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“Freaking Dallas,” Hemi mutters.
As if he can hear us talking about him, he looks our way, gives us a chin raise, and winks at Hemi. She flips him off.
Tonight is the first time Hollis has been out of his penthouse since the accident. We haven’t talked about what happened the other day, when Scarlet came on the TV and he promptly sent me home. But since then, I’ve done an unreasonable amount of research on them as a couple. It doesn’t take a genius to see that relationship left him with scars on his heart. Not when one minute he’s giving me long hugs that feel like there’s so much more than simple comfort wrapped up in them and letting me take care of him, and the next he’s telling me to leave. Conflicted seems to be his primary emotion when it comes to me. It’s making me angsty, and I’m also inclined to be bratty—AKA the button-pusher, as Hollis likes to call me.
Tomorrow the team has an away game, so tonight they’re out talking game strategy at the Watering Hole. My dad is deep in conversation with Ash, and Dallas has just gone to the bathroom, which means Hollis is currently on his own at the bar. I slide into the spot beside him and order a round of drinks.
He gives me a sidelong glance. “You look like trouble tonight.”
I know this already. I picked my outfit for maximum button pushing. I don’t look at him when I reply. “You can’t say things like that and not expect me to read into them.”
He sips his beer. He must be off the pain meds. “You can’t come to a bar braless and expect me not to notice.”
My sweater is off the shoulder, which is bare. “You seem to be paying an awful lot of attention to my wardrobe choices lately.”
“I’m trying to stay on the right side of the line, but it’s hard when I want to gouge out every set of eyes that notices how good you look the same way I do,” he grumbles into his glass.
I fucking love grumpy Hollis. I love it when he looks like he’s thinking about doing naughty things to me. “So you admit you like my tits, Hollis?” It comes out way breathy.
“You’re pushing it, Princess.”
I think I love keep-doing-that-and-there-will-be-consequences Hollis even more than grumpy Hollis. “Bet you’d love to teach me a lesson or two about that, huh?” God, I’m skating the edge here.
He grinds his teeth.
The bartender sets a margarita, a martini, and a beer in front of me.
“I’ve got those.” Hollis passes his card over.
“Thanks.” My shoulder brushes his when I lean in close, dropping my voice. “By the way, broody and sexually frustrated is a good look on you. I look forward to fucking myself later to the memory of that exact facial expression.” I wink, gather the drinks, and leave him glowering after me.
I’d like to say I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me. But I’m horny as hell, probably getting my period, annoyed by how hot Hollis looks, frustrated by his unwillingness to budge from the we-can’t-go-there stance, and maybe a little drunk. Definitely a little drunk since this is my third martini in less than two hours.
“Why does Hollis look extra intense?” Tally asks as I set the drinks on the table.
“The team doctor said he needs to stay home and rest during the upcoming away series,” Hemi says.
“Really?” That’s news to me. “When did he find that out?” I ask.
“Just before he got here tonight,” Hemi explains. “It was not the calmest conversation from the little I could hear.”
“Isn’t the coaches’ office at the other end of the hall?” Rix asks.
“Yeah.” Hemi sips her water.
“Sitting on a bench for three hours in the cold probably isn’t the best for a healing knee,” Dred muses.
“I feel bad for him, even though he scares me. He’s just so intimidating and serious all the time. I swear I’ve only seen him smile like five times ever,” Tally says. “He was having such a great season.”
“It hasn’t been easy for him.” It’s like he’s reliving last year all over again, and here I am being antagonistic. “His bark is worse than his bite, though.” I steal a look his way, and he narrows his gaze before turning back to Dallas.
“I can attest to this. He’s always been pleasant with me,” Shilpa agrees.
“I totally crushed on him as a teen,” I admit. And that sure hasn’t changed.
“Really?” Tally’s eyes light up. “I used to have a huge crush on one of my dance instructors. But I was thirteen.” She folds her hands on the table and looks at me expectantly. “I want to know more about your crush on Hollis.”
I shouldn’t have said anything. Fuck me.
