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Unlawful Justice

Page 22

by K. Langston


  His words send my heart into a heated frenzy, and his need to feel me so close to him brings a satisfied smile to my lips. His large hand settles between my legs, high on my thigh, distributing additional warmth through my blood. As our drinks are delivered, he turns his attention back to Terrell and starts talking about football. His thumb is brushing small circles on the inside of my leg, completely short-circuiting my brain.

  With my cheeks flushed, I look across the table and find Tania shaking her head, stifling a laugh.

  “The place is packed tonight, it’s like a damn high school reunion up in here,” she says. “Well for Grayson and T anyway.”

  “I noticed.” It’s on the tip of my tongue to bring up Mandy, but I don’t, not wanting her presence here to interfere with our night.

  Tania leans in closer. “Check it out. Four o’clock.”

  I discreetly glance to the right and see Jay Maxwell leaning against the bar, gazing at Tania, his eyes full of need.

  “Girl, he totally wants me, right?”

  Amused, I look back at her. “Definitely, he’s been chasing you for months now. Are you finally going to put the man out of his misery?”

  Jay went to school with Grayson and Terrell. He’s asked Tania out at least a dozen times but she never gives him a straight answer. I don’t know why because it’s obvious she likes him.

  She shrugs. “Maybe someday.”

  We both burst out laughing.

  “Someday what?” Terrell asks.

  “Nothing.” We both reply in unison.

  He’s crazy protective over her; no doubt he would go all big brother if we told him his former teammate has been asking his sister out.

  Terrell points at the leather band wrapped around Grayson’s wrist. “What the hell is that?”

  Grayson takes a pull from his bottle of beer. “What the hell does it look like?” he fires back.

  “Since when do you wear stuff like that?”

  “Since my girl made it for me.” His hand gives my thigh a gentle squeeze before he removes it to take off the band to show Terrell the inscription.

  Terrell looks over at me, impressed. “You made this for him?”

  I shift, feeling uncomfortable. “Yeah.”

  “It’s badass. Where the hell is mine?”

  I chuckle. “You want one?”

  “Damn right I do. And I want it to say, ‘Mack Truck’ Johnson kicks ass.”

  Grayson grunts while Tania and I burst into another fit of laughter as he reminds us of his nickname from high school.

  “All right, you’re next. I’ll get started this weekend.”

  “That’s what I like to hear.” He sits back with a pleased grin, crossing his arms over his broad chest.

  Shaking my head with a smile, I stand. “I’ll be back, I need to use the ladies’ room.”

  “I’ll come.”

  As Tania jumps from her chair, Grayson encircles my wrist and tugs me down. “Kiss me first,” he demands, setting that flock of butterflies loose in my tummy.

  Sometimes I really like it when he’s bossy.

  I brush my lips softly across his but his hand curls around my neck, hauling me in for a knee-weakening kiss. By the time he releases me, I’m unsteady on my feet and completely lost in a haze of desire.

  “Hurry back,” he says with a smirk, knowing exactly what he just did to me.

  I can only manage a nod before I turn to trail behind Tania, still trying to get my bearings.

  “Girl, you got it bad.” She laughs, slowing down to throw an arm around my shoulder.

  I don’t bother to deny it because it’s true. I have it bad for that man, and I’m not ashamed in the least by it.

  Just before we make it to the restroom, Tania is tugged away from me. Turning back I see Jay has a hold of her arm, bringing her in close to him.

  “Hey! Don’t be man-handling me like that?” she snaps, but it’s easy to see she’s not bothered by it at all.

  I continue to the restroom, knowing she’s more than fine. If anything, Jay is exactly what my best friend needs. A strong-willed man to cut through her defenses.

  After I use the facilities I walk out expecting to find Tania, but come face-to-face with Mandy instead. She leans against the sink with her hip cocked, staring daggers into the side of my head.

  Ignoring her, I move to the sink furthest away, feeling her eyes on me the entire time I wash my hands.

  “What are you doing here with him?”

  She doesn’t need to elaborate who he is because we both know she’s talking about Grayson.

