Holy shit.
“Don’t you dare come near her, you trashy hoe. You have no idea what she’s been through. I’m going to kick your ass. De vuelta al basurero contigo.” Mary switches over to Spanish halfway through her shouting.
Beast decides to intervene before someone gets hurt, but somehow, Mary is pulling out clumps of Victoria’s fake hair and kicking her legs out when she’s pulled away. She is still thrashing in Beast’s arms, but he has her locked up tight in a hold against his chest.
“There, there, tiger… I think you won. Calm down before the cops are called,” he grumbles in her ear, and she goes limp in his hold.
I’m about to get Kat the hell out of here because everyone from inside is pressed up against the glass and cheering like it’s a fucking hockey game. Victoria is standing on wobbling heels, wiping blood from her nose, and glares at the girl standing next to me before walking away. Beast nods at me and tosses Mary over his shoulder, ignoring her cussing him out in Spanish as he parts the crowd like the sea with his body. He disappears, and I glance down to see Kat’s whole body trembling with fear. I reach out to her, but before I can ask if she’s okay, she jerks her head up to stare at me. Crystal blue eyes water, and I’m drowning, feeling her pain radiating so intently off of her, it makes it almost unbearable to breathe.
“I’m-I’m sorry Granger, I just can’t—” she tries to say, but slides away from me and takes off running without another word.
Running a hand through my hair, I don’t know what to do. I wonder if I should give her space or go after her. The crowd disappears with groans of disappointment at seeing the fight is over and goes back to drinking and dancing as if nothing happened. Their laughter spills through the open door, but a male chuckle sounding way too pleased has me spinning around with clenched fists. Jeff is smirking at me, the asshole leaning against the house radiating smugness.
“Guess Kitty Kat doesn’t want to be around you either. It’s only a matter of time before she slides down on her knees, begging for me,” he says. It’s clear as day he thinks it will happen no matter what, and he turns around without another word to head back inside. He receives back slaps and high fives from my teammates, walking around like a fucking rooster.
“Asshole,” I mutter with my eyes squeezed tight, then I start pacing, my body already leaning in one direction. Saying fuck it, I take off after her.
8
Kat
I can’t stop shaking, my whole body one quivering mess just because of the violence I witnessed at the stupid jock party. I ran away as the memories started to take a hold of me. By the time I make it around the side of the frat house, I’m panting and trying to stay level headed. I can’t believe I let that get to me, but the moment I saw Mary jump on Granger’s ex’s back with a flying fist…it just brought out memories of my own pain that I have to suffer through.
I pick up my pace when the sidewalk finally meets my feet and ignore the people littering the front porch with red plastic cups and the laughter ringing in the night. I wish I could be that carefree, but I don’t think I’ll ever be like that, except for those moments on the ice. Shivering, I rub my arms to ward off the cold and curse myself for not bringing a coat. With trembling fingers, I pull my phone out to order an Uber and pray they can get here fast, because it’s at least five blocks before I can reach my father’s townhome.
“Kat! Wait, slow the hell down.” Granger’s deep voice sounds behind me with his quick footsteps crunching in the snow.
I turn around to watch him walk towards me and admire his beauty in the dark without being too obvious, the harsh structure of his rugged face highlighted by the streetlights. I can’t believe I kissed him…what was I thinking? I saw Jeff coming our way with a determined look through the windows and took matters into my own hands without thinking. Granger’s lips were soft like velvet, gliding across mine with a kiss that stole my breath, and I haven’t taken a full breath since then. I’m blaming him for the way my body is still humming and for feeling like I’m waking from a dream after being stuck in a nightmare for so long. I don’t even like the jerk… Okay, so he’s not the biggest jerk. Well, at least not to me, but he does act like an asshole jock sometimes. So why does he cause butterflies in my stomach and get my pulse racing whenever he’s near? I wait until he reaches my side and continue walking without saying anything.
“You know, for a small fry, you sure can walk pretty fast. Didn’t expect you to make it this far,” he muses, shoving his fingers in his jean pockets while staring at the ground with a small smile and easily keeping pace with me.
“I’m not that short, and It’s not my fault you’re a giant! How’s the weather up there?” I tease him, and instantly, my shoulders relax at the easy banter that seems to come naturally between us.
He stifles a chuckle by rubbing his finger across his bottom lip, and my gaze is drawn to his mouth again. He really knows how to work those lips of his. Why must the Lord test me like this? Doesn’t he know that if you bring temptation into my life, I’m drawn to it like a moth to a flame? My life doesn’t have a lot of pretty things in it, but when one comes along, I grab
