For what must be the tenth time tonight, I wonder why I let Emmett and Wyatt talk me into coming out. I’d rather be at home wallowing in the knowledge that Kat is on a date with a douchebag whose sole goal is getting in her pants. It irritates me to no fucking end that she didn’t listen to me, that in fact, she decided to go on said date just because I told her not to.

Let’s not pretend I’m having much fun either. Wyatt’s attached to his phone, texting Peyton every ten seconds, and Emmett is drinking more than anyone ever should in an attempt to drown his sorrows over taking a “break”… again … with Livvie. Add my moping to it, and the three of us are pretty damn pathetic. The only entertaining thing about tonight is the group of girls using the lane next to ours. They’ve been flirting hardcore for the last half hour, not that either Wyatt or Emmett will take them up on their blatant offers. I should be jumping at the chance to get laid by my choice of female, and there’s not a bad option to be seen with this group of four. They’re all tight bodies, high breasts, and grabbable asses. One for every type—redhead, blond, brunette. Hell, there’s even a girl with blue and green locks.

“So,” the short blond—whose name I already can’t remember—runs her index finger down my t-shirt covered bicep, looking up at me under her eyelashes, and promising a good time later. “We’re having a party at our sorority house tomorrow night. Wanna come?” Her teeth sink into her thin bottom lip, the pink flesh turning almost white from the pressure, and she gives me what I think is supposed to be a sultry look. Instead, it’s only mildly annoying.

I shrug noncommittally, not willing to turn her down, but not very interested in going either, even though I know she’s offering a night of no-strings sex. This type of girl always does. In the past, I would be jumping to accept before she changed her mind, but tonight? All I can think about is big brown eyes and a mouth that gives me shit every moment of every day.

Wyatt barks my name, and I turn from the blond to see what he wants. He jerks his head to the side, and I turn, my body stiffening when I see Kat walk in, Aaron beside her. My hands curl into fists when I see he has his hand resting on the small of her back, smiling down at her as they walk into the small eatery to one side of the building. Knowing he sees her as a girl he can easily take to bed makes my blood boil.

I take a step forward, intent on spelling out to him that if he touches her, I’ll make his life hell. Wyatt’s hand clamps down on my arm before I’ve taken more than a couple steps, and his low voice tells me to stop. “You don’t want to do that.” I turn to look up at him in disbelief, and he shakes his head. “I’m right there with you, man, but it’s only going to upset Kat. You going over there and throwing a punch or running your mouth; that’s only going to embarrass her and show him that he’s able to get to you. He’ll go after her more if he thinks he’s winning against you.”

His words make sense, but it’s hard for me to stand here and watch this farce of a date. He brought her to a bowling alley for dinner? Spare Lanes is a small, kind of gross place, not the type of place you take a first date. Kat looks surprised, and I watch her look down at her outfit in dismay. My eyes widen when I see what she’s wearing because I’ve never seen her look so blatantly sexy before.

Wyatt is still trying to calm me down, but as soon as I see the short dress, I stop being able to pay attention to anything but Kat. The only thing I can hear is the blood pounding in my ears. I watch as Aaron leads her through the eatery, stopping to bullshit with people he knows along the way. He never once introduces or acknowledges Kat, basically ignoring her until he takes the seat across from her.

I pull out my phone and send her a text.

Waiting for her to check her phone is nerve-wracking. She has to feel my eyes on her, but she doesn’t touch her phone at all. I start to wonder if she even has it on her. After a few minutes of her not responding, I finally turn back to where Wyatt and Emmett are both studying me.

“It’s your turn.” Wyatt points at the screen highlighting my name.

Emmett’s eyebrows are furrowed, and he’s looking grumpier than he was when we left the apartment. “It’s been his turn for almost ten minutes.”

I walk over to pick up my ball, turning to meet Emmett’s eyes and raising one eyebrow. “I don’t know why you’re complaining; it just means a few more minutes before I kick your ass.” He huffs in response, and I walk to the edge of the lane to take my turn. As soon as the ball leaves my hand, I turn back to my friends, not caring how many pins, if any, I knock down.