  “That’s none of your business.” I try to keep my voice steady but my thumping heart is filled with anger, making it almost impossible to control my emotions.

  “If you think he’s going to stick around you’re dumber than I thought. Grayson doesn’t do relationships. He only likes to fuck. Trust me, I know.” She smirks.

  Don’t let her get to you, Liv. She’s only trying to bait you.

  With a deep breath I turn to face her as I dry my hands, my eyes holding hers in a challenge. “Now that’s where you’re wrong. Grayson isn’t the same as he was back in high school, which you would know if you still spoke with him, but you don’t because he’s smarter than that. You see, some of us decide to grow up after graduating and get lives.”

  That’s just the problem—Mandy never grew up. Since high school she’s been married and divorced twice because she can’t seem to keep her legs closed.

  “You couldn’t even keep Clint, what makes you think you’re going to keep a man like Grayson?”

  Her nasty remark hits me like a punch to the gut. It takes every ounce of self-control not to attack the bitch. I swallow back the hurt clogging my throat, not wanting to give her the satisfaction of seeing me upset. “There’s a big difference between Grayson and Clint. When Grayson has something worthy, he appreciates it. He takes care of it. He doesn’t sneak off to go slumming.”

  Her eyes narrow but she holds on tight to her snide smirk. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” With that parting comment she walks out, leaving me with fire running through my veins and pain gripping my chest.

  Turning, I face the mirror and exhale a deep breath. As I stare back at my reflection, I think about the way Grayson looks at me and touches me.

  He loves me. He would never do what Clint did.

  Never.

  I’m pulled from my inner thoughts as Tania walks in, fixing her now-rumpled hair. “Do not tell me that was Mandy Whit-whore I just passed out there?”

  I nod, still struggling to find my voice.

  She can tell I’m upset, and fire flashes in her eyes. “What did that slut do? That’s it, I’m gonna kick her ass… Hold my earrings!” she says, her hands moving to her ears.

  I quickly grab her wrist to stop her. “No. It’s fine. I promise. We had words, but I can handle her.”

  She looks at me uncertainly, gearing up for a fight. “You sure? ’Cause you know I will cut that bitch.”

  A chuckle escapes me; her loyalty easing some of the tension coiled beneath my skin. “Positive, but thank you for the backup.”

  After a nod she walks up to the mirror and starts wiping at her smudged lipstick.

  “Looks like you had your own little encounter,” I comment.

  She smiles at me knowingly. “Yeah, but mine was a lot more fun.”

  “Does that mean you finally said yes to that date with him?”

  “Nope.” She smacks her lips together after freshening her lipstick. “Still not ready to give in to him quite yet. I want him to work a little harder,” she adds with a wink.

  “You are a cruel, cruel woman.” I tease.

  “I know, right? Come on, let’s get you back to your man before he comes lookin’ for ya.” Grabbing my wrist, she leads me back into the crowded bar.

  I keep my eyes trained forward, squashing the urge to look where Mandy was before, wondering if she’s still here.

  It doesn’t matter. S
he doesn’t matter.

  Even as I say the words to myself, my stomach still churns.

  “You couldn’t even keep Clint, what makes you think you’re going to keep a man like Grayson?”

  I shove the nasty thought away and plaster a smile on my face as we reach our table. I’m just about to squeeze in behind Grayson to get to my chair, when he grabs my hips and pulls me down to sit on his lap. He wraps his arms around me, hugging me close before pressing a warm kiss to my bare shoulder.

  My strained smile softens into a real one as his warmth erases all of my self-doubt.

  “I ran into Jay just before you got back,” Terrell tells Tania. “I invited him to come to the barbecue this weekend.”

  “You did what?” she squeaks, her face stricken with panic.

  Terrell frowns at her outburst. “I said I invited him to the barbecue. We’ve been talking about having a beer for a while and this way he can see Mom and Dad, too… That a problem?”

  “Nope,” she responds quickly, too quickly.

