Dare You To (Pushing the Limits, #2)(65)

Ryan whispers to me again, “I’m dancing with you because I      love the look on your face.”

Figures. “Love watching me make a fool out of myself?”

“No. I love seeing the girl Scott and Lacy say you can be.”      He stares at me as if he’s seeing beyond my skin and my heart pounds out of my      chest so violently that he has to feel it. My nerve endings become raw. Somehow,      Ryan’s seeing me and I’m exposed—as if I’m standing naked in front of a large      open window. My hands slip from his neck, but as I try to step back, he clutches      my waist, rejecting my escape.

“Ryan! I wondered when you’d get here.” The sound of an      all-too-familiar voice creates the same electric shock as when I stuck my finger      into a wall socket when I was four. My body seizes, then moves in warp drive      away from Ryan.

Gwen wears a red sundress with printed white flowers. Her      lip curls at my wannabe Chuck Taylors, worn jeans, and black T-shirt. She links      her arm with Ryan’s. “You wouldn’t mind if I steal Ryan for a moment, would you?      There are some things we need to discuss.”

They look nice together. Well matched. Like a couple should.      “He’s yours.”





Chapter 35

Ryan

SECONDS AGO, BETH AND I      shared something...a moment, a connection. I saw it in her eyes.      Something real. Now it’s gone. Beth turns from me and heads in the direction of      Lacy, Chris, and Logan. “Beth. Wait.”

She faces me again, but walks backward—away from me. “Don’t      worry,” she says with a hint of bite. “I’m not disappearing.”

“Let her go,” says Gwen. “You can chat with her later.”

I let Beth go, but only because I remember how persistent Gwen      can be. She’ll follow me until she completes her mission. “What?”

“You don’t have to be snippy,” she chides.

“I’m not.” Near the tree line, I notice Tim Richardson and      Sarah Janes. Sarah sways and laughs a little too loud.

“Yes, you are.”

Useless conversations. That’s another reason we broke up. “Is      Sarah wasted?”

Gwen glances over her shoulder at Sarah and refocuses on me.      “Yeah. She was trashed before we arrived. So, I was thinking, we should walk      onto the football field together for homecoming. The crowd likes couples.”

“We’re not a couple.” Tim places a hand on Sarah’s ass and she      stops laughing. “Are Sarah and Tim an item?”

“No. She thinks he’s dirt, but she’s drunk and, well, he’s Tim.      Back to me and you. We were a couple and maybe we should try it again. You know,      when you’re done experimenting with Beth. I mean, you don’t have to go to all of      your practices, do you? Ryan...Ryan? Why do you keep staring over my      shoulder?”

Sarah puts her hands on Tim’s chest and pushes him. He doesn’t      move, but I do. “Excuse me,” I mumble to Gwen.

She blocks my path and I halt, irritated she’s still here.      “What?”

“Did you hear what I said?”

Something about homecoming and Beth. “Can we talk about this      later?” Sarah pushes Tim again. “Your friend needs help.”

Gwen steps to the side and I advance to the tree line. Tim      becomes touchier and Sarah keeps smacking him.

“Hey, Tim,” I say. “I think Sarah wants to head back to the      party.”

“No, we’re fine,” Tim responds.

Sarah swats his hands away. “Get off of me.”

“Tim,” I say in a low tone. I’ll back up my words with action      and he knows it.

Tim releases Sarah and his chest puffs up as he watches her      stumble back to the party. I ready myself by widening my stance. Tim owns a      reputation for his dedication to the football team and his anger when he’s      drunk. “What’s your problem, Ryan?”

“Don’t have one as long as you give Sarah her space.”

He sloppily points at me, then sways. “You made her think she      wanted space.”

“Come on, Tim. Let’s go back to the party.”

Tim rolls his shoulders back. He’s looking for a fight. I’m      not.

“You know what I think?” he asks.

“I think we should head back.”

“I think you’ve got a problem with girls.”