Caught In The Crossfires - Spinoff

12

CHAPTER 12

Lola

When I went outside, having Cristiano come searching for me was the last thing I expected. I walked back into the bar with dampness between my legs, still buzzing from that insanely hot kiss in the alley. I would never have predicted that the man who drove me absolutely nuts would kiss me the way he did, let alone guessed I would've gotten off on it.

"Where'd you disappear to?" Catalina asked as I sat down next to her. Liam and his band of assholes were still at the dartboard living out their best bro moment. I rolled my eyes. I honestly wouldn't have agreed to come had it not been for My best friend begging me. She didn't want to be stuck here with them alone, so I hesitantly agreed. "I needed a smoke break," I told her before her dumbass boyfriend budded into our conversation.

"If you ask me, I think smoking is a gross disgusting habit," he wrapped his arm over Catalina's shoulder, pulling her closer, and I could tell she was becoming uncomfortable. "Isn't that right, babe?"

Catalina's face went pale, and her wide eyes darted back and forth between the two of us. I knew what he was doing, and I wasn't going to let him start his shit with her tonight. Liam loved to try and pit us against each other, not that it ever worked in his favor.

See, that was his thing. He'd say something like he just did then expect Cat to agree with him, and if she didn't, he'd go into this whole song and dance about how Cat didn't ever have his back and how she wasn't a good girlfriend. It was also a huge production on his part—fucking drama queen.

But tonight, I wouldn't let her take the bait.

"Well, luckily for me, no one asked you," I cut my eyes at him and watched as the corner of his lip twitched in annoyance. "Come to think of it, Liam, I've never really given two fucks about what you think of me." His bogus smile dropped, and he clenched his jaw for a second before he forced out another phony grin.

"Oh, come on, Lola, I'm just messing around," he lied. I knew he disliked me as much as I loathed him, and unlike Catalina, I didn't care to let the asshole push me around. "I'm starting to think my girl's best friend doesn't like me very much." Liam gave me a fake laugh that made me cringe. I loved my best friend, but it was always moments like these that made me question why the fuck she stayed with him. Sure he was her first love, but who gives a shit?

"And here I thought you weren't the sharpest tool in the shed," I laughed as Liam's face turned a bright shade of red. He was pissed, especially because his two buddies were laughing along with me. "Oh come on, Liam, I'm just messing around." I shot his own words back at him with a wink.

"Yeah, whatever," he grumbled, snatching his beer off the table before turning to Cat and cursing at her. I was about to go off on him, but she just shook her head, telling me to leave it. Then he walked back over to his friends while talking shit under his breath.

"I'm sorry about that," Catalina apologized for the douchebag, and I fought the urge to roll my eyes. I adored my friendship with her, but I've always hated this part. The part where she constantly had to apologize to people for her boyfriend being an asshole. It was hard to be mad at her because I knew, for whatever reason, she loved the jerk, but fuck, that didn't stop me from wanting to grab her shoulders and shake some damn sense into her.

"Look, Cat, you need to stop apologizing for him."

"I know he just gets this way when he drinks," she lied. He wasn't only like this under the influence of alcohol. Liam was an asshole all the time. I just wish she saw that and stopped making excuses for his behavior.

"Well, if more people held him accountable for his shitty attitude, you wouldn't have to spend the rest of your life apologizing for it," I shook my head. "Jesus Cat, you're a freaking catch. I don't know why you stay with him any-