Page 46 of Leave Me Broken
“You’ll be a team player, I mean, really. No more bitching at us, no more condescending remarks to anyone on the team over anything.”
“Fine.”
“You will not hurt another person on our team no matter how bitchy you are feeling. I won’t have an injury on my conscious because you can’t control your emotions.”
Alyssa levels my stare with a silent acknowledgment and my power kick continues.
“Apologize.”
“What?”
“Get on your knees and apologize to me.” Adrenaline courses through my entire body. I don’t know what it feels like to be high, but I imagine it’s a lot like watching a defiant Alyssa Burton drop to her knees in front of you, ready to apologize. “I’m waiting.”
“I’m sorry,” she snarls through clenched teeth.
The rest of our team stands behind her with wide eyes and gaping mouths, watching the scene go down in front of them. I feel bad so I grab her arm and pull her up. I even help her dust off her knees. Like me, she’s wearing a skirt and top but her skirt and top wrap around her body with peekaboo pieces showing through on her slim stomach.
“I just wanted to see if you would do it.” I snort when she’s done fixing herself.
“I still hate you.”
I smile a genuine smile, and I’m pretty sure I see her lips twitch too. “Me too.”
Lilly rushes through the curtains, telling us five minutes before disappearing again.
“Better get those heels on, Murphy.”
I roll my eyes but she’s right. I really, really don’t want to but I don’t have another choice. “You dress like a hooker most of the time, right?” I’m joking but she takes it in stride anyway with an easy agreement. “Teach me how to walk in heels.”
“In five minutes?”
“Yes.”
Alyssa sighs. “Okay, but you can’t be a smartass.”
As if.
17
Ash
Have women always been this desperate and I’ve been blind to it? Or is Chanel just extra? I’m thinking a little of both, but she’s relentless. I don’t know how I can make it more obvious that I am not interested. I was ready to fake sickness and leave but I can’t do that because I have to see Payson.
That’s why I agreed to do all this in the first place. That, and this will be a good confidence boost for my girls. I don’t care who you are, all teenage girls need a confidence boost every now and then, and what’s better for that than getting dressed in nice clothes and walking on a catwalk at the center of attention? I don’t actually know if it’s good for that, but Mrs. Wick said it would be, and Payson trusts her, so I will do the same.
It’s been announced the show will be starting soon, so I make my way from the bar to my seat. I was hiding at the bar from Chanel because it is farthest from the back where she keeps having to disappear to.
Luca catches up with me halfway across the room with a knowing grin. “Enjoying your fan club?”
“Fuck no. Jarring as fuck.”
He muffles his chuckle with the back of his hand when we get to our seats and read our names; I want to bash my face in seeing the name next to mine. How did she do this so quickly? We met an hour ago and she’s been busy with the girls for more than half of it. Parker is already sitting in his seat on the other side of me playing on his phone, so I tell him to switch me. He looks at the name next to mine and he jumps from his seat excitedly.
I glance at Luca and can’t help but matching his smile. “Eager, are we?” I ask and take my new seat.
“Have you seen how hot she is?”
There’s no denying Chanel’s beauty, and Ash Pearson a few months ago would appreciate her eagerness and maybe even give some back. I’m not him anymore. She’s nothing compared to Payson, and seeing Payson so easily dismiss herself earlier is exactly why we are here. She doesn’t see herself the way I do. Probably never will, but if she can even see an eighth of what I do, maybe she won’t be so quick to assume I have a wandering eye.