Hating the Player by Rebecca Jenshak

Author:Rebecca Jenshak [Jenshak, Rebecca]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rebecca Jenshak

22

GAVIN

I’ve been pacing the kitchen for thirty minutes, where I have a clear view of everyone coming in through the front door.

“Gavin!” someone yells from outside.

I tear my gaze from the party entrance for only a second to find the source. Tommy and a group of girls stare back at me, grinning. Tommy holds up a bottle of Jager and one of the girls motions for me to join them.

I shake my head, and when I glance back at the front door, she’s finally in it, stepping over the threshold behind Jordan and Daisy.

My heart leaps at the sight of her. Jean shorts and a yellow top with sleeves that fall off her shoulders. As she walks, she gathers her dark hair and pulls it to one side.

Five long strides get me close enough that Jordan sees me.

“Gavin, hey,” my buddy says with a chin jut.

Violet looks up when she hears my name.

Staring at her, I nod to Jordan and Daisy. “Hey, guys.”

Jordan slaps me on the shoulder. “Congrats on the games.”

“Thanks.”

I put myself another step closer to Violet. “You look stunning.”

She lets out a nervous chuckle. “Oh boy, are you already drunk?”

“Sotally tober,” I say, pulling a real smile from her. “Come on, let’s see if we can rectify that.”

The four of us head back to the kitchen as Noah’s coming in from outside.

“Do you want something to drink?” I ask Violet.

“Have any hard seltzer?”

“Do we have any hard seltzer.” Noah cuts in with a sarcastic huff. He opens the fridge. It’s a work of art, really. Truly and White Claw cans fill three shelves and part of the door. If you build it, they will come. If you keep the seltzer cold, the girls will stay.

“Wow,” she says, stepping forward. She grabs one and thanks him.

“Anyone else?” He takes two for himself, stacking them in one hand.

Once everyone has drinks, we go outside. Some of the hockey guys are already here and Jordan and Daisy leave us to go say hello.

Noah cracks his first drink open and takes a long swallow. “Pong, anyone?”

Violet’s gaze darts around the yard. She fidgets with the tab on the can, pushing it side to side.

“Vi?”

“Maybe later.”

Noah leaves with a salute and I’m finally alone with Violet.

I’m still so stunned she’s here, standing by my side. She catches me gawking at her and an uneasy smile tugs at the corner of her lips. “You’re creeping me out, Leonard.”

“Sorry,” I say. “I can’t believe you’re really here.”

“Yeah, me neither. I never thought I would show my face at one of these parties again.”

“We had some good times at these parties.”

“Did we?”

“Yeah. Remember the night we had all those Jell-O shots and then decided to walk to Taco Bell. Only the dining room was closed and we hassled the poor drive-through kid, trying to get him to take our order.”

Her lips part in a smile. “Then he finally caved and neither of us had any money.”

We share a laugh and Violet angles her body, closing us into our own little circle.

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