“Well, try to make this convincing, will ya?”
“Do I need to lay one on you?” He chuckles.
“I don’t think it’ll come to that. But we can develop a new plan if things take too long.”
The bartender slides a burger and a beer Trevor’s way. We could be here all night if he’s heavy into his food. I feel Mitchell slide his hand onto my hip and immediately look up at him. He’s about six foot four and well-built. Mitchell’s very attractive, with dark blond hair and green eyes.If only those eyes were on the ladies.
“Umph,” I grunt as he thrusts my body against his. “Hey, sailor,” I tease, laughing at how absurd this is. I just turned twenty-eight, but I’m acting like an eleven-year-old with a school crush. But I’ve waited a long time to feel something for someone, and my gut tells me, after our last few interactions, I’m not alone in this.
Before I got so intoxicated that I couldn’t spell my own name, I vaguely recall giving Trevor a brief birthday lap dance while everyone laughed and sang around us. I just wanted to rile him up. Yet, I vividly remember the moment I discovered something else was up. I couldn’t help but gyrate harder, wanting to feel him pressed into me. Gah. I’ve imagined that night ending differently alone in my bed on several occasions.
Nuzzling my neck and swaying to the sound of Billie Eilish playing in the background, Mitchell starts telling goofy jokes to make this less awkward. “Why did the gym close down?”
I giggle. “I don’t know. Why?”
“It just didn’t work out.”
“No.” I laugh.
“What do you call a boomerang that doesn’t come back?”
“What?”
“A stick. Want to hear a construction joke?”
“Not if it’s as bad as the rest of these.”
“Oh, never mind. I’m still working on that one.”
“Oh, my god. These are so bad, Mitchell.” I throw my head back in a fit of laughter at his offended countenance. He has to know how terrible these are. “I hope your pick-up lines are better than this.”
“Want to know what I saw today?”
“I’m afraid to ask?”
“Everything I looked at.”
“Okay, stop. I think I must’ve had too much water earlier. I almost peed on myself with that one. I’m hitting the little girl’s room.”
“See. It was funny,” Mitchell teases as I walk away.
Entering the restroom, I quickly choose a stall to take care of business. As I wash my hands, I stop, taking a determined look in the mirror. I’m a pretty girl. I’m funny. I’m nice. Why should I resort to trickery to get a date? Turning off the water, I stand taller.If he’s not interested, screw him.
Pulling open the bathroom door, I head toward the dance floor to call off this charade when my arm is yanked from behind me, causing me to collide with a firm, unyielding body. A tall, well-built, smells like sex and fire, hard body. I slowly look up to meet Trevor’s piercing blue eyes and lift one brow in question.On second thought…
“What’re you doing, Addison?”
“Going to the bathroom. What are you doing?”
“Cut the crap, cupcake. You come on to me every time we’re here. And now you’re letting that guy touch you?” He glares at me like I’ve taken a firehouse prank too far. “I get it. I’m just a game to you. You set your sights on the new recruit, and when he doesn’t immediately fall for your charms, you cast your line to anyone who’ll bite?”
What the hell?“Are you for real? I don’t need to cast my line. News flash, they swim up to shore!” I huff, crossing my arms over my chest in indignation. This little scheme has taken an about-face from the direction it was headed moments ago. “I don’t need to beg men to spend time with me. Especially one who’s currently acting like an asshole. What exactly are you mad about, Trevor? Because from where I sit, you made it clear you weren’t interested. So what’s it to you if someone else is?”
“Maybe I can’t stand seeing one more man with his hands all over you,” he spits. “Are you on a date, or did you just meet this punk?”
Punk?“What is wrong with you? It’s none of your business where I met him. And he’s nice. He makes me feel wanted and appreciated.”
“Oh, he wants you, all right.”
