BELONGS TO ME

Chapter 28

So I take my time getting ready.

My hair is down in large, loose Straight my eyes lined with shimmery shadow and accentuated with dark liner. My lipstick is as red as my shirt and my black jeans are high and tight .

I've only finished tying my black heels when Lauren shows to pick me up, her gorgeous emerald eyes giving her away. The last thing she wants to do... is leave this room.

She cocks her head, her lips parting, but all that comes out is a gravelly chuckle.

I bite back a grin and lead our way out the door.

The pizza pub is an adorable, mom-and-pop establishment. The silver-haired woman behind the counter is kind and inviting with a bold mouth that reminds me of my grandmother.

The food Is delicious and plentiful, which is the key to success with two dozen athletes running around. Several of which make their way over to me, asking about my brother and I tell each of them the same thing. That he's good, resting, and can't wait to get back out on the field. I would bet Harry and Shawn went home and gave an update similar to mine. but I'm pretty sure their questions were used as an excuse to come up to me and Hailee, and the few other girls who have migrated our way. It's not long before the jukebox is playing something slow and seductive. Pretty soon, it's just me left sitting, the girls having all jumped up to join them.

Lauren tries to return to me, but Zayn is quick to swoop her up as a pool table becomes free.

She looks to me, but I push her away.

"Go Jauregui." I smile. "He's been hounding you to be his partner since we got here."

Lauren lets out a playful groan, following her friend.

Harry comes over then, setting a fresh glass of beer in front of me. "Drink this. I know last night must have kicked your ass 'cause I know mine's bloody and bruised.

"You're not wrong." I lift it in cheers, taking a small drink. "You talk to him again?"

"Nah, he don't want to talk to us yet. Imma give him two days, and not a minute longer."

"He'd except nothing less." I grin, swallowing another sip. My eyes slip over Harry's shoulder, and I lean forward. "Don't look now, but there's a very familiar face that's just walked through the door, and it looks like she's spotted you."

Harry spins his entire body around, and I chuckle. The girl snaps her head away, tucking her hair behind her ear. Smirking, he brings his eyes back to me. "That's the shy little lady from the library, isn't it?"

"It is."

"Woo," he whispers, finishing his drink and lowering it to the tabletop with a hard knock. He stands, leaning closer. "And you said I didn't almost have her."

Chuckling, I salute him on his way, and not a second later, Shawn drops into the seat beside me.

He leans back and almost slips off the seat, but quickly rights himself, a drunken grin on his lips.

Entertained, I pinch my lips together. "Feeling good?"

He nods, takes another sip, and faces me. "Hi."

"Hi." I chuckle.

"Are you with her?"

My amusement clogs in my throat, my mouth opening, but no words come out. His question, so sudden and unexpected, has me frozen.

His eyes pierce mine and my muscles seem to coil.

"Are you serious right now?"

"Will you just—" His brows cave. "Just say it for me. Please."