Filed to story: Katy and Brayden Cooper Novel
Katy goes still beside me, like someone just pressed pause on her and my fingers curl against my knee. Part of me wants to reach for her, but the other part thinks that she dragged us into this mess because of Bryan, so yeah, maybe sit in it a little.
“You know the answer,” I say, tilting my head at Stacy.
She gives this fake shrug, twirling a strand of her hair. “I’m not sure… was it the night before your sudden relationship blew up all over campus?”
The vibe grows tense like the music blasting feels far away and everyone’s staring at me.
Katy’s fingers twist in her lap and Bryan’s leaning back, smirking like he’s watching a show. I shouldn’t care what anyone thinks but then I glance at Katy again. She looks small. She’s shrinking. And that? That stings more than it should.
I let out a short, dry laugh. “Not gonna let it go, huh, Stacy? Still pissed I said no to dating you?”
Her smirk falters.
“Come on,” I add. “I told you from the start what it was. It was just casual. Don’t twist it into something it wasn’t.”
Luke snorts, nearly choking on his drink, and for once, I don’t even mind. Stacy’s face goes red as she pushes her hair behind her ear, pretending to be unbothered.
“Whatever,” she mutters, grabbing the bottle. “Let’s just keep playing.”
I scoff under my breath. She probably thought I wouldn’t say anything about our casual hookup agreement because the Braydon she knew two weeks ago would’ve just laughed off her jab.
I lean closer to Katy, placing a hand on her back. I don’t say a word, but I feel her exhale, and that tells me she’s okay. Bryan’s not smiling anymore, and honestly, I plan to keep it that way.
The bottle spins again, scraping lightly against the floor until it slows and stops, pointing right between Katy and some blonde across the circle.
The girl smirks, licking her lips like she’s been waiting for this.
“Is Braydon the reason your relationship with Bryan ended?”
Katy’s head lifts calmly. “Umm, no,” she says. “Bryan cheated, and I dumped him.”
A collective gasp ripples through the circle, and I also look at her in shock. She’s sitting upright, her shoulders squared, like she didn’t just tell everyone she got cheated on.
“You know,” she continues, a little shrug in her tone, “I was really ashamed when it happened and I didn’t want to tell anyone. But then I realized, why should I feel embarrassed? I didn’t do anything wrong. I’m the victim. I’m the one who got cheated on. So he should be ashamed of being so easy.
” Damn.
Katy Evans is really something.
I’ve met a lot of girls, but none of them surprise me the way she does. Her confidence, her determination to never settle for less… that’s something you don’t learn from textbooks.
Bryan looks livid when I glance at him. His jaw is tight, eyes dark, and I can practically see the excuses running through his head. I almost feel bad for him…almost. At this point, it’s better if he just keeps his mouth shut.
The bottle spins again, glass scraping against the floor, and I swear I’m holding my breath. If that damn thing lands on me again, I’m walking out, no matter how bad it looks.
Thankfully, it stops on Martin. Someone dares him to make out with a random girl in the crowd, and of course, he goes for it. The room bursts into laughter and chants, but I just shake my head. Seriously, the last time I played this game was freshman year, and even then, I didn’t remember it being this stupid.
The bottle keeps spinning, round after round. Katy and I are spared a few times, and I start to relax -too soon, apparently. Because the next time it slows, the neck points straight at Katy, and the bottom… right at Bryan.
Her fingers find mine, tight and tense, and I hate how she still reacts to him like that. Not because I’m jealous or anything, it’s just frustrating. She’s built this whole calm, controlled version of herself, but one look from him and it cracks a little.
“Truth or dare, Katy?” he asks dryly, but I know he’s been waiting for this chance all night.
“Truth,” she says.
My pulse picks up and I don’t even know why. Maybe it’s the way Bryan leans forward, or the way Katy’s thumb unconsciously rubs against mine. Either way, I already know this round’s about to go south.
“Is he really your type?” Bryan drops.
My eyes narrow, lips twitching.
“W-what?” Katy sputters.
“Want me to repeat that?” he taunts.
I tilt my head at her. Seriously, it’s an easy question. And yeah, it’s a little offensive, but I expected worse from him. I mean, come on. It’s me. I know I’m everyone’s type, including-
“Duh, yeah,” Katy blurts. “I mean, look at him.”
Heat fills my stomach, but not the good kind. Her high-pitched tone and over-the-top delivery say one thing…she’s not confident with that response.
Really?
I glance at her, studying her face. She can’t even meet my eyes and my jaw tightens.
Did she just lie?
To my instant regret, I glance at Bryan and he’s smirking, because of course, he caught it too.
That’s why he asked. He wanted to prove that even with all this dating crap between me and her, he still knows her. He still knows how to get to her.
And from the look on her face… maybe he’s right.
My jaw tightens and I can practically feel my pulse in my teeth.
Katy clears her throat. “Excuse me, I’ve got to use the bathroom.”
She’s on her feet before anyone can say anything. Her fake smile flickers across her face before she turns and disappears into the crowd.
For a second, I just sit there, my chest tight. Everyone’s talking again, but I’m not hearing any of it.
All I can see is her walking away, the back of her head getting smaller.
Don’t follow her, Braydon. Just chill. Don’t make it a thing.
Yeah, right.
The next thing I know, I’m standing too, brushing past a couple of people as my eyes lock on the hallway she went down.
I need to know what makes me not Katy Evans’s type.