Young Love (Bloomfield #4) (6 page)

Frank was going to have to wait.

“Well, I’m out of here,” Brook said, standing. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

I nodded. I had to teach primary ballet at ten. Sometimes I considered just setting up a cot and sleeping here. It would save me the boring, tedious bus rides back and forth.

Thank God Chloe had her car for school. Riding with her had been a life saver. I knew saving up enough money to get my own car was unrealistic. And Perrie was so busy with her last year of university before moving on to law school, that I couldn’t really expect her to give me a lift anymore.

Getting up, I walked to the studio’s CD player and cranked it. I was the only one there. That meant I could really lose myself in the piece as the music surrounded me. It was exhausting, but it was also my favorite time of the week.

Just me, my pointes, and my music.

When I looked at the clock next, it was close to ten. I packed up my things and headed out, locking the doors behind me. A car waited in the parking lot, one I hadn’t been expecting.

Perrie grinned at me as I walked toward her, opening the passenger door. “What are you doing here?” I asked.

She shrugged. “I figured you could use a lift, and I was in the neighborhood.”

I fell into the seat with a grateful sigh. “I’m actually really happy to see you,” I admitted. As much as I wanted to be independent, if I could avoid the bus, I would.

She smacked me on my arm.

“Ow!”

“Actually really happy to see me,” she muttered, driving forward. “You should always be ecstatic to see your beautiful, talented cousin.”

“Easy there, if your head gets any bigger there’ll be no room left in here.”

“Whatever. So, how’s school been?”

I got more comfortable, resting my head back against the seat. “Good. Busy.”

“Same,” she said with a sigh.

I chuckled. “You better get used to it. Law school isn’t going to be any easier.”

“I know.”

“You don’t sound excited.”

“I am,” she said, perking up a bit. “It’s just going to be hectic.”

“Yeah, but when you’re done, you’re going to be a super successful lawyer.”

“You forgot hot,” she said with a grin.

“Sorry. I meant a super successful,
hot
, lawyer. If there’s anyone that’s meant to argue for a living, it’s you.”

She laughed. “I don’t know if that’s a compliment or not. But I’ll take it.”

We talked about what had been going on around home, and before I knew it, she was pulling into my building’s parking lot.

“Do you want to come in for a bit?” I asked.

She shook her head. “No, I need to get back home. I work the early shift tomorrow.”

“Does it take a lot to pour people coffee?”

She pushed me. “Shut up. The diner, I’ll have you know, is super busy Saturday mornings. It’s not easy.”

“If you say so,” I said with a laugh. I got out, leaning down to look at her before shutting the door. “Get together for coffee soon?”

“Absolutely,” she said.

“Night, Perrie. Thanks for the ride.”

“Good night, Billy Elliot.”

I slammed the door shut, shaking my head at her dreaded nickname, and that awful accent.

As soon as I got into my apartment I let out a slow, relieved sigh. It was good to be home. Kicking off my shoes, I dropped my bags by the door and headed to the kitchen to microwave some soup and put some toast in the toaster.

As the food heated, I set up my Netflix and quickly pulled on my pjs to enjoy a nice, relaxing night to myself.

I’d just sat down when there was a rapid knock on my door.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I said. Putting the bowl on the coffee table, I walked to my door, peering through the peephole. Cat’s bright eyes looked back at me.

I opened the door, taking in her made up face and sexy clothes.

“Hey,” she said brightly, waltzing in.

“Hey,” I replied. “What’s up?”

She took in my little scene before turning to face me.

“What are you doing tonight?” She asked.

I glanced over at my uneaten food and paused TV. “Uh, this,” I said, gesturing to it.

“So, nothing?”

“No, I’m watching -”

“You need to get changed and come out with me,” she interrupted.

I faltered. “Come out with you where?”

“The Devil’s Cup. There’s a bunch of people going.”

I was in no mood for a loud, crowded bar right now. “Why do you need me to go then?” I asked.

“Because I don’t want to go alone.”

“But you just said -”

She waved me off. “I know. But I don’t have anyone to actually go there with. Chloe is out with my brother, and I don’t want to walk in there by myself.”

