Boyfriend Bargain (Hawthorne University #1)(87)

“I hope you’re good, Bennett.” And I mean it.

He smirks. “Will you forgive me for being a dickhead, babe?”

I laugh and he laughs along with me, looking a little unsure.

A slow song comes on, an Ed Sheeran tune, and Bennett gives me another lingering look.

Oh, shit. Please do not ask me to dance.

“Want to dance?” he says with a cocked eyebrow. “One more time for old times’ sake?”

“Uh…”

A gentle hand lands on my shoulder, and I turn to see Dallas behind me, looking rather awkward, and I get it when I see Julia and Poppy behind him. My eyes narrow. So, she didn’t go to the bar, instead circling back and bringing him over to save me.

“I’m here to see if you need rescuing,” he says under his breath. “Or we can dance?”

I think about it and part of me wants to know what it feels like to have strong arms slide around me and guide me as we move together.

I take his hand and we head to the dance floor. I send Bennett a parting wave.

“He looks like you kicked him,” Dallas says, and I laugh up at him.

“Nah, trust me, he’ll rebound quick.”

He nods, looking down at me until I break our gaze. Dallas is nice, he is, but…

We’re quiet as we sway to the music, a few inches between us, and I like his arms around me even if they aren’t the ones I want.

A buzz goes through the air, an electric stillness that hums, and I freeze. The party seems to dampen down a notch, and my eyes scour the room, looking, feeling him.

I find Z near the door, but he hasn’t seen me yet.

He’s a goddamn fantasy come to life and my breath hitches in my chest. Tall, massive, and looming over those around him, his hair is wild, grown out, the dark beard on his jawline contrasting vividly with the lighter strands on his head.

His gaze sweeps the room, eyeing groups of people and moving on, flitting from person to person as he scans the perimeter and then looks to the dance floor.

Our gazes lock.

The temperature drops as his eyes move from me to Dallas, hardening before flying back to me. Accusing—until that emotion is shuttered.

Some girl I don’t know has her arm hooked into his.

“You okay?” Dallas looks down at me and follows my gaze. “Ah, shit.”

Bitterness builds within me as I watch them move through the crowd, people slapping his back and congratulating him on the win.

“You good?” Dallas asks, and I turn back to him.

“Just keep dancing.”

I feel winded, my body acutely aware of every move Z makes as he strides his way across the room, getting lost in the sea of people. I lean my head on Dallas’s shoulder so I don’t have to watch Z.

I should leave the party. That’s the rational thing to do.

But I can’t. It’s like I need to see him. I need to see that he’s moved on.

My neck prickles as if someone is staring, and I look over.

Z and his date are dancing next to us.

His eyes are on me, and my heart dips.

Dammit.

I never should have come.

This can’t go on. Why am I torturing myself?

I stop in my tracks, murmur, “I’m sorry,” to Dallas, and bolt away.





40





Zack





“And this is Carrie,” Eric says out in the parking lot of the Kappa House as the girl in question gives me a shy smile and walks over.

She’s pretty with long dark hair and…everything else, I guess.

I don’t know. Whatever.

We’re standing in the crisp April night air, and the sounds of the party come from just behind that door. I haven’t been to a party since…forever…and I’m definitely not in the mood to meet a girl, but Eric seems to think I need to jump back in the game with dating. He’s given up on Sugar and me getting back together.

Eric grins, dressed in slacks and a slick button-up shirt. His hair is tamed and he’s got that I’m gonna party look on his face.

I arch a brow at him and we have a silent conversation.

Enjoy the girl, he says with his green gaze.

Fuck off.

He rolls his eyes and I blow out a breath. He just wants me to be the way I used to be, pre-Sugar.

I won’t ever be the same.

He throws an arm around the girl in question, and when she smiles, I realize I’ve already forgotten her name.

“Just thought you might like some company after our big win. She’s friends with Eleanor.”

“I’m glad you agreed to meet me,” the girl gushes.

Yeah. This is all Eric.

He gives me a look, an indication for me to be polite, but I think I see something else there too, a reminder that Sugar isn’t part of my world anymore.

Bitterness pulls at me. Maybe dating is the right thing—or at least going through the motions.

Takes one to get over one, Eric told me earlier.

“I’m so glad we’re finally getting together,” she says. “I’m a huge hockey fan and I’ve followed your career since prep school. You’re amazing.”

“Yeah.”

“You know,” she says as Eric goes on ahead of us, “we don’t even have to go inside if you don’t want. It’s been a long tournament and I’m sure you need to just relax.” I get her meaning when she leans in and stares up at me with big brown eyes.