Wyatt and Emmett both groan, so I know I did well. I slip into the seat in front of the console and look up. The screen shows a strike, and I know it will give me enough points to ensure I’ll beat them both. Wyatt shakes his head, knowing he’s bound to lose since there are only two frames left. My phone pings with a new text, and when I see Kat’s name on the screen, all thoughts of winning or Wyatt’s current frame are gone.

I turn in my seat to watch her read my message. Kat smiles as she reads, making me feel about ten feet tall. She’s still sitting at a small table with Aaron, but instead of talking to her, he’s talking to people at the next table over. I shake my head in disbelief and send another message.

Her eyes widen when she reads what I sent her. She looks around both the small restaurant and the bowling alley but doesn’t get to where I’m sitting before Aaron takes his seat across from her. The waitress brings them plates of food, and I see Kat discreetly tuck her phone into a tiny purse. Aaron starts eating immediately, and the sight of him shoveling his food in his mouth like he’s afraid they will take it back has me curling my lip in disgust. Kat doesn’t seem to notice, and finally, I turn back to the game.

“Sometimes,” Emmett complains, “I fucking hate you, you know that?”

I roll my eyes. Emmett’s been telling me he hates me since we were about four. This isn’t something new. He always hates something I’ve said or done. “Yeah, yeah. I know. You just wish you had my game.” Before I can think better of it, I tell him, “Maybe if you did, Livvie wouldn’t have gone looking for someone else.”

As soon as the words leave my mouth, I regret them, wishing I could go back and not say them. Real life doesn’t work that way, though. Emmett’s eyes narrow, and his hands fist at his sides in anger. He’s usually hard to rile up, but mention Livvie, and he goes off the deep end. He lunges for me, but Wyatt, the peacemaker of our little group, steps between us, putting his hands on Emmett’s shoulders. “Calm down, Em. Clay,” he turns his head to glare at me, “is just messing with your head. Don’t give him that satisfaction. He doesn’t know jack about you and Livvie; he doesn’t pay that much attention.”

My cousin finally stands down at Wyatt’s words, but he doesn’t stop glaring at me. I shrug, one side of my mouth curling into a smirk, and try unsuccessfully to look contrite. It’s just not a good look on me. “Sorry cuz.” He rolls his eyes, but doesn’t reply.

Now that he’s not about to jump me, I turn back to look for Kat while my friends reset the scorecard, only to see Aaron sitting by himself. I grin, thinking Kat grew a pair and left his ass, not even caring a little that he’s flirting with the waitress. She’s giggling, batting her eyelashes at him, even though I can tell from where I am that she’s a few years older than us, or at least looks like she is.

I turn away, but as I look around the room, I see Kat standing at the end of the hallway leading to the bathrooms, her eyes on Aaron. Before I can look away, her eyes meet mine. She doesn’t look sad, or angry, more indifferent. Maybe resigned. Knowing he’s screwing over the girl I care about the most makes me want to punch him. I want to alternately do serious damage to his face, and thank him for being such a douche. It makes things easier for me.

Kat only holds my stare for a few moments before she jerks into motion, putting her head down and letting the heavy fall of her hair obscure her face. I realize she’s going back over to where Aaron sits, still flirting with the waitress, and I can’t stop myself from going after her. Not even Wyatt’s words register, though I know he’s telling me to let it go.

She reaches the table first, taking her seat and watching me with round eyes. She’s begging me silently to let it go, but while she may be willing to let some d-bag mistreat her, I’m sure as hell not going to. Aaron’s completely oblivious to the look on her face, so he doesn’t realize I’m coming until I’m right behind him. He freezes mid-sentence when he hears my voice.

“On a date with one girl while setting one up with another? I’m not sure if that means you have a huge set of balls, or if you’re just stupid.”