  Terrell doesn’t believe her, but before he can question her further one of her favorite songs come on. Tania immediately jumps from her seat. “C’mon, Liv. It’s time we did some dancing.”

  I don’t get a chance to respond before she has me by my wrist again and we’re moving through the crowded bar to the dance floor.

  “I can’t believe that man. I’m gonna kill him.” I can barely hear her spit the words over the pounding beat. “He did it on purpose so I’ll have to see him. The bastard is trickier than a damn leprechaun.”

  I burst out laughing at the analogy. “If you would put him out of his misery already, he wouldn’t need to be tricky. You like him. I know you do. Stop playing so hard to get.”

  “No, not yet. It needs to be on my terms.”

  “Why? What are you waiting for?”

  She stops and turns to me. “He scares the hell out of me. When he looks at me it’s like he can see things others can’t. Parts of me I don’t allow anyone else to see. So I’m waiting for him to want me so bad that when he finally does get me, he ain’t ever lettin’ go. Because, mark my words, Liv, when I let that man in, I’m finished. Done. I’m going to marry the sexy bastard.”

  I gape at her, shocked at her admission, and by the look on her face she is, too.

  Then she smiles. “Shit, that felt really good to say out loud. Now enough chitchat, let’s dance.”

  Stepping out onto the dance floor, we spot a few girls from school we recognize before falling in line to do the electric slide. I lose myself in the beat, easily finding the right moves, and all the while I feel Grayson’s eyes on me, his fierce gaze possessive and dark. Smiling, I dip my hips a little more, giving him a sassy wiggle of my fingers before turning and continuing the dance with my back facing him.

  One dance turns into seven. Tania and I are having so much fun that we can’t bring ourselves to leave. For the first time in so long I feel…normal, my heart lighter than it has been for weeks.

  My eyes move to find Grayson again, but I don’t see him or Terrell at the table. I do a quick scan and my feet falter, my stomach bottoming out. He’s standing at the bar with that bitch, Mandy. Their faces are close as they talk. When I see her hand move to rest on his forearm, I look away, nausea making it hard to swallow.

  “What is it? What’s wrong?” Tania asks.

  I shake my head and give her a fake smile. “Nothing. Everything’s fine. I just need a drink. I’ll be right back.” I hightail it off the floor before she has a chance to stop me, because she knows I’m full of it. As I make my way back to our table, the sound of my name being shouted stops me.

  Spinning around I see Ben Marshall, a former classmate and good friend whom I haven’t seen since graduation. “Oh my God, Ben?”

  We move at the same time, both of us pushing past the crowded bodies before embracing one another in a tight hug. “What on earth are you doing here?” I ask, collecting a step back to get a good look at him.

  “I’m visiting my folks for the weekend. Colin wanted to come out for a beer,” he explains, pointing over to his cousin sitting at one of the tables.

  I wave at Colin before bringing my gaze back to Ben’s. “Well I’m glad I ran into you. It’s been a long time and you look great.” Ben was always a little awkward back in school, which is probably why we got along as well as we did. But now his glasses are gone, hair trimmed and neatly styled. His body is much leaner and more defined. He’s really grown into a man, a handsome one at that.

  “Thanks, you do too, but you’ve always been beautiful so that hasn’t changed.”

  I smile at his compliment. “Thank you.”

  His expression turns remorseful, and I immediately know what’s coming. “I heard about what happened.”

  I nod, unsure of what to say. It warms my heart when people offer me their sympathy, but it also makes it awkward sometimes. I appreciate it more than words could ever say, but I also don’t want to be defined by this for the rest of my life.

  “I’m really sorry, Liv,” he says, reaching out to brush my cheek. “I wanted to call and check on you, but it’s been so long I didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”

  I shake my head. “No, it’s okay. Don’t feel bad. I’m all right. At least I’m going to be. I’ve had a lot of amazing people in my life helping me through this.”

  He opens his mouth to say something else, but our moment is interrupted when I feel a strong, looming presence next to me. Glancing up, I find Grayson staring at Ben, his eyes dark and furious.

  “Who’s your friend?” he asks, pulling me in next to him, his arm wrapping possessively around my waist.

