“You’d be crazy to,” Alli murmurs, her lips barely grazing my jaw.
I swear, she’s doing this on purpose—playing me like she knows how much I’m dying for more. She tilts her head, eyes locking with mine, mischievous as hell. Her hand movesdown my leg slowly, deliberately, and just as it almost reaches my knee, she pulls away completely, straightening up with an innocent grin.
“Let’s go before we’re late,” she says, her voice still tinged with that playful edge, like she’s offering something just out of reach. “Before you change your mind.”
Chapter 29
Jared
The bar vibrates with the catchy bass of ROXANNE by Arizona Zervas. The energy is still alive even hours after the game. My friends sit crammed into booths, and drinks flow freely from the waiters. Troy and Chase are cracking up about something I wasn’t paying attention to, and Kevin’s still holding court next to Alli, arguing about candy.
I should care about what Troy’s saying about his family’s new puppy, Gus. But instead, I’ve spent the last hour stealing glances at Alli. I catch myself mid-look and force my eyes somewhere else, pretending to be invested in the rest of the group’s bullshit and not as Alli’s bodyguard.
Yeah. It’s not working. We should have stayed home.
“You can’t tell me thatMazapánDe La Rosais nasty,” Kevin says abruptly, his voice rising like he just announced the moon landing. “It’s literally the best Mexican candy in the world.”
Alli crosses her arms, her expression unimpressed. She looks so smug, and for some reason, it’s ridiculously hot.
“It’s not,” she fires back without hesitation. “It’s overhyped. Vero Mango chili lollipops are the best. No contest.”
I raise an eyebrow. I never realized how hot she looks when she argues—eyes flashing, lips parted, chin lifted like she’s ready to take on the world. She tucks a stray piece of hair behind her ear, and damn, I don’t think she even knows what she’s doing to me.
“You’re so wrong. Anyone would disagree,” Kevin counters, his voice getting louder like volume is going to make him right.
“I’m with Alli on this,” Chase cuts in with that laid-back tone of his, all grins as he sips his drink. “Those lollipops slap. If you don’t get it, that’s on you.”
Kevin glares at him. “Seriously, dude? You’re supposed to have my back.”
Chase smirks. “Not when your taste in candy sucks.”
Kevin opens his mouth to fire back, but Alli steamrolls over him. “Just admit defeat.”
His jaw works like he’s trying to find a good comeback. “No! You just have the wrong opinion.”
She laughs, tipping her head back, and the sound does something stupid to me. I don’t even realize my fist is tightening around my glass until Troy nudges me with his elbow repeatedly.
Kevin slams his hand on the table. “I won’t accept this slander againstDe La Rosa!”
“Alguien tiene mal gusto para los dulces,” Alli looks far too pleased with herself.
“¿Y qué?”Kevin flails his hands, half annoyed, half bewildered.
“Tienes mal gusto para los dulces,” she repeats slowly, dragging it out like she’s savoring it. “Translation: you have bad taste in candy.”
Kevin groans like a toddler whose favorite toy got taken away. “I feel attacked.”
I snort and take a long drink from my beer, barely stopping myself from shooting Kevin a dry look. Is it irrational to be annoyed by how close he’s sitting to her?
Probably. Does it stop me from watching him like a hawk?
Absolutely not.
But I try to keep it cool. Keep it light.
“Maybe it’s just your taste buds, Kev,” I joke, leaning back in my seat. “They probably got fried by all the terrible takes you’ve been throwing since we sat down.”
Alli’s laugh slips out again, this time quieter, but I catch the way her lips curl up before she hides it behind her drink.
