Page 41 of The Heart Breaker

“Gross,” he mutters, bending to grab his clothes.

Austin leans back on the bench, spreading his arms. “What’s everyone wearing? Mine and Maisie’s costumes are gonna be the best ones there.”

“You’re wearing a couples costume?” Nathan asks.

Logan scoffs, raking a hand through his hair. “This is Austin we’re talking about. Of course he is.”

Austin grins, looking far too pleased with himself. “And what about you?” he asks, jerking his chin toward Nathan. “What’re you coming as?”

Nathan lets out a long sigh and shoves a hand through his damp hair. “Some stupid matching costume with Ryan.”

“Hey, I wanted to do a matching costume with your sister,” he replies, lifting his shoulder in a shrug, “but she’s matching with Aurora. You were my backup plan.”

“Thanks,” Nathan replies dryly.

Ryan just laughs. “Don’t worry. We’re gonna look cool.”

“Somehow,” Nathan mutters, “I refuse to believe that.”

I yank at my elbow pad and it sticks to my skin, pulling a hiss out of me. My shoulders burn, my ribs ache, but I welcome it. I want the pain. I want something sharp enough to cut through the shit that’s been circling my head since last night.

I strip out of the rest of my gear before heading into the showers.

As soon as I step under the spray and crank the water on, my eyes fall shut as I breathe out a long, heavy exhale. All I can picture when I close my eyes is the way her body froze the second she saw me, no doubt remembering what had happened between us the week before.

I scrub a hand over my face. I didn’t even register that Stacy—I think that’s her name—had dragged me down into that lawn chair and plopped onto my lap. I barely know the girl. I think I hooked up with her once at a party before the summer, but she clearly got a little clingy.

Usually, I would just tell her I’m not interested and leave, but when I saw the way Aurora stiffened at the sight, I used that to my advantage. I let Stacy stay on my lap, lifted my hand to her waist, wanting Aurora to see it, wanting her to think I’d alreadyforgotten about her. I wanted her to believe I wasn’t giving her a second thought.

Even though she was the only thing in my head.

And when Aurora stood up, I followed without thinking. Not a single brain cell firing a warning. I told her to go home alone, and I still don’t know why. I didn’t plan to say it. Didn’t mean to sound like I cared where she went or who she went with. I just hated seeing her under someone else’s arm. Hated the idea of her going home with some clueless freshman who has no idea what to do with a girl like her.

I didn’t think she’d listen. I thought she’d roll her eyes and go right back to Holden out of spite.

Instead… she left.

I scanned the crowd for her, waiting for her to come back. Kept sneaking glances toward Holden all night. But she never came back. Every time I looked, all I saw was the rookie sitting there alone, eating the rest of her food.

God, this is such bullshit.

Fucking her was supposed to get her out of my system, burn her out of my blood so I could finally move on. I thought if I had her once, I’d finally be bored. I’d get rid of this… tension that’s been building between us since the club and finally be done with her.

But it did the opposite.

Now she’s everywhere.

No matter what I do, my brain keeps serving me new angles, new flashes. Instead of the lacy bra and panties she wore when she was grinding on my lap, it’s now her on her knees, with her mouth full of my cock, her bare ass perched perfectly for me, her sharp gasp when I slid into her.

This shit is a problem.

I shouldn’t be thinking about fucking her again. I should be done. I should have moved on by now, let her be a mistake I made once and never repeat.

Because no matter how sweet she tasted, no matter how good that tight little body felt, she’s still Aurora Prescott.

Still a venomous snake.

I kill the shower, hoping it has eased the tension in my shoulders, but it does jack shit. I grab my towel, dry my hair off, then wrap it around my waist and step back into the locker room.