teah onto the floor and she’s smiling at him, obviously loved-up and into it. Wrapping his arms around her, he suctions their bodies together, and I can’t stop staring at them.

Yeah, call me a masochist, but I can’t seem to fucking help myself.

“Can I get you something?” A pretty woman with springy black curls and a bright smile grabs my attention.

“Oh, uh…” I tap the bar with my finger. “Yeah, just grab me a beer.”

“ID?”

I pull out my wallet, showing her my driver’s license, and she nods. “What’s your flavor?”

“Whatever.” I shrug. “Corona?”

“With lime?”

“Yes, please.”

“Got it.” She heads off to get my drink, and I pull out my phone, ready to pay. I’m only gonna get one tonight. Don’t want to get off-my-ass drunk, although for the first time in my life, I amseriouslytempted.

I don’t even know why I’m still fucking here!

I should have bolted out that door the second I saw Teah, but no, I decided to torture myself.

When she first broke it off with me, I had these hopes of winning her back.

She said the relationship had gotten boring. That we were acting like an old married couple already and we were still in college. It seemed so wrong to her, and apparently that was a sign to end it.

I told her I could be more exciting.

But she argued that the things that excite her are not the things that excite me.

I wanted to tell her that was bullshit, but the more I’ve thought about it, the more I know she’s right. I’m just not ready to fully admit that.

But I can change, be the guy she needs.

Glancing back over my shoulder, I watch her head tip back in laughter, Macalister murmuring something against her neck as they sway on the dance floor.

Guess she doesn’t need me to change anymore. She’s moved on.

Fuck, maybe she had before she broke up with me. Or maybe she’d met Macalister, and he was the catalyst she needed to get out of her humdrum relationship.

It makes me feel like complete shit.

“Here you go.” The woman sets down my beer, then holds out the machine for me to pay.

I do, then grab the bottle, slugging back half the beer before slamming it down on the bar.

“Hey, Grady,” a soft voice says, and I turn to spot Teah’s best friend, Bella.