Kat closes her eyes, embarrassed that I’m causing a scene, but Aaron just laughs. “Hey man, I’m just being friendly.” He winks at the waitress, who preens at his attention, before turning his attention to me, one eyebrow raised in question. “What’s it matter to you anyway?”

I fold my arms over my chest, feigning nonchalance, and smirk inwardly at the appreciative glance Aaron’s potential next hookup gives me when my muscles flex. “Nothing I guess.” I chance a look over at Kat, but she’s still avoiding looking at me. “I just hope these girls see through your shit and tell you to fuck off.”

Aaron stands, so quickly he knocks the chair back, and steps up, so he’s almost nose to nose with me. Since he’s a couple inches taller, he has to look down to meet my eyes. He opens his mouth, most likely to say something asinine, but Kat steps between us, her hands on my chest as she pushes me away.

“Stop it, Clay.” She tries to sound firm, but her voice is shaking just a little. Aaron’s hand winds around her waist, and I watch as she jerks away from him, putting her body flush against my own. Her hands are still resting on my chest, and I watch as her pupils dilate. Everything narrows down to the feel of her against me, but it only takes a second for her to realize she’s pressed against me. She pushes me away once more, and this time I back up a step, giving her space to get away from Aaron. I’d rather move away from where we’re touching than have her touch him instead.

Aaron smirks. “You tell him, babe.”

Oh shit. I watch Kat’s eyes spark with anger before she turns to face him. She puts her hands on her hips and says, “I’m not your babe.” The smirk slides off Aaron’s face, but before he can suck up to her, she continues. “And, I won’t ever be your babe either.” He stares at her like he can’t believe she’s saying these things to him, but she doesn’t give him the chance to even try and apologize. She takes a step forward, and I have to force myself not to grab her and pull her back, wanting her as far away from him as she can be. She pokes her index finger into Aaron’s chest. “I don’t know why you asked me out, why you even made the offer, because, dude, you certainly didn’t make an effort.” She moves her finger, letting me relax just a bit, before spreading both arms to draw his attention to where we are. “I mean, seriously? This is where you bring a girl on a date?” Kat turns to the waitress. “No offense, because the food was great, but someone needs to learn how to use a mop, and maybe some paper towels.” The short brunette just stares at her; mouth dropped open. Kat turns back to Aaron and tells him, “Just a tip. If you’re taking a girl out because you’re planning to ‘get laid’; at least take her someplace nice. Treat her like she’s worth something, not just an easy lay.”

Once she’s done eviscerating Aaron, she grabs me by the hand and pulls me along behind her. Once we round the corner, she whirls around to face me. Her eyes are sparking with anger, and she looks like she’s about to attack me. I realize I’m not sure if she’s going to junk punch me, or make out with me. “I can’t believe you!” she seethes. “Tonight wasn’t supposed to be about you; you had nothing to do with this date. But no, you had to show up anyway and try to ruin it for me.” The anger drains from her face, and now she just looks sad. “Why won’t you and Max let me have this? Max has Sophie; you have whatever girl you pick for the night. I just want someone for me.” Her eyes glisten with tears, and my chest hurts at the sight. “Is it so horrible to want to be with someone? Don’t I deserve that too?”

Kat’s voice breaks on the last word, and I can’t take it anymore. I pull her into me, wrapping my arms around her waist. She grips my t-shirt in both hands and buries her face in my neck. I feel the hot wetness of her tears as she quietly sobs, unable to offer any advice. She only lets me comfort her for a few seconds before she drops her hands and steps back. Even with tear tracks on her cheeks, she’s beautiful. I can’t tell her that, though. She still sees me as the guy who doesn’t give a shit about her. Her words made that clear. Kat hasn’t noticed that the only female I’ve spent any time with recently … is her. No one else holds my interest.

“Do you need a ride home?” It’s the only thing I can think to ask her, the only thing she might possibly let me do for her. She avoids my eyes, a terse nod her only answer. I’m careful not to touch her as I walk with her toward the exit. Emmett and Wyatt are still here, waiting for me, but right now, the only thing that matters is Kat.