“Hey,” she says. “Andrew, right?”
He spins fast, one hand still grippin’ the trunk, needin’ it to stay upright, vein in his neck’s still pumpin’, still breathin’ heavy from the set. His chest’s risin’, fallin’, sweat slidin’ down his throat, catchin’ on his chain.
“Talia,” she says, her voice drippin' out sweet, hopin’ the name hits him in the chest.
His mouth hangs open.
Then finally—“You followin’ me?”
She laughs, shrugs ‘cause he’s bein’ ridiculous. “Quit playin’, Harding,” she smirks.
His smile tugs at the corner of his mouth.
But she knows what it means.
It meanscome closer.
She does, with one step and a hand buried in her jacket. “Thought you were gonna wait for me,” she says, as if it was already decided and he just forgot. “But then I saw you leave and figured we just missed each other.”
He breathes deeper, shuts the trunk with one hand.
“Nah. I dip out quick. Don’t wait on people.”
“I know,” she shrugs. “That’s how I knew you’d end up here.”
This makes him pause, then he turns to face her. His jaw flexes, considerin’ leavin’, but he won’t.
“Aight…” His voice dips low. “Guess I’m caught.” He leans back against the trunk, hands slidin’ into his jacket, lettin’ the silence sit.
Her lashes drop, mouth twistin’ smug.
“Knew it,” she breathes. “You were thinkin’ about me.”
He scratches his jaw. “‘Nah. I was thinkin’ about the lasagna I got at home waitin’ for me.”
A laugh of disbelief cracks out of her.“Please.Everyone knows who you are, what you do,” she says, steppin’ closer, eyes hooked right on his mouth. “That look you threw me? On stage, right at the end? You were beggin’ for it.”
His hair’s damp, strands stickin’ to his temple.
“Was just singin’ a fuckin’ song, sweetheart,” he mutters.
She pulls one hand out of her jacket, flicks her hair back lazily. “Christ, you’re so slick, you know that? Had me out there feelin’ like the only one in the room. Made me think you actually wanted me.” She gives him the side-eye mid-line, watchin’ for guilt buried in his blink. “Now you’re standin’ here makin’ me seem like I’m nuts for readin’ it wrong?”
The garage lights hit the side of his face, throwin’ shadows under his cheekbones.
His jaw tightens. “I wasn’t tryin’ to do that.”
“Then say what you were tryna do, Andrew?” She cocks a brow. “Say what you want.”
He glances away, swallowin’ hard. “I don’t know what I want.”
She closes the space without thinkin’, ‘til her boots are nearly touchin’ his. “It’s one of two things.” She tips her chin up, givin’ him a chance to choose right. “Either you’re into me… or you’re full of shit and get off on bein’ a fuckin’ tease. So which is it?”
There’s a war in his eyes, and he don’t know which side to let win.
Then his brows pull in, hopin’ she’ll make the call for him. So she leans in bold, tits skimmin’ his chest, and grabs the back of his neck, haulin’ his mouth down to hers.
But he backs off, catchin’ her at her hips, stoppin’ her.
