Clipped by Love (Bellevue Bullies #2)

by Toni Aleo

  “Hey nothing, that’s Jude’s good luck beanie. He wore it the day we won the Cup last year. He left it for the next captain.”

  “That’s not fair! I want it,” Jace complains, but I stick my tongue out at him.

  “Don’t care,” I say back just as the door opens and Markus pops his head in.

  “Yo, we’re going out, you guys down?”

  “Where?” Jace asks as I pull the beanie down on my head. I already feel luckier. “And who’s going?”

  “The Gilroy,” he says and then starts naming off names. When he says Baylor’s, I look up. I really didn’t feel like going anywhere, but I haven’t seen Baylor since she walked away from me earlier this morning.

  “Baylor is going?” I ask, and he nods.

  “Yeah, surprising, right?”

  “I heard that, asshole,” she says then punches him in the arm.

  “Hey, just saying. And also, it’s good she’s going. She can supply the booze.”

  “’Cause I want to go to jail,” she says, rolling her eyes. She has her leather jacket hanging loosely over her arm. And I’m thanking the heavens because it makes it easy to see her low-cut tank that shows off the sides of her breasts and her black bra in a very punk-rock way. Her jeans hang low on her waist; her lips are red and glossy, and her hair’s up in a high bun. The smile on her face is forced, and when she looks at me, her eyes don’t meet mine but go above my head. Rolling my eyes, I look away as she asks, “You guys coming?”

  “Yeah, I’m down,” Jace says, throwing his clothes on the bed. “I’ll put these away later.” He then looks back at me. “You wanna go, Jayden?”

  Watching her, I wait to answer until finally she meets my gaze. Biting into her bottom lip, her cheeks redden as she shrugs and she says, “It’ll be fun, but I understand if you’re too tired from all the strenuous activity you did today.”

  Scoffing, I shake my head. “Don’t worry, princess. I could go for way more strenuous activity.”

  Heat fills her eyes as a slow grin curves her lips. Arching her back, she holds my gaze, and I don’t know how to read that. I want to take it as her telling me to come get some, but that would only apply to normal-girl body language. Baylor’s body language is completely different; she could be teasing me for all I know. In all reality, she probably is, and when I get close enough, she’ll punch me.

  Violent one, that one is.

  “Yeah, this is weird,” Jace says then, but I’m not looking away until she does.

  “Yeah, are you sure they’re not doing it?” Markus asks.

  “He told me no. I don’t know though,” Jace answers, and I can feel them staring at us. “If they are, they need to tone it down before other people find out.”

  “True, do you think they’re listening?” Markus asks.

  I scoff before running my tongue along my lips in the slowest and most sexual way. Her grin grows as her eyes darken to a brownish color, heat creeping down her throat.

  “I think he’s doing the mating call of his people,” Jace observes.

  “Yeah, she’ll be humping his leg soon. Even I’m turned on by that,” Markus says and I can’t help it, I burst out laughing.

  “Fuck off, Markus. I don’t hump legs,” she snaps, smacking his arm again.

  “Sure, you don’t,” he says, rubbing his arm as she turns.

  But then she pauses, giving me one last look before walking down the hall.

  “Y’all are dicks,” I say, grabbing my coat. “Let’s go.”

  “We weren’t the ones having mental sex with each other!” Jace says to my back.

  “Yeah, get a room next time,” Markus calls at me, and I just grin.

  That’s my plan.

  I’m having a blast.

  I usually don’t go to bars like the Gilroy. Back in Arkansas, Delanie and I would go to frat parties since they didn’t have a place like this on campus. But I’ve decided that all campuses need a place like the Gilroy. It’s amazing, and I can’t wait to take Delanie and Mandie here when they come to visit. Which isn’t for another couple weeks, but until then, I’ve decided that I’m going to try to make friends with my teammates. It’s what’s best for me and will make me a better person, I feel. The guys are great too, well, except McCarthy, but as long as I ignore him, I’m good.

  But it’s hard to ignore Jayden.

  And that whole thing is still up in the air.

