Damaged and the Knight (Damaged #2)

“Frat guys are dumber than regular guys. More toxins in the balls, I guess.”


Finally, I laughed because Bailey was totally serious about the toxic testicles thing. “What’s the plan?”

“I want to try that new nicer shit to see if I can land me a man.”

“And I’m supposed to do what?”

“Remind me not to smack anyone or talk about toxic balls. You know, keep me soft and cuddly.”

Laughing, Lark and I followed Bailey into the crowded party. Instantly, people moved out of Bailey’s way and we reached the keg without issue.

Bailey offered Lark and me cups of beer. “You look sad. Drunk might help. I get happier when I’m drunk.”

“I’m a moody drunk,” Lark said.

“Thanks for the warning!” Bailey yelled over the loud music. “If you need a hug, I’m your girl. I’m all kinds of sensitive now.”

Lark grinned, but I doubted she would hug Bailey. Even the pixy girl knew better. “I can’t drink because I told my stepdad and brother I was studying. Coming home liquored up will ruin my lie.”

“Designated drivers provide a vital thing to drunks. You’re vital,” Bailey said, patting Lark’s shoulder before downing a cup of beer.

Four beers later, I learned I was a moody drunk. All of the pain from Judd’s silence had been shoved deep inside me where I might control it. The alcohol broke it loose and I accepted he had dumped me. Silence was how a man like Judd handled a breakup. He wouldn’t share his feelings. He certainly wasn’t letting me down with cruel words. Cooper might kick his ass. No, he’d just go silent and hope I got the point. Well, I had.

By the time the party was winding down as people hooked up and disappeared, I felt depressed. Lark looked bored by her attempt at a wild night out. Unable to be a moody drunk, she held Bailey’s keys while our leader danced around as if living in her own private party.

“Guys are complicated,” Lark said to me as we stood against a wall and watched a wasted Bailey dance with no one. “They have lots of feelings, but they pretend like they don’t. When those feelings get all twisted up, they don’t cry or whine to their friends. They get quiet. Sometimes, they freak out about unrelated shit. Judd might be having a PMS moment and silence is how he handles it.”

“I think he doesn’t want me anymore.”

“You shouldn’t assume with men.”

“Guys blow girls off like that all the time.”

“Yeah, but I don’t think Judd is a normal guy. I think he would tell you if things were over.”

“What are you basing that advice on?”

Giving me her sweet smile, Lark shrugged. “Honestly, I’m making shit up as I go along because you look like you’re about to cry.”

“I never told him, but I love Judd. I thought he might love me too. Now, he’s gone.”

Lark wrapped an arm around me and started to speak until Bailey’s startled voice interrupted us. A huge football player had her pinned against the wall and she was yelling for him to back off. Instead, he crowded her more while playing with her blonde hair.

“Hey!” I yelled as Lark and I rushed over.

Six four and wide shouldered, the guy was wasted and angry at the interruption. “Fuck off, bitches,” he muttered.

Bailey clawed at his neck, but he had her pinned in a weird way, so she couldn’t get any leverage.

While I was ready to jump on him in a weak attempt to save my friend, someone shoved the football player off Bailey. I hadn’t even seen the guy appear, but he stood between Bailey and the pissed jerk.

“Fuck off, man,” the asshole said. “She’s mine.”

“Nick,” Bailey mumbled, looking ready to cry. “He humped my leg. Crush his skull, will ya?”

Nick frowned at Bailey who was leaning on him now. The football player was an inch or two bigger than Nick and outweighed him by probably fifty pounds. Feeling the fight would be short, the asshole reached for Bailey’s arm and Nick nailed the guy in the face. To my shock, the giant asshole collapsed on the ground.

“My hero,” Bailey said, looking ready to puke. She caressed Nick’s biceps and asked, “Do you work out?”

Running his hands through his dark wavy hair, Nick laughed. “You’re so wasted.”

“And you’re like the Energizer Bunny,” she cooed. “My bro said you took a punch, yet kept on ticking.”

Nick started to speak then heard the asshole’s friends riled up. I was too drunk to know if everything happened really quickly or if my brain just took awhile to catch up.

The guys rushed Nick who dodged most of them and hit another. The room emptied out except for Nick, the guys, and us. I grabbed a beer bottle and threw it at one of the guys shoving Nick.

When the bottle hit him in the back, the bastard glared at me. “You want to fight, bitch?”