Page 36 of Rival Season
The emcee taps the mic to get everyone’s attention again and then asks how Napoleon Bonaparte died.
I quickly jot downstomach ulcerand raise it above my head.
Everyone at my table goes nuts again when my answer is confirmed as correct.
There are probably ten more questions about French history, and I easily get them all right. They’re not even challenging, honestly. But Penn and his friends are so impressed with me, it’s hard not to feel a little cocky by the time trivia night is winding down.
The emcee announces at the end that our group, apparently named No Pucks Given, is the winner of tonight’s trivia, and Fisher struts up to the stage to accept the trophy which is an empty beer glass spray-painted gold.
He raises it above his head as he walks back toward us, then hands it to me. “Hazel, you wonderful little nerd, thanks to you, we’ve won our first ever trivia night.”
I laugh and take the beer glass. “You guys seriously have never won before?”
Penn shakes his head. “We’ve never even gotten close.”
“You were amazing tonight!” Ally says, smiling at me as she cuddles against Noah’s shoulder.
Penn must take note of the affection and is reminded that we’re also supposed to act like a couple. My body tenses in anticipation as one of his arms grips the bottom of my chair and with one tug, he drags it up against his own. He moved the chair so easily, I can’t help but be a bit impressed. The man must bench press hundreds of pounds without breaking a sweat.
He smirks at my surprised expression then wraps his strong arm around my shoulder and nuzzles his nose against my hair. “Mmm,” he hums. “You smell amazing. Like fancy tropical flowers.”
I withhold a laugh, trying to relax like this is totally normal. But his close proximity is very distracting as he runs the tip of his nose over the shell of my ear. Blood rushes to my face and chest at his public display, as all of his friends’ eyes are trained on us.
Penn’s hand slides across my back until it’s just behind my neck. He rubs the spot and I instantly relax, melting into the soothing massage. The man knows how to give a back rub.
He kisses my temple, and his lips are soft this time, almost teasing as they graze my skin for a fleeting moment. A tingle of sensation shoots through my body, warming it.
“Okay, I’m heading home. I’m beat, and we have practice in the morning,” Fisher announces, standing up. Ally and Noah join him, all three of them saying goodbye and that they’ll see Penn back at the loft.
“Ready to go?” Penn whispers into my ear once they’re gone. His warm breath sends goosebumps across my arms, and his hand is still working the tension in my neck. I don’t feel like budging from this spot, but I can’t admit that or he’ll think I have real feelings for him.
A girl simply enjoys a good back rub, okay?
Instead, I nod, and we head back to the loft. Penn walks me to my door, which I insisted wasn’t necessary. But when I slide my key into the lock and it won’t unlock, I’m grateful he’s beside me. Panicked, I look at the apartment number to make sure I’m not at the wrong door.
2B.
I try again and nothing. This reeks of Chadwick. Pulling my phone out of my satchel, I see a text from the evil man himself, sent just a few minutes ago.
Cheater Chadwick
Wanted to make sure our apartment was safe so I had a locksmith come and install a better lock. Waited up to give you the new key but you never showed.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I mutter, trying to keep the rage inside of me from tipping over.
“Wow,” Penn says, reading over my shoulder. “Grade A asshole”
“Tell me about it,” I mutter as I tap out a reply to my ex.
Hazel
You’re clearly still awake. Come let me in.
Cheater Chadwick
I’m not there to let you in. Staying with a new friend tonight
I scoff as I turn my phone screen to let Penn read the texts. “Hope she—whoever she is—lives in a fifth-floor walkup with no elevator, and he’s forced to climb up a thousand stairs on crutches."
