Filed to story: Katy and Brayden Cooper Novel
She tilts her head, her eyes narrowing. “Are you trying to deflect right now? What did you say to her about me?”
Fuck me sideways. Do I really have to spell this out? And why the hell do I even feel guilty? It’s not like any of this is even real.
“Fine,” I sigh, digging a hand through my hair. “I told her I’ll date you if you say yes to me.”
She lets out this small, annoyed huff. “Such a weird way to say you’re into me.”
Really? I know a couple girls who’d lose their minds hearing me say that.
“Don’t you think you’re being a little obnoxious?” I ask, cocking a brow.
She squints at me. “Are you crazy? And I don’t even care what you said. I just think maybe you shouldn’t be talking to girls you used to fuck while this-” she waves a hand between us “-while this is going on.”
“Relax, it’s no big deal.”
“Which is why you can wait till it’s over before you go running back,” she fires. “Or do whatever you want in private.”
“She’s the one who pulled me for a chat.”
She sighs, shaking her head. “I can see you’re having fun messing with me.”
I can’t help the smirk tugging at my lips. “Maybe a little.”
And yeah, maybe I am. Because seeing her this riled up is kind of hot.
She’s always funny when she gets like this. “Come on, let’s go dance downstairs. We’re at a party, not a convention.”
She shakes her head immediately. “Nope. Allie is-“
“I’m fine,” Allie cuts in, appearing out of nowhere with a mischievous grin. “You should definitely dance with him.”
Katy shoots her a glare that could make anyone else back off. But not her best friend though, she just smirks harder. I can’t help the quiet laugh that slips out. Allie’s chaos, and I kind of love it.
Before Katy can argue, I grab her hand and start leading her downstairs. She’s muttering under her breath, something about how I’m impossible, but since I can’t hear it, I’ll take that as a win.
The bass gets louder as we hit the main floor, bodies are packed together, and lights flicker across the room. I weave us through the crowd, my hand still wrapped around hers, and just then..
“Braydon!”
Stacy’s voice slices through the music and I pause. Of course. She’s like bad Wi-Fi, always showing up when things are finally getting good.
I turn, my jaw tight, ready to tell her to back off. But she’s in the middle of some bottle game, sitting cross-legged on the couch with Luke, Martin, and a few other idiots. And then I see Bryan. My eye twitches.
“Wanna play truth or dare?” Stacy asks with a smirk.
I know what she’s doing but I’m not letting her rage-bait me. Not tonight.
My fingers tighten around Katy’s. “N-“
“Katy’s not truth-or-dare material,” Bryan cuts in, cracking his knuckles like anyone asked him. His gaze drags over her, and I catch the tiny jump in her jaw.
“Katy, just let him off,” I murmur, leaning closer, but she doesn’t even glance at me.
Her focus is locked on him and his on her. There’s this silent thing happening between them, and I hate how obvious it feels.
“We’re good,” I say, already turning away.
“Let’s play,” she says suddenly.
My head snaps back so fast it almost hurts. “What?”
She still won’t look at me. Just standing there, her arms crossed, and chin tilted slightly as she glares at Bryan.
“You do realize it’s truth or dare, right?” I ask, staring at her.
The music is thumping, people are shouting, but it’s like the noise fades for a second. She doesn’t take her eyes off Bryan and somehow that pisses me off more than Stacy’s little performance all night.
Then she slips her hand out of mine, and finally meets my gaze with a fake-ass smile. “Come on, let’s play.”
Before I can react, she’s already walking off. Luke cheers like an idiot, scooting over to make space beside him.
I exhale, rubbing my jaw. “Yeah,” I mutter to myself. “This is gonna be great.”
“Cap, what’s got your legs?” Luke yells.
I hiss under my breath and slide in beside Katy, irritation coiling inside me. I glare at Bryan, but he’s not even looking at me and his eyes are on Katy. I don’t know what he’s planning, but if he tries anything, I’ll punch his face.
Stacy, still smirking like she’s got the cheat codes to my night, gives the bottle a spin. It rattles across the floor, catches the flashing lights, and lands on Luke. He picks truth and gives a ridiculous answer to his question.
Then the bottle is spun again and it moves until it slows and points at me, the base aimed right at Stacy.
I sit up straighter.
Normally I’d go with the flow because these dumb games were practically college curriculum but with Katy beside me and our awkward little deal, everything feels different. Every word I say could be replayed later like some bad highlight reel. And with Stacy grinning, I brace for the petty revenge she’s clearly been cooking.
“Truth or dare, big guy?” she asks, and that nickname crawls under my skin.
“Truth,” I respond.
I always pick truth. Lies are stretchy and I can bend them until they look like the truth. Also, most of my life reads as complicated to other people so nobody knows nothing.
I sit while the circle leans in like I’m the main event.
Okay, Braydon. Keep it cool. Don’t say anything that makes Katy regret this night. Don’t give Stacy the ammo. And for the love of God, don’t let Bryan get whatever he’s angling for.
“Who was the last person you hooked up with besides Katy and when?”
BRAYDON’S POV
Damn it. I should’ve known she’d go for that. Claim