  It’s something I would usually welcome—if he didn’t seem so upset.

  I swallow thickly, hating the tension filling the air. “This is my friend, Ben. Ben, I’m not sure if you remember him or not, but this is Grayson Taylor. He—”

  “Her boyfriend,” Grayson says, effectively cutting me off.

  I glare up at him, annoyed by his clipped tone.

  Ben clears his throat, shuffling his feet. “Yeah, of course I remember. Though we’ve never been formally introduced. How’s it going?” he says politely, offering Grayson his hand.

  Heat burns in my cheeks when he doesn’t return the gesture, his narrowed eyes throwing daggers at the poor guy.

  Ben’s hand retreats into the safety of his front pocket. “Okay, well, it was good to see you, Liv. Good luck with everything.”

  As he turns to leave I shrug from Grayson’s hold. “Ben, wait.” I walk closer to him. “I’m so sorry,” I say, embarrassed by Grayson’s rude behavior. “It was really good to see you again, too. Maybe next time you’re home we can catch up?”

  I don’t have to look behind me to know Grayson is brimming with disapproval, but I don’t care. I won’t let him intimidate my friends.

  Although, I think it may be too late.

  Ben’s eyes lift above my head before quickly coming back to mine. “Yeah, maybe. Take care,” he says, before quickly walking away.

  “Bye,” I reply softly, to his retreating back.

  I spin around to face Grayson, fury reflecting back at me in his stormy blue eyes. “I can’t believe you. That was so rude.” I race past him and swipe my purse from my seat.

  “I was rude?” he asks, coming up behind me.

  “Yes, you,” I snap. “Why…” I trail off when I see Mandy not far behind him, watching us with a pleased smile. It takes my anger to a whole new level. “You know what? Forget it. I’m out of here.”

  I take off, pushing my way through the crowd. “Hey, Liv,” Terrell shouts with a grin. “How…” His words trail off when he realizes how pissed I am.

  I bypass him, my determined steps tearing up the floor beneath me. I feel bad for ignoring him and not saying goodbye to Tania, but I need to get out of here before I lose my temper on both that bitch and Grayson.

  Once I step outside I’m immediately pelted with heavy drops of
rain.

  This night just keeps getting better and better.

  Swiping my already soaked hair out of my face, I consider going back inside to get Tania until Grayson comes flying out the door. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?”

  “Home. Without you!” I stomp past him, heading to the field behind the bar.

  I’d rather walk in the pouring rain than be around him right now. I don’t make it far before his arms encircle my waist and he picks me up. “What are you doing? Put me down!” I demand, swatting at his muscular forearms.

  “Don’t think so, baby.” He turns around and heads toward his truck.

  “I don’t want to be anywhere near you right now,” I shout, trying to wiggle out of his grasp.

  “Well too bad, sweetheart. You’re not fucking leaving here without me.”

  This is one of those times where his bossy attitude isn’t sexy. It’s downright irritating. “You can’t make me leave with you!” I fight harder, trying to squirm free when he pins me against the side of his truck.

  “Stop it, Liv. Now.” His dark tone and furious gaze cuts through the relentless rain, halting my struggle but not my racing heart. He deposits me in the truck before getting in on his side and slamming the door.

  “Why are you acting like this?” I yell, as he peels out of the parking lot, the rear end fishtailing only slightly before he regains control and maneuvers us onto the slick road.

  His right hand clenches tight around the steering wheel. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

  “No, I’m not. You were a complete asshole back there. What did Ben ever do to you?”

  “He had his fucking hand on my woman. He’s lucky I didn’t break it. How do you expect me to react when I turn around and see that shit?”

  I gape at him. “Grayson, we were talking about what happened to me. He felt bad and was offering nothing more than sympathy. He was one of my really good friends back in high school.”

  He grunts. “Oh yeah, so good that you haven’t seen him since?”

  I grind my teeth, his comment making my blood spike with additional heat. I stare back at his hard features, remembering what I saw just before I ran into Ben.

 

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