I pinched my brows together, looking down at my clothes. “I’m not really ready to go anywhere, Cat,” I said. “And to be honest, I’m beat. I just got home now. I don’t really feel up to going out anywhere.”

“Please, Honor,” she begged. “We’re in university, this is what we’re supposed to do. You can stay in and eat soup when you’re an old, lonely lady.”

I grimaced. “That’s a lovely mental picture.”

She giggled. “Come on, pleeeease. I really don’t want to go by myself.”

“I don’t know,” I said, looking back down at myself.

“Just throw on some jeans and a nice shirt. You don’t have to wear anything fancy.”

I opened my mouth to say no again, but froze when I saw the pleading look in her eyes.

I sighed, my shoulders slumping in defeat. “Fine. Just give me five minutes.”

She clapped happily, throwing her arms around me in a tight hug.

I really needed to learn to say no to people.

***

The bar was crammed. Cat and I pushed our way through the sea of bodies, her hand gripping mine so we wouldn’t lose each other.

“I think I see Kelly,” she yelled at me over her shoulder. I just nodded. Talking was pointless in this place. We made our way toward the back wall where a few pool tables were set up.

I didn’t know Kelly very well, but I’d seen her a couple of times on campus with Cat, because they had a few classes together. She seemed like a nice enough girl. As soon as her eyes found us, she broke out into a wide smile, waving her hand high over her head at us.

“Hey, girlies,” she said as we finally reached her. She hugged Cat quickly before doing the same to me. “I’m so glad you could make it,” she yelled.

Why would anyone want to come to a place where you had to yell just to be heard? I decided just to smile.

“Honor took some convincing,” Cat said. “But my persuasive ways won out.”

“I bet,” Kelly said with a laugh. I gave her a knowing grin. “Do you girls want a drink? I’ll get the big guy to grab us some.”

“Absolutely,” Cat said. “I’ll have a martini.”

“I’ll just have a Coke,” I said.

They both shook their heads at me.

“I have to work in the morning,” I defended.

Cat pursed her lips at me.

“What? You should be happy I’m here.”

She rolled her eyes, turning away from me. Kelly just laughed.

“Okay, a martini and a Coke, coming up. Now I just have to find my boyfriend.” She went up on her tiptoes, scanning the crowd. I followed her look, having no idea who her boyfriend was.

Then he walked away from a couple of guys, heading our way.

Grey.

He stood out, even in a crowd of this size. He was just so much bigger than everyone else. And mean looking.

If college guys were a pack of horny dogs, Grey was a wolf. An alpha that made every other guy seem small and insignificant next to him.

“There he is,” I heard Kelly say. “Babe! Come over here.”

Grey’s head turned in the direction of her voice. A strange feeling of disappointment slithered through the pit of my stomach. The ‘big guy’ comment suddenly made a lot of sense.

His eyes trailed over to me, locking in. We stayed that way the entire time he approached. Even if I had wanted to look away, I doubt I could have. Grey was Kelly’s boyfriend. Why did that irk me so much?

Because you two kissed, and it was the best kiss you’ve ever had
, my traitorous mind helpfully pointed out.

It was just a kiss. What was the big deal? So what if it made my entire body feel more than any other guy I’d been with.

He finally reached us, and I had to swallow the distaste in my mouth as Kelly wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing those lips I’d just been thinking about.

Finally I looked away, resolved to not get upset over this. I knew I should have stayed home instead. Why didn’t I ever listen to my gut?

I heard Kelly giving him our order, and suddenly I thought, maybe Coke wasn’t strong enough after all. If I was going to get through this night, I might need more than sugar and caffeine.

Chapter 8

Grey

Kelly was speaking to me, and I was half aware of Cat also saying something to me, but all I could do was look over at Honor. I was trying my best not to be obvious about it, especially since my girlfriend was currently snuggled up to my side.

Why did I have such a hard time around this girl?

She was the last person I had expected to see standing with Kelly when I’d walked over. Even dressed down compared to the other girls here, Honor stood out. Maybe that was because you could tell she hadn’t spent hours trying to look sexy. That in itself made her more appealing. She didn’t need all the fancy clothes and make-up to look sexy, she had a natural beauty that caught your eye.

