She shrugged one shoulder. “Maybe not with his buddies around him, but he’s totally into you.” She waved her hand in between us. “I mean, look at you. Even in uniform, you’re a sex kitten.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m hardly sex kitten material.”
“Whatever.” I grabbed a paper coffee cup, dumping cream and sugar inside before filling it with coffee. “He can probably have anyone he wanted.”
“You’re talking like you couldn’t do the same. There isn’t a guy in this room who wouldn’t lick your boots clean.”
I giggled, picturing a man with his tongue dragging across my boot, worshiping me. “You’re ridiculous.”
“I am not. What do you want to do this weekend?”
I grimaced. “I’m busy this weekend.”
She snapped her head around toward me. “Doing what?”
“Nothing important.” I started to walk away, but Allison rushed to my side. “I have to go out of town for a few days, so you’ll have the apartment to yourself to scratch whatever itch you have going on down there.”
She raised an eyebrow, studying my face. “Out of town where?”
“Down south.”
“We are south.”
“We’re in Northern Florida. There’s much more to this state.”
She grabbed my wrist and stopped me from walking farther. “You’re going with him, aren’t you?”
I gazed over her shoulder, staring off in the direction he’d disappeared. “I’m not.”
She gasped, gripping my wrist tighter. “You’re a liar. You were going to run away with him and not tell me.”
“We’re not running away,” I whispered, looking her straight in the eye. “His brother works in a tattoo shop, and we’re going down there to get tattoos.”
She gave me a crooked smile. “There’re tattoo shops here. It doesn’t require a trip.”
“But his brother isn’t here. I swear, nothing is going on between us.”
She dropped her hand and stepped back, watching me closely. “Did he kiss you?”
“No,” I answered too quickly.
Her eyes widened. “Friends don’t kiss.”
I winced, trying to downplay the importance of the kiss and the playfulness of the moment. “It was like kissing my brother.”
“Mmm-hmm.” She smirked. “Keep lying to yourself.”
I lifted my chin and started walking, heading toward the ship and out of the mess hall. “Let’s go, MacGyver. We have duty.”
* * *
Austin: Meet me for a drink tonight.
Me: I don’t think it’s a good idea.
Austin: Y?
Me: We could get in trouble.
