“I’m Johanna Woodley.” The blonde shoves her hand in my face.
“And I’m Courtney Sage.” The shorter one thrusts her arm at me, and, I happily sign the appendage because, thankful, it’s rather G-rated in nature.
“Nice to meet you both.” I try to make my way to Annie and the tall one, Johanna, blocks my path. “There’s a get together tonight at Regency House if you want to hang out.”
Regency. Isn’t that the Frat I’m staying at?
“Thanks for the offer, but I might have plans.” I smile at Annie as I make my way past them. “There’s a very big problem—a tragedy.”
“What?” She whispers it low, and I hear just the hint of her sweet voice and savor it. I love it. I’ll take any sound she wants to give me.
“I don’t have your number.”
“Smooth, Romeo.” The preppy I met in the bar a few weeks back pops up behind her.
I don’t bother answering him since he didn’t have the balls to say it in front of Annie.
She motions for me to hand her my phone, and I happily comply.
“So, like, you’re seeing her, huh?” He asks from over her shoulder. Annie must have caught a whiff of him because she turns and gives him a look before signing something in his direction.
He rolls his eyes and signs back before taking off.
“See you later, sweetheart!” I call after him.
The hall clears, and it’s just Annie and me, the way I like it.
She hands my phone back with the message,Now you have my number.Tragedy averted.
“Thank you.” I pluck the lens cap out of my pocket. “I believe this belongs to you.”
Her mouth rounds into a perfect O before she lunges at me with a quick hug.
“Whoa,” I say with my hands still pleasantly touching her waist. I pull back so she can see my lips. “I might need to steal that again.”
Her lashes flutter, and I die a little. Her cheeks deepen with color. Annie is a master tease whether or not she’s aware of it.
“Um,” she mouths as she slips my hands off her hips. She pulls my phone back out of my pocket and starts typing. I like this in charge, touchy feely version of her. Maybe all she needed was a little space between her and her brothers—some freaking breathing room.
I saw that Johanna mentioned Regency House. Are you going tonight?She looks up expectantly.
“Are you?” I don’t tell her that it’s technically where I’ll end up no matter where the day takes me.
She nods, pausing to gaze at me, and my insides melt like a schoolgirl’s. Annie has breathtaking sky blue eyes. Aquamarine, that’s the exact shade. My mother used to have a ring with an aquamarine in it. And if I knew my father hadn’t hawked it, I would have gifted it to her. Although I think we’re miles from the ring-bearing phase of our relationship. Relationship. That goofy grin curves back up my lips. I haven’t fallen this hard since—ever.
Her chest is just a hair from mine, and I can feel the warmth of her body. That easy sweet perfume of hers coils itself around me, and I take in a deep lungful, already as high off Annie as I can get.
Her lips twitch. That perfect mouth of hers has me mesmerized. I’ve never seen such defined lips. Annie is a natural beauty, not a hint of chunky mascara or a painted-on smile. She’s the real deal. A far cry from any of the girls I’m used to. A far cry from Olivia, that’s for sure.
That mouth. I lean in an inch and she does the same. Holy shit, this is happening. We’re going to kiss in the halls like a pair of high school teenagers, and I’ll take it. I’ll take anything Annie wants to give me, anywhere anytime.
I close my eyes and lean in hard, hitting air only to find she’s backed away a good foot.
Her teeth graze her bottom lip as she looks up playfully.
“I guess I’ll see you tonight.”
She takes my phone one last time.