  He looks scrumptious tonight, but then he always looks great. I think it’s because I slept with him though that he looks extra hot. He’s wearing a thin teal tee with a pair of khaki shorts, looking like he stepped right off the beach, minus the black beanie he wears. Not sure what is up with that thing, but it’s funny because the last time I had this much fun was when we were in Florida, playing beer pong. I don’t know what it is, but every time I’m around this guy, I’m smiling.

  And it isn’t a fake smile.

  That should tell me something, but still, I’m not sure. I keep going back and forth with the whole thing. Do I really want to get involved with someone when my future is so up in the air? Do I want to risk being with someone when I have no clue how it could turn out? So many questions, but every time I look at him… Gah, I just want him. But that worries me. Is it just sex that I want? I have no clue, and I am convinced that there is something wrong with me. Why can’t I just let go? Why can’t I just trust my heart?

  Oh yeah, I did that and was burned.

  I don’t know, it’s confusing and scary, but the whole getting to know my team thing and making friends is actually easier than I thought. The guys are pretty cool and very inviting. Especially Markus and Jace. The whole time we’ve been here they’ve treated me like a little sister. Showing me the ropes, dancing with me—but not too close—while making sure that no one got near me, and just being sweet. It’s nice.

  Jayden hasn’t said much, though. He’s been nursing a beer and chatting with everyone, but mostly, he just been listening. It’s funny that I never noticed how he watches situations before joining in. I always thought he just jumped in, but I think he analyzes everything before he does it. The way his mind works is quite intriguing and I really want to be in it, but the best part is being under his green-eyed gaze. It’s like having a warm blanket wrapped around me. And I like it a lot.

  “Jay, it’s your buy,” Jace says, and I look across the table at him.

  “You can buy?”

  He grins as he stands. “I’m twenty-one here,” he says with a wink.

  A sexy, dirty wink that has me hot all over.

  Leaning toward me, Jace whispers, “He has a fake ID.”

  “Thanks for clearing that up for me, Sinclair,” I say, pushing him away with a grin. Looking back at the bar, I say, “I’m gonna help him.” I’m sure he can handle it, but I kinda want to talk to him.

  “Because he needs help with four drinks!”

  Ignoring Jace, I head toward the bar where he is, but as I reach him, so does another girl. A very pretty girl who’s built like a wrestler with long brown hair and killer brown eyes. Her body is sick, and if I were a dude, I’d do her.

  “Jayden!” she squeals, hugging him tightly before kissing him dead on the lips.

  Whoa, what the hell?

  With my brows to my hairline, I stand there shocked as he grins back down at her. “Skylar, where have you been? I haven’t seen you at all this year!”

  Their body language is insane. It’s obvious they have history, and of course, I instantly hate her.

  “Dude, I’m doing a lot more online classes since I’m working so much for Reese,” she says before moving her finger along his hairline, brushing a stray piece to the side, and he lets her.

  And I want to break each of her fingers.

  “Awesome, are you doing the dance team this year?” he asks, and she nods.

  “Yeah, I got your vote, right?”

  He nods before giving her a wink. “Tens all the way, baby.”

  Baby? What. The. Ever. Lov
ing. Fuck!

  Kissing him again, this time on the jaw, she grins at him before starting to walk away. “Look for me later, a dance, maybe? Or even more?” she adds with a wink.

  He scoffs as he nods. “Maybe.”

  Maybe? The hell?!

  She gives a cute little pout before turning to join her friends. Biting the inside of my cheek, I turn to head back to the table, but before I can get far, he takes ahold of my wrist, stopping me. “Hey, where you going?”

  Hooking my thumb to the table, I say, “Back to the table, didn’t want to interrupt you and your friend.”

  I say that a little more sharply than I intended, but he just grins at me. “Is that jealousy I hear in your voice, Moore?”

  “I don’t get jealous, Sinclair.”

  “I bet,” he says before taking a pull of his drink. “She’s just a friend.”

  “Looks more than that,” I observe with a shrug.

  “She’s nothing to worry about,” he says offhandedly. “So why did you come over here? Don’t tell me to help bring drinks.”

  Holding his gaze, I shrug and then say, “Yeah, I got nothing.”

  “It’s okay to say that you wanted to talk to me privately.”

  I laugh. “Full of yourself, eh?”

  He grins back at me. “Has anyone ever told you that it’s really sexy when you say that?”

  “Yeah, you,” I say, and then I’m grinning back at him.

  “I’m one smart dude,” he says, and I scoff, rolling my eyes.

  “Whatever you say,” I mutter as I look down. When I look up though, he’s right in front of me, looking deep into my eyes.

  “I gotta take a leak,” he says, moving his hand down my hip. “Wait for these drinks for me real quick. I’ll be right back.”

  He then smacks my ass before heading toward the bathroom. Letting out the breath I was holding, because apparently I thought he was going to kiss me or something crazy, I lean against the bar and wait for the bartender to mix and make the drinks that Jayden’s ordered. What am I doing? And what am I going to say when he comes back? It’s obvious he’s expecting me to say something, and I have no clue what that is. Maybe I shouldn’t have come over here. Not only am I pissy about wrestler chick but I’m pissy because I’m confused by my feelings.

  Blah.

  “Hey.”

  Looking to the left, I meet McCarthy’s dark gaze. Standing up straighter, I eye him as I say, “Hey.”

  As his eyes travel down my body, I find myself pulling my jacket in tighter. I don’t trust this guy. At all. The sad thing is, if he weren’t so creepy, he’d be really hot. He has nice brown eyes and a really decent face, but he gives off a sleazebag vibe, plus he’s a fucking dick to me. “I’ve been watching you.”

  Yeah, total creep.

  “Okay?”

  “You’re really pretty,” he says, and this time I can smell the alcohol on his breath.

  “You’re drunk,” I say back, and he grins.

  “Kinda, but it’s true,” he says, coming a little closer. “I really do think you’re pretty, but I just hate that you play better than me.”

  “Yeah, maybe you should work harder?” I suggest, and his eyes darken.

  “And maybe you should suck me off?”

  “Wow, does that work on women?” I ask, and he glares as he stands up, towering over me. Chills run down my back, but before he can say anything, Jayden is stepping between us.

  “Bye, McCarthy,” he says simply without looking at him.

  “I’m talking to her,” he says, but Jayden shakes his head.

  “Not anymore.”

  I watch as McCarthy stares Jayden down, but he doesn’t seem very affected by him. “Why don’t you just admit you’re fucking her?”

  “Because I’m not,” he says, looking back at him. “But if I were, it wouldn’t be any of your business. Now go fuck off.”

  “Maybe I’ll just fuck you up.”

  “You can try,” Jayden says, turning to him. “But I don’t think you’ll succeed.”

  “You think you run everything. I’m not scared of you,” he spits in his face, but Jayden just shrugs.

  “Good for you. Bye.”

  “Fucking douche,” McCarthy says then before pushing off the bar and heading back to the table.

  Looking back at Jayden, I grin. “Now who’s jealous?”

  He chuckles as he nods. “Of course, I am. It’s you.”

  He says it so simply, like I should have known that, but still my cheeks warm with embarrassment as I wave him off. “Wow, are you drunk?” I ask, and he shrugs.

  “A little, but it’s the truth. You’re gorgeous, and I don’t want anyone stepping in, messing up my chances with you.”

  Like that would happen. If I can’t commit to liking him, no one else stands a chance.

  “Ugh, okay,” I say, shaking my head.

  Jayden then rolls his eyes. “Can’t take a compliment to save your ass, can you?”

  I smile shyly. “Guess not.”

  “Which is crazy because if I told you that you’re the best player I know, you’d agree with me. But I tell you you’re the most gorgeous girl I’ve ever set eyes on, and you get all weirded out.”

  My heart stops in my chest as I suck in a deep breath. “Not used to hearing that, I guess.”

  “Well, you should be. Someone should tell you that every day.”

  Looking over at him, I bite into my lip as he grins back at me, sending me a wink before taking a long pull of his drink.

