14. Ryan

14

Ryan

S he’s the hottest girl alive, but she’s also got me ready to punch a hole through the wall. I was elusive, but what else was I supposed to tell her?

It bothers me because I only want to see you with my number on your back, and if I could rip that one off of you right now, I would. I felt better than ever having you in the stands with your eyes locked in on me.

That would have gone over well. Not to mention that we’re talking about my teammate’s honorary little sister. I already groped her on the dance floor. I need to screw my head back on, stat, but instead, I’m chasing her back onto the part of this place that I hate the most. I can’t stand to watch another guy dance on her. I know she can hear me calling her name, and she’s ignoring me.

She weaves through the crowd effortlessly while I shove people around to get closer. I’m close enough to see her with Liza and Hartley. Liza screams the words to this obnoxious song loud and proud. They’re all wasted, and I know this is going to become my responsibility sooner or later. Hartley is tongue- deep in the girl who was sitting on my lap an hour ago. Isn’t he supposed to be babysitting Violet? This isn’t my job, but I can’t walk away from her.

I swear to God, if any… just as the murderous thought enters my head, Mason swoops in and laces his fingers in Violet’s. Their faces are so close that they’ll kiss if he leans in more. Where’s Liza? I scan the bar to find her also tongue-deep with Locke. Typical. He’s too close. My breathing gets heavy, and the room blurs. I dart into the chaos and scoop Violet into my arms.

“We’re leaving.” Before she can answer, I have her wrapped around me in a bear hug. I head straight for the exit. Mason isn’t leaving with her tonight. I am.

“PUT ME DOWN! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO TAKE ME AWAY FROM THE PARTY! I DON’T WANT TO GO HOME!”

She’s trying to draw as much attention to us as possible outside of this bar. I need her to stop talking and get in my car. The last thing I need is Mason making a move on her. She’s wasted and more than willing to engage with his flirting, and Hartley is preoccupied.

“I’m taking you home. You’re drunk, and your two best friends have their tongues down other people’s throats at the moment.” Her small feet are kicking me now.

“I don’t care! That hot guy could have taken me home.”

“You want another football player to take you home? That sounds like an awesome idea. Hartley wouldn’t kill me or anything.” I never thought I would be someone who got into a screaming match outside of the bar, but here we are.

“This has nothing to do with Hartley, and you know it!” She can barely stand without stumbling. I need to take a different approach to get her in this car.

“Violet, please just get in the car. I want to make sure you’re safe and don’t do anything you’ll regret. That’s all.”

“I’m only getting in if you stop for snacks.” She crosses her arms over her chest and shoots me a pouty look.

I exhale a long breath, raking my fingers through my sweaty hair. “Fine.”

I would do just about anything for her at this moment, but she doesn’t need to know that. I motion for her to walk to the passenger side so I can help her buckle in.

After we stop at the nearest gas station to get Violet a Coke Icee and M&M’s, we pull into the parking lot of her apartment complex.

“Thanks for the ride,” she slurs as she grabs the handle of the car door.

“Wait.” I grab her arm, jolting to stop her. There’s something I need to say.

“I’m sorry for earlier. I didn’t mean to go caveman on you.”

“Be more specific, Mr. Football.”

Why does this girl need so many details? I pinch the fabric of Locke’s jersey between my fingers. My brows furrow. “It bothers me.” I exhale and meet her gaze. “I’d rather see you in mine.”

Her eyes get wide, and her breath catches as she coughs to cover it up. “Ok.” She stares at me with an intensity in her eyes that I haven’t seen before. “Hartley won’t come home until much later. Do you want to come in? I’m not sure I can make the stairs by myself.”

Without question, I turn the car off and help her to the apartment door.