Page 65 of Sticks and Stones (Shadow Valley U)
I grab the pitcher of beer and slowly approach their booth. “Excuse me?” I say as sweet as possible. “What was that?”
Stone leans back and rests his arms over the cracked leather. His gaze slips down to my mouth, but it doesn’t matter because my face is already pinched with annoyance. “Were you talking about me over there?”
Ally snorts quietly, but I still hear it.
“Why would we waste our time talking about you?” I smile mischievously. “And if you guys would like a refill, I expect you to use your manners.”
I glance at Evan. “I know for a fact that your mama taught you right.”
He chuckles. “May I please have a refill, Your Highness?”
I roll my eyes playfully. “You may.” I reach forward past Stone and start filling up Evan’s cup. Goosebumps race to my arm when Stone’s hot breath whooshes against my skin. It pokes a nerve right between my legs, and I slowly move my arm to the right, missing Evan’s cup on purpose. Beer falls to Stone’s lap, making it look like he’s pissed himself.
“Fuck, Wren.” His large hand envelops my wrist, pushing it away.
A soft laugh flies from me. Ally stifles a gasp and slaps a hand over her mouth, while my housemates snicker.
“You think you’re funny, do you?” Stone raises an eyebrow, and he’s so hot my mouth waters. His arrogance used to make me see red, but now, tingles race to my fingers in anticipation of what he’ll do to retaliate.
“I am funny,” I counter.
I spin on my heel, and Ally follows. She doesn’t bust out laughing until we are safely tucked behind the bar.
“That was fucking gold.” She’s practically jumping with joy. All bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. “Stone is one of the most popular guys on campus, and no one has attempted to put him in his place. Most of the girls on campus are too nervous to even glance at him. But not you.”
“That’s because he doesn’t scare me.”I have other scary people to deal with.
“Orrrrrr,” she uses a sing-song voice. “Is it because you two are sleeping together?”
I freeze. “Who said that?”
“Your blushing cheeks any time he is around.” She pauses. “Or the way he watches you like he’s afraid you’re going to slip through his fingers. Or maybe the fact that he comes to every single shift of yours and walks with you around campus. Or—”
“Okay, okay!” I grab a rag and wipe the bar top to give myself something to do. “I get it! Are you following me around too?”
“No. Which is even worse because I still noticed.”
I suck in my lip and glance at their table. Everyone is preoccupied, laughing and chatting, except Stone. He’s staring directly at me like he can read my lips and knows what our conversation is about.
I look at Ally and drag my attention away from him. It feels wrong to do so, but I don’t know why. It justdoes. “Do you want to go to the game with me tomorrow?”
Her eyebrows rise. “The hockey game?”
I nod, bundling up the damp rag in my hand. I haven’t been to a single hockey game this season—or any of the seasons prior, for that matter—but I know for a fact that Stone is going to demand I go. Might as well beat him to the punch.
“Yeah, sure,” Ally says, seeming to think it over. “Should we head to jock row after too? Or will your big, bad boyfriend lose his mind?”
I shoot her a glare, and she laughs at her joke.
“I’m kidding! I’ll pick you up tomorrow at seven. Just text me your address.”
“‘K.” I smile. “And I have just the thing for us to wear.”
Ally wiggles her eyebrows but scurries off to tend to her tables a second later.
“What was that about?”
I slowly turn and see why she scurried off.Traitor.Stone is leaning over the bar top, and I reach on my tiptoes to see the wet spot on his pants. I laugh under my breath, and he growls.