Thin Love (Thin Love, #1)(42)
“We’re young and irresponsible. We’re supposed to do stupid things.”
The juice from Leann’s lime ran down her wrist and Keira grabbed a napkin off the bar to hand to her cousin. At least she tried to, but Kona walked up on the other side at the same time and Keira moved her hand off of the counter. She meant to turn, to stare over his head, look anywhere other than at his scowling, bad-tempered expression, but Keira was trying something new; she wouldn’t let Kona’s mood ruin her night. So, instead of scampering away like a coward, she lifted her chin, then squinted at him, silently challenging Kona to say anything to piss her off.
Kona’s stare lingered for a moment and in his expression was something Keira knew wasn’t forced. He either didn’t like her being here or he was still pissed off at the low blow she’d served him at the team house. At least, that’s what Keira thought his look meant. But then Kona shifted his eyes to her left and his frown deepened, lips pursed as he watched Mark laughing with Michael.
You’ve got to be shitting me, she thought, realizing that Kona’s anger had nothing to do with her telling him he’d never change.
Kona stepped closer to the bar, leaned on his elbows. “Having a good time?” he asked Keira, still watching Mark.
“Yep. You?”
“Oh, I’m good, Wildcat.” He took a swig from his bottle, but didn’t let his eyes leave her face.
“Do not call me that.” Her voice came out too loud, and Keira cursed to herself when she noticed a few people turn in her direction. She knew her cheeks were setting off like a flame. She could feel the prickle of her embarrassment rush up her skin.
“Is there a problem?” Leann asked, turning around to face Kona.
“None,” he told her cousin, his smile exaggerating the cleft in his chin. “I think your cousin here is in a bad mood.”
“My cousin,” Leann said, locking her arm with Keira’s, “is not in a mood. At least she wasn’t until you showed up.”
“I was here first, sweetheart. You’re in my world.” To emphasize his point, Kona lifted his hands and gestured around him. Several of players loitered behind him, chatting drinking, kissing whatever mouth was on top of theirs, but at his voice raised, a few stepped up behind him and laughed, slapping his back.
“We can leave.” Keira wouldn’t look at Kona, couldn’t stand seeing the entitled jackass attitude he wore like a cloak. Leann’s lips parted, an argument broaching, and Keira knew she’d have something particularly harsh to level at Kona. Leann wove insults like a master, but Keira didn’t have the energy to deal with drama and was about two hours past enjoying Leann’s promised shenanigans. “It’s fine, Leann. Let’s just go.”
“Something wrong?” Mark said, walking to Keira’s side.
“No. We’re good.” She grabbed his hand and started to turn. “We’re leaving.”
“Oh, Wildcat, don’t leave. The party’s just getting good.” Kona’s voice got even louder and all around him, drunken players and their companions cheered.
“Come on,” Leann said, dragging Michael behind her as she headed toward the door. She knew her cousin would have to hurry her boyfriend from the scene. He was up to two strikes for stupid shit he’d gotten into the summer before and being in the middle of a fight could earn him a third.
Keira turned away from the bar, was right on her cousin’s heels and out in the hall with Mark next to her, when she felt a tug on her wrist and the imposing, heated sensation of a large, obnoxious jackass behind her. “Leaving already?”
“Hey, man, what’s your problem?” Mark looked fearless, pissed and Keira was impressed that his being a good four inches shorter than Kona didn’t make him back down from the big linebacker. “Why don’t you leave her alone?”
Kona barely glanced at Mark and Keira thought it wouldn’t be stupid at all to claw his eyes out or slap that pompous smirk off his face when Mark’s words were ignored.
“Who is this guy?” he asked her, his head jerking toward Mark who had stepped in front of her.
Keira nodded to Leann at the elevator, telling her with a head jerk to take off and then, she rounded on Kona. “He’s my date and he’s leaving with me.” It took three yanks on his sleeve, but Mark finally followed her, stepping backward to glare at Kona as they made for the elevator. She glanced at his face, eyes narrowed, his mouth drawn down hard, and Keira closed her eyes, said a small prayer that Kona would give up and let them leave.
No such luck.
“Keira, hold up,” Kona said, the harsh tone of his voice changed, softened by his small plea.
“Listen, man, I don’t what your problem is, but you need to back off.” Mark had to look up to glare at Kona and a quick rush of gratitude filled Keira’s chest at her date’s determined expression.
“I wasn’t talking to you.” Kona finally glanced at Mark, arms over his chest like he had to force himself to keep his hands still. He nodded to Keira. “I was talking to her.”
Mark’s shoulders straightened and he pulled himself to all of his 6’, but the threatening stance he held and the small scowl curling his mouth didn’t seem to intimate Kona. Keira could taste the crackle of violence on the air, the heavy sense that if she walked away, Kona and Mark’s pissing contest would become a bloody mess.