Caught a lot of eyes, actually. I stood against the wall, nursing my beer, as Kelly and Cat talked rapidly in high pitched squeals, like girls seemed to do in these settings. My eyes kept watch as more and more guys looked Honor’s way. She didn’t seem to notice much as she played pool with Rannon and Greg.

Rannon was flirting with her, but I could tell it was just in a friendly way. He seemed a bit distracted, which was odd for him. I’d only met Rannon when I started working at the shop. He was Kyle’s friend, but he hung around enough that we’d become friends too. Same with Greg. Except Greg was watching Honor a little too closely for my liking. And I didn’t think there was anything simply “friendly” about it.

I gripped the bottle in my hand tighter, looking around to catch more guys glancing her way. I knew I should have stayed home tonight. Why had I let Kelly convince me to drag my ass out here?

“We’re going to go dance,” she said in my ear.

I nodded.

“Do you want to join me?” She asked, nipping at my neck.

“Not right now, Kel,” I said.

She leaned back to look at me with a pout. “You’re not going to stand here all night and be boring, are you?”

“It’s a possibility,” I replied honestly.

“Come on, Grey. Don’t be a drag. Come dance with me, otherwise other guys might try.” She leaned into me, gripping my shirt as she rubbed her tits against my chest. “And I know you wouldn’t want others touching what’s yours.”

My eyes flickered over her head at Honor.

“I’ll join you when I’m done my drink,” I said, my voice hoarse.

I needed to stop this shit. I couldn’t be lusting over some young ballerina when I had a girlfriend already.

She smiled happily at me, making me feel like an even bigger ass.

***

Kelly pressed her ass against me as we moved to the music. The dance floor was packed, everyone sweating and bumping into each other as the music blared. The chaos helped to keep me focused, and away from certain dancers I didn’t need to be around.

Turning in my arms, Kelly linked her arms around my neck. I splayed my hands on her hips as she reached up, pressing her lips against mine. I kissed her back, even though I wasn’t one for public displays of affection. This was me putting an effort into this relationship. It felt awkward and uncomfortable to me, but I knew it made Kelly happy.

When she pulled back, she gazed up at me with admiration. Guilt niggled at me somewhere in the back of my mind, but I pushed it away.

Cat appeared beside us, Greg close behind. Her face was flushed, her eyes slightly glazed. I was keeping a close watch over her. Kyle would kill me if I let his little sister get wasted in a bar full of college guys.

“Someone needs to get that girl out here,” Cat yelled at Kelly. The two of them looked at something behind me, matching frowns appearing on their faces.

Kelly stepped back, turning her focus to me. “Grey, go get Honor and ask her to dance. I feel bad for her.”

My body hardened. Glancing over my shoulder, I found her sitting on a stool in the far back corner, alone. The pool tables were now surrounded by a new group of people I didn’t know.

“Where’s Rannon?” I asked, loud enough so they’d hear me since I couldn’t look away from her now that I was.

“He left a while ago,” Cat said.

I turned then. “What? Why?”

I had assumed, when I’d caught sight of Cat and Greg dancing, that Rannon had stayed behind with Honor. I didn’t know she’d been by herself this whole time. Anger sparked in the pit of my stomach.

“He said he needed to get home,” Greg said. “I think something’s going on with his mom.”

Well what the fuck? Why would they just leave her? I looked back over, my protective side rearing to life as I watched her stare at the ground, seemingly lost in her own thoughts. She looked so lonely.

“Go on, Grey,” Kelly said, nudging me. “I don’t mind if you dance with her for a bit. I need a drink anyway.”

I shook my head, looking away. “I don’t think so. Greg, you go dance with her.”

“Grey!” Kelly said, her eyes round as her mouth dropped open. “Don’t be a jerk. That poor girl. Go and ask Honor to dance, and don’t argue about it.”

How the hell was I supposed to explain why this was really
not
a good idea? Here I was trying to stay true to Kelly, and she was literally pushing me at the other girl who was testing me every time I saw her.

“Go,” she said again, pointing her finger.

I took a deep breath. “Fine,” I bit out.

Pushing my way off the dance floor, I headed her way, keeping my eyes on her the entire time. Man she was gorgeous. Even in simple jeans, that were tight and fit her like a glove, and a plain black shirt, she was still mouth-watering.