  “You deserve that, you know,” he says and my brows go up.

  “What?”

  “Someone who will tell you you’re beautiful and then more. You deserve a good guy.” Looking away, I try to control my breathing as he leans toward me, his shoulder touching mine. “You know you don’t have to hide from me. You don’t have to hold back.”

  Biting the inside of my cheek, I look over at him. His eyes are such a dark shade of green, one that makes me think of pretty, expensive emeralds. Swallowing loudly, I decide to take his advice and not hold back. “You know you scare the living shit out of me, right? And yes, that’s me being honest.”

  He nods. “I know, we’ve already determined that. But you have to ask yourself, with me this close to you, what do you want to do?”

  When I don’t answer, my eyes falling to his lips, I know what I want. I want to feel his lips on mine, but before I can say that, he says, “I want to kiss you, but I don’t think you’re ready for that. Plus, I’m always worried you’ll kick me in my balls.”

  Grinning hard, I start to laugh as I nod. “Maybe.”

  “No, no maybe, you’d do it because you don’t want to feel for me. It makes you mad and scares you because you can’t control it. But it’s cool, you know how I feel, so hopefully it will help you figure this out.”

  “I do?” I ask, confused by it all. I mean, I know he likes having sex with me, and that he might want to do it again. Oh and that he’s attracted to me, but that’s not really feelings, I guess.

  “No?” he asks and I shake my head.

  “No,” I say before looking down. “I kinda ran out on you and made up every excuse in the book this afternoon.”

  He laughs as he nods. “Yeah, classic Baylor right there, but you know I’m not letting it bother me.”

  “You’re not?”

  “Nope,” he says, turning to me. His dark eyes are trained on mine as he leans into me. “You’re a planner, you have to weigh out the options, see if I’m worth the risk. And the thing is, I am.”

  Shocked by his bluntness, I sputter, trying to get my wits about me, but he goes on, “I told my mom and my brother today that I won’t be a doormat. No matter how much I want to wait around for you to realize I’m worth it, I know I can’t.”

  “I wouldn’t ask you to,” I say softly, and he nods.

  “I know you won’t, but you also won’t listen to your feelings. So let me put mine out there.”

  “Okay?” I s
ay as my heart hammers against my ribs. Gooseflesh breaks out on my skin, the hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention. No one has ever told me I’m pretty or how they feel for me. Seth told me I was hot and that he wanted to be with me forever, but never that he loved me. I was so naïve and dumb that I didn’t realize that until after we were over. He was such a dick. But I don’t need to think about him, not when Jayden is talking to me.

  “I’d like to date you, maybe even fall in love with you if you’d let me, because I feel like you deserve someone good, and I could be good for you. I don’t know what that dickfuck did to you, because you won’t tell me. But if you did, I’d listen, and I’d help you realize that he wasn’t worth your time. I am worth your time though, so give me a chance. Realize that I’m good for you. That with me, we can be better people.”

  Speechless, I just watch as he shrugs. “I’ve known from the beginning that you were different, Baylor. I just need you to know that I am too,” he says as his eyes bore into mine. His body is so close, and thinking rationally isn’t an option when he’s this close to me. He makes me want to throw all caution to the wind. To go for what I want. But something is holding me back, and that’s the unknown. The scary part of every relationship. Because I know he’s different, and that’s what terrifies me.

  “No answer, only that blank look that I’ve come to like a lot,” he says, looking away with a grin on his lips. “This is the part where I drop the mic and walk away, letting everything I said sink in. Hit me up if you want what I want, Baylor. But realize that I won’t wait forever.”

  I watch as he gathers up all the drinks and turns to walk away. But before he is out of earshot, I say, “You shouldn’t have to.”

  He looks over his shoulder at me. “But I would if I hadn’t promised I wouldn’t. So, yeah, don’t make me wait long, okay?”

  Giving me one last wink, he walks away as I whisper, “Okay.”

  But it isn’t okay.

  It’s so far from okay, it’s insane because I have no fucking clue what to do.

  But I do know I want him.

  And that alone has me holding on to the bar for support.