Leo shook his head before he squared his shoulders. “You know, I’ve never even spoken to him before. We have a couple of classes together. He usually sits in the back with the other jocks. But he’s nicer than they are.”
He dropped his gaze to his feet, and I noticed he was wearing sneakers. I guess we’d get to the shoe thing another time unless he was more comfortable in those. Then he could wear whatever he wanted on his feet.
“Hm, well, you could always go say hello to him. Strike up a conversation. Something likehi, I think we go to school together or whatever,” I told him as I caught Andy looking our way again before he turned to say something to Maverick.
Leo kept his gaze on the floor. “No way. He’s way out of my league. We don’t even have anything in common. He’s a music prodigy,andhe plays hockey. I just drive a car in circles. He’s super smart. I’m a grease monkey. He couldn’t possibly even know I’m alive.”
“You do know that saying opposites attract, right? Have you met me and Carson?” I teased, just as I noticed Andy headed our way. “Don’t look now.”
He had a big smile on his face that was directed right at my new friend.
“Hey, Leo, right? I’m Andy. We go to school together.” That sounded so familiar. He looked generally excited to see Leo, too. His hazel eyes danced with more confidence than I had at his age. “I didn’t know you’d be here. It’s cool to see someone from school here. Wait, your brother is a driver, right?”
Leo stared at him with wide blue eyes before they dropped back down to his feet. “Uh, yeah, he is. I know who you are.” He dragged his toe over the floor. “This is my friend, Ezra.”
I nodded at Andy, whose smile never faltered despite the flash of confusion I saw in his hazel orbs for a brief second. I was obviously in the way here.
“I think CC is looking for me.”
“No.” Leo’s hand came out to grasp at my wrist to keep me from leaving.
Andy leaned down to try to see Leo’s eyes. “You look nice. Did you get your hair cut?” He towered over both of us, his hair styled perfectly.
“What?” Leo looked up, confused, and the blush that swept over his face was adorable as he let go of me. He wasn’t a small kid, but he was compared to Andy.
Andy gave him a bright smile. “I said you look nice. I like your top.”
Thanks, it’s mine,I thought. It was a red sweater with chunky cable textures that I hadn’t worn in a while, and the moment Leo saw it, he wouldn’t stop talking about it. I had to admit, it looked better on him than it did me. This Andy kid was smooth. I wondered which father he got it from. I took a couple of steps back from them.
“You look nice, too. I like your eyes.” Leo twisted his hands together as he stared up at him, and I wondered if he realized what he had blurted out. Probably not if he was still standing there.
Andy chuckled softly. “You want to get something to eat with me? My dads were saying the food is supposed to be really good. I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”
“Uh.” Leo glanced over at me, and when I nodded, he bit his lip before he looked back at Andy. “Yeah, that sounds nice.”
I watched them walk away with a little flutter in my heart. Young love was cute. I turned around only to come face to face with Maverick Olson, who looked less than thrilled to see me.
“Oh, hey. We haven’t met yet. I’m Ezra Bardot.”
I felt like he was trying to figure out if he should yell at me or murder me. Those eyes, damn, they were mesmerizing.
“What just happened here? Is that your kid with my kid?” Maverick growled, and I swear it vibrated through the entire building.Down tiger.
“Uh, no, that’s my friend, Leo. Apparently, he and Andy go to school together.”
I let my gaze move over Maverick’s face. Despite the pissed-off look he currently wore; he was more than just pretty. He had delicate features, strong cheekbones, andthose eyes. His white hair was appealing, but those green eyes made it hard for me to look away. I took in his muscled arms beneath the heavy dark sweater, his thick shoulders, and when I met his gaze again, he scowled even harder.
Sorry, boo, it’s going to take a lot more than that to intimidate me. I’m rainbows and sunshine.
“I don’t like it,” Maverick hissed as he watched them. “It’s too soon. Andy shouldn’t be chasing after boys yet. He’s got his entire life ahead of him to do that. What if he—Never mind. I don’t want to think about that.”
“Well, we were kids once, too,” I reminded him and gave him a big smile. It didn’t work. His lips didn’t even twitch.
Maverick tore his gaze away from his son to stare at me again. “Yeah, and we got into trouble, or at leastIdid, since I don’t know you. Andy just figured out he was bisexual. Now he’s already—Wait, who are you again?” he asked as he narrowed his green orbs at me. He tilted his head as he looked at me like he was seeing me for the first time. “Are you a driver?”
I smoothed down the front of my blouse. “No, I’m just Ezra. I’m Carson Carey’s boyfriend. He’s the driver. I’m just the pretty one.”
“The pretty one?” Maverick’s lips turned down as he looked me over. “Are you trying to be funny?”
