Clipped by Love
Page 70

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. Loving. 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.”