Page 142 of Revenge Puck

I drop my gaze to the floor, pressing my lips, hoping to contain my ridiculous smile as joy blossoms in my chest.

A pool of literal euphoria melting to the floor.

“Come in. Take your shoes off and get settled.”

He glances down at his sneakers like he needs the instruction repeated, then bends to untie them. The entire thing is domestic in a way that makes something inside me melt.

I melt further when he lines them up neatly by the door.

His eyes drift toward the coffee table.

The open pad thai containers.

Two sets of chopsticks.

The napkins.

He smirks. “Was I interrupting dinner?”

“You are not interrupting dinner,” I say quickly. “We were having girl talk about boys.”

“Any boys in particular?” He winks at me, sliding his hands around my waist and pulling me gently against him. Nuzzles my neck.

The scratch of his stubble sends a ripple straight down my spine.

“Are you hungry?” I ask. “Have you eaten?”

“I haven’t.”

“Why?”

He shrugs. “Didn’t feel like it.”

Because he came here instead.

“I have more than enough to feed you if you want something.”

He pulls back so he can see my face, the dimple in his cheek making him look younger and devilish as he grins down at me. “That’s a loaded sentence if I’ve ever heard one.”

Heat rushes to my cheeks. “I meant noodles.”

“Noodles.” He nibbles at my ear. “Cookies. I’m no longer thinking about food.”

TWENTY-FOUR

AARON

Things with Declan are going from bad to worse, and tonight only fanned the flames.

He’s not subtle when he’s pissed—that’s something he and I have in common. But when it’s directed toward me and in full display of the fans, well… Now we officially have a fucking problem.

The locker room after the game felt thick. Guys pretending not to look. Pretending not to listen. Nobody wants to get between two players who hate each other’s guts, both for different reasons.

I’m not backing down, but I wasn’t looking for a war.

He crossed the line though when he went to his sister. I know what his intentions are: plant doubt so she’ll think I’m the problem.

That’s where he